NBA All-Star Game results: Team LeBron beats Team Giannis in thrilling 4th-quarter battle

Follow along for live updates of the 2020 NBA All-Star Game from the United Center:

Team LeBron beats Team Giannis in thrilling fourth-quarter battle

The fourth quarter of Sunday’s matchup between Team Giannis Antetokounmpo and Team LeBron James had everything the NBA All-Star Game usually lacks.

Aggressive defense. Players arguing calls. A coach’s challenge. Even offensive fouls were being called down the stretch.

By the end of it, the entire United Center crowd was on its feet. And with $300,000 on the line for the winning team’s charity, neither team was messing around.

In need of just one point, Anthony Davis went to the line for two free throws.

He missed the first one and then sank the second, earning Team LeBron the 157-155 win against Team Giannis in what might have been the most thrilling finish to an NBA All-Star Game in years.

Team LeBron ultimately earned $400,000 for Chicago Scholars, while Team Giannis won $100,000 for After School Matters.

Kawhi Leonard of Team LeBron was elated to be the first recipient of the Kobe Bryant MVP award after scoring a game-high 30 points.

“Words can’t explain how happy I am for it,” Leonard said. “[I’m] able to put that trophy in my room, in my trophy room, and just to be able to see Kobe’s name on there, it just means a lot to me. He’s a big inspiration in my life. He did a lot of me.”

Things heat up in third quarter

The tone of the game switched in the third quarter. After what is usually a friendly game with minimal to no defense, Team Giannis flipped the switch in the final minute.

With Team Giannis down by one in the final minute and $100,000 for charity on the line, Raptors coach Nick Nurse took a timeout to advance the ball and draw up a play.

Though Nurse’s play ultimately resulted in a turnover, Team Giannis managed to tie the game at 41 with 2.2 seconds left.

Russell Westbrook, who didn’t make his first bucket of this game until the final minute of the third quarter, couldn’t make the shot at the buzzer, which means this quarter’s prize money will roll over and go to the winner of the fourth.

Team Giannis leads at the end of the third, 133-124, meaning the first team to 157 wins $300,000 to its respective charity.

Here’s some of the best tweets from the third:

Chance the Rapper wows in NBA All-Star halftime show

Chicagoan Chance the Rapper took the stage for the NBA All-Star Game halftime performance and stole the show.

In his five-song set, Chance welcomed several other stars, including Lil Wayne for the song, “No Problem” and DJ Khaled and Quavo for “I’m the One.” He also incorporated the South Shore Drill team into his performance.

Chance performed a version of Kanye West’s “Ultralight Beam” without Yeezy, who was sitting courtside for at least the first half of the game.

Chance also honored Bryant during his performance of “I Was A Rock.”

Team Giannis wins $100,000 for After School Matters

After LeBron’s team won the first 12 minutes, team Giannis took the second quarter with a score of 51-30, which means After School Matters — a program that provides Chicago high school teens with after-school and summer opportunities — will receive $100,000.

At the half, Kawhi Leonard, who’s on James’ team, leads all scorers with 25 points, going 7-of-10 from three-point range. Captain Giannis leads his team with 20 points.

Below are some highlights from the second quarter:

Team LeBron wins first quarter

Team LeBron won the first quarter 53-41, which earns Chicago Scholars, a program that provides resources low-income families to help send their children to college.

Here’s a look at the two best plays from the first quarter:

NBA honors Kobe Bryant in pregame ceremony

The NBA has made an effort during All-Star Weekend in Chicago to honor Kobe Bryant, his 12-year-old daughter, Gianna, and the seven others who lost their lives in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, three weeks ago. So it’s no surprise that Magic Johnson kicked off the main event Sunday with a heartwarming moment in memory of Bryant.

Before the All-Star Game, Johnson stood at the edge of the stage near the baseline and looked out at the United Center crowd. He spoke about the late David Stern and his impact on the game. He also mentioned how the former commissioner supported him in his battle with HIV.

Then, he talked about Bryant. Cheers ensued after he mentioned the Lakers legend’s name, but Johnson wasn’t impressed with the initial reaction.

“I’m gonna say that one more time because that cheer should be a little bit louder — Kobe Bryant,” Johnson said.

Fans screamed and then Kobe chants erupted.

“There you go,” he said. “We’ll never see another basketball player quite like Kobe, scoring 81 points in one game, scoring 60 points in his last game and then winning five NBA championships.”

Johnson asked the sold-out crowd to stand and hold hands as he held a moment of silence for eight seconds.

In another nod to Bryant and his daughter, Team Giannis Antetokounmpo is wearing No. 24 in honor of Bryant, while LeBron James’ team is wearing No. 2 in honor of Gianna. Along with the jersey numbers, both teams also are wearing patches with nine stars to represent the nine crash victims.

Commissioner Adam Silver also announced Saturday that the All-Star Game MVP award has been permanently named after Bryant, who won a record-tying four All-Star Game MVP awards.

“Kobe Bryant is synonymous with NBA All-Star and embodies the spirit of this global celebration of our game,” Silver said. “He always relished the opportunity to compete with the best of the best and perform at the highest level for millions of fans around the world.”

Watch Common’s powerful pregame tribute to Chicago and Kobe Bryant

After Chicagoan Jennifer Hudson performed “For All We Know (We May Meet Again)” in honor of Bryant, rapper Common, who is from the South Side, shared a powerful tribute to Chicago and Bryant before introducing the two teams.