Kevin Durant Dominates NBA All-Star Game Comeback: Too Much for Damian Lillard

Kevin Durant approached the NBA All-Star Game with a competitive mindset rather than treating it as a mere exhibition, particularly evident after exchanging words with his Olympic Gold Medal-winning teammate Damian Lillard. Following a play where Durant successfully scored over Lillard, he punctuated the moment with a celebratory gesture, implying that Lillard’s defense was insufficient. The incident occurred in the first half of the game. You can watch the video of the play here:

KD called Dame too small 😂 🤏 pic.twitter.com/slQnfWTtNu

— PHNX Suns (@PHNX_Suns) February 19, 2024

Durant made a noteworthy return to the NBA All-Star Game, marking his first appearance since 2019 when he played for the Golden State Warriors. His recent years were marred by multiple injuries during the All-Star Weekends from 2020 to 2023.

At halftime, Durant led the West team in minutes played, accumulating 16 minutes and scoring 12 points with an impressive 5-of-6 shooting record. Despite his individual performance, the West team found themselves trailing 104-89. The first half exhibited a slow-paced game with minimal defensive plays, leaving room for anticipation of increased intensity in the second half.

In a mix of brilliance and lowlights, Durant faced challenges from East guards Damian Lillard and Trae Young during the 2024 NBA All-Star Game. Despite his notable moments, he experienced some setbacks. Lillard and Young managed to outmaneuver the 14-time NBA All-Star, showcasing their skills in front of a vast audience.

Following Durant’s “too-small” celebration against Lillard, he faced a payback moment as the Bucks’ All-Star, Lillard, showcased his smooth ball-handling skills, executing a mesmerizing move that created enough separation to sink a challenging contested 3-pointer from downtown. You can watch the video of this play here:

Dame cooked KD badly after this 👀pic.twitter.com/tyqM0fUjPd https://t.co/HqI4Nhc0Hp

— Beastbrook (@Beastbr00k0) February 19, 2024

Following Damian Lillard’s impressive display against Durant, Trae Young seized his opportunity to showcase his skills. The Atlanta Hawks’ guard outmaneuvered Durant with a well-executed nutmeg move during a layup attempt. Witness the play in the following video:

The one downside to being 7 feet tall

Trae Young nutmegs KD @PatBevPod pic.twitter.com/BWgdkZ7SEO

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) February 19, 2024

In the second half, Durant and the West faced a significant deficit, trailing by as much as 27 points, making a comeback seem improbable. If the Western Conference doesn’t turn the tide, it would mark the second consecutive loss for LeBron James as a captain.

Despite the challenging game situation, the 2024 NBA All-Star Game offered a rare treat for basketball fans as Kevin Durant, LeBron James, and Steph Curry shared the court on the same team. The trio, considered modern-day legends, had never teamed up before, making it a noteworthy moment for fans.

Looking ahead, there’s speculation that this collaboration could be repeated in the summer if Durant, James, and Curry remain healthy and available for the Olympics. Such a reunion would undoubtedly be a highly anticipated and historic event.