Jeff Van Gundy on All-Star Game: Eliminate it

Jeff Van Gundy has an idea on how to fix the NBA All-Star Game.

His plan: Eliminate it.

Van Gundy, the former NBA coach and now longtime television commentator for ABC and ESPN, said what he's seeing now from the game is embarrassing and "a bastardization of the game that is beautiful to watch." The teams picked by captains LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo combined to attempt a record 167 3-pointers in Sunday night's game — and 96 of the 134 field goals in the game came off either 3s or dunks.

"You can be a Division III player like myself and be All-Star MVP," Van Gundy said. "All you have to do is drive in and shoot a layup."

Van Gundy coached in the 2000 All-Star game, his Eastern Conference team falling to Phil Jackson and the Western Conference 137-126. There was no shortage of alley-oops tried in that game, though Tim Duncan, Alonzo Mourning and Shaquille O'Neal spent plenty of time defending the rim against those lobs as well.

"I would name All-Stars, I would have All-Star weekend, they have all these things, introduce them ... the players are great, they should be applauded," Van Gundy said this week, while preparing to coach USA Basketball's team picked for the final two games of qualifying for this summer's FIBA World Cup in China. "But to take this game and shoot 160 3s, it's an embarrassment. It's an embarrassment."

Van Gundy said he doesn't need to see a game with Game 7, playoff-level intensity.

He just wants to see some effort.

"The equivalent would be like Major League Baseball, a guy hits the ball, you throw it to him at 70 mph because you're not trying," Van Gundy said. "And then you hit it and no one chases it and you just let a guy circle and score and you have unlimited runs. You've got to try."

Players, including James and National Basketball Players Association President Chris Paul, along with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver all said after the 192-182 game two years ago that the All-Star game had to be more competitive.

"Let's just say it: They don't want to play," Van Gundy said. "Adam said, 'It's got to be fixed.' There's nothing fixed."

Last year went down to the wire, a 148-145 game that was well received. This year's 178-164 game was won by James' Team LeBron, which trailed by 20 points in the second half before rallying — largely behind the 3-pointer. James' team took 65 shots in the second half, and 49 of those were 3-point tries.

And players this year didn't seem to mind the way the game unfolded.

"It's just about having fun," Oklahoma City's Paul George said Sunday night. "At the end of the day, it's for the fans. It's just to have fun."

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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero had 31 points and 14 rebounds, Jalen Suggs added 24 points and the Orlando Magic handed Cleveland the worst playoff loss in franchise history, winning 121-83 on Thursday night to cut the Cavaliers’ lead to 2-1 in their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Franz Wagner finished with 16 points and eight assists for the Magic, who led by 43 points in the fourth quarter on the way to the third-largest margin of victory in a playoff game. They earned their first playoff victory since 2019 and the first on their home floor since April 26, 2011.

They can even the series with a victory at home Sunday.

Jarrett Allen had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Cavaliers, who shot 39% from the field and 23.5% from 3-point range. Caris LeVert added 15 points and Donovan Mitchell had 13 points and seven assists.

76ERS 125, KNICKS 114

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid scored 50 points, making all four 3-point attempts and scoring 18 in a potential series-shifting third quarter to lead Philadelphia to a win over New York in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Embiid boldly stated “we’re going to win this series” after the 76ers dropped Game 2.

With one of the finest postseason efforts of his career, Embiid became the third player to ever score 50 points against the Knicks in the postseason and kept the hope of a Philadelphia series comeback very much alive.

The Knicks lead the series 2-1. Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.

Embiid was 13 of 19 from the floor overall, made 19 of 21 free throws and hit five 3-pointers.

NUGGETS 112, LAKERS 105

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Aaron Gordon had 29 points and 15 rebounds, Nikola Jokic added 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists, and Denver moved to the brink of the second round with a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of their first-round series..

Jamal Murray scored 22 points as the defending NBA champion Nuggets won their 11th consecutive meeting with LeBron James and the Lakers in dominating style.

Michael Porter Jr. added 20 points for Denver, which took control in the third quarter and cruised through the final minutes to its fifth straight road win over Los Angeles, starting with its sweep of last season’s Western Conference finals.

Game 4 is Saturday night in Los Angeles. No NBA team has ever rallied from an 0-3 playoff deficit.

Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony (50) makes a shot as he gets past Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (5) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)