Damian Lillard scored 39 points to earn game MVP honours as the Eastern Conference won the highest-scoring All-Star Game in NBA history with a resounding 211-186 victory over the Western Conference in Indianapolis on Sunday.

The East became the first team to surpass the 200-point mark in a defence-deficient event that also shattered the previous All-Star Game high of 374 combined points, set by the West in their 192-182 win over the East in New Orleans in 2017. The West also held the previous team high for points when they recorded 196 in the 2016 edition held in Toronto.

One night after successfully defending his title in the 3-point contest during Saturday's skills competition, Lillard teamed with Indiana Pacers home-town hero Tyrese Haliburton for a prolific display from beyond the arc. The duo combined for 21 of the East's 42 3-pointers, also an All-Star Game record for one team.

Lillard, a seven-time All-Star with the Portland Trail Blazers who was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks during the offseason, finished 11 of 23 from 3-point range and Halliburton went 10 for 14.

Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics chipped in 36 points and eight rebounds to help the East overcome a dominant performance from the West's Karl-Anthony Towns. The Minnesota Timberwolves forward amassed 50 points to become the fourth player to reach that mark in an All-Star Game, joining Boston's Jayson Tatum (55 in 2023), then-New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (52 in 2017) and Golden State Warriors icon Stephen Curry (50 in 2022).

LeBron James, participating in his record 20th All-Star Game, played just 14 minutes while scoring eight points.

The East never trailed after Lillard knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers in the first quarter that gave his team a 35-29 advantage, while Haliburton hit five triples in the opening period to help the East take a 53-47 lead into the second quarter.

Lillard scored 13 more points in the second quarter as the East extended the margin to 104-89 at half-time, with the 193 combined first-half points also the most in a single All-Star Game.

Towns had just 19 points through three quarters before putting up an incredible 31 while playing the entire fourth, though the game was out of hand by that point as the East took a commanding 160-136 lead into the final period.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the West's lone other player with more than 18 points, as the Oklahoma City Thunder guard finished with 31 on 12-of-16 shooting.

LeBron James has added yet another superlative to his legendary career resume.

On Thursday, the NBA unveiled the starters for the 2024 All-Star Game, with James voted an All-Star for a record 20th time. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar previously held the record with 19 selections.

With the Feb. 18 All-Star Game reverting to its traditional East vs. West format, James will be the West captain and will start alongside Kevin Durant (14th selection), Nikola Jokic (sixth), Luka Doncic (fifth) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (second).

Giannis Antetokounmpo (eighth selection) will serve as the captain of the East team and will start alongside Milwaukee Bucks teammate Damian Lillard (eighth), Joel Embiid (seventh), Jayson Tatum (fifth) and Tyrese Haliburton (second).

Starters were selected by a combination vote, with 50 percent weight given to fans, 25 percent to selected media members and 25 percent to fellow players.

New to this season’s voting was the elimination of the center position designation, with the ballot shifting to three frontcourt spots and two backcourt spots in each conference.

The reserves are voted on by the league’s head coaches and will be announced on Feb. 1.

The 73rd NBA All-Star Game will be played in Indianapolis.

Elias Diaz belted a two-run homer in the eighth inning and the National League snapped a nine-game losing streak to the American League with a 3-2 win in the MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday.  

With the National League trailing 2-1, Nick Castellanos led off the eighth with a walk against Felix Bautista and moved to second on a wild pitch before Diaz deposited a 2-2 offering over the wall in left field.

It was the first All-Star at-bat for Diaz, the Colorado Rockies catcher who was named MVP.

The NL won the All-Star Game for the first time since an 8-0 victory in 2012.

Yandy Diaz opened the scoring for the AL with a second-inning home run off Mitch Keller and the NL tied it in the fourth on Luis Arraez’s RBI single.

Bo Bichette’s sacrifice fly in the sixth scored Salvador Perez and put the AL back on top.

Craig Kimbrel walked two in the ninth but struck out Jose Ramirez to end it.

Toronto Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano left in the seventh inning due to back tightness.

The Texas Rangers will be well represented at next month’s All-Star Game in Seattle after they had a franchise-record four players elected to start.

The American League West leaders will have catcher Jonah Heim, third baseman Josh Jung, shortstop Corey Seager and second baseman Marcus Semien as starters. Heim and Jung are first-time All-Stars, Seager will be making his fourth appearance and Semien is an All-Star for the second time.

The Rangers are 49-32 and in line for their first winning season since 2016 and will host next year’s All-Star Game.

Los Angeles Angels superstar Mike Trout was selected for his 11th appearance and will be joined in the lineup by teammate Shohei Ohtani, who last week was chosen as the designated hitter as the league’s top-vote getter in the first round.

Also elected as first-time starters were Tampa Bay Rays teammates Yandy Diaz and Randy Arozarena, Atlanta Braves shortstop Orlando Arcia and catcher Sean Murphy, Miami Marlins second baseman Luis Arraez and Arizona Diamondbacks rookie Corbin Carroll.

The Los Angeles Dodgers will have three players starting for the NL: first baseman Freddie Freeman, outfielder Mookie Betts and DH J.D. Martinez.

St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado was elected to his fifth start and eighth appearance.

Aaron Judge was voted to start for the fifth time, but the Yankees star hasn’t played since June 3 because of a torn ligament in his right big toe.

Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. earned an outfield spot last week as the NL’s top vote-getter during the first round.

Red-hot Phillies win 9th straight on road

Kyle Schwarber homered on the game’s first pitch to back Taijuan Walker’s strong start and the surging Philadelphia Phillies finished a three-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs with a 3-1 victory.

Bryce Harper knocked in two runs and Trea Turner added two hits and a run to help the Phillies win for the 18th time in 23 games. They have won nine straight road contests to match their best streak since May 1984.

Walker limited the Cubs to one run and six hits over six innings to win his fifth start in a row. He has a 0.84 in that span.

Ohtani hits 14th June home run in Angels’ loss

Shohei Ohtani extended his major league lead with his 29th home run but the Los Angeles Angels fell to the Chicago White Sox, 9-7.

Ohtani’s two-run shot in the ninth inning off Kendall Graveman was his 14th home run in June, breaking the Angels’ record. He is 14 for 30 with five home runs and eight RBIs in his last seven games.

Eloy Jimenez and Zach Remillard each had two-run singles in Chicago’s six-run third inning, and the White Sox won their second straight despite giving up four home runs.