Kemba Walker and Jayson Tatum go head-to-head at 2020 NBA All-Star Game

Boston Celtics guard Kemba Walker and forward Jayson Tatum both played in the 2020 NBA All-Star game on Sunday night. Tatum’s Team LeBron defeated Walker’s Team Giannis by a score of 157-155. This year’s version of the mid-season exhibition featured surprisingly competitive play, as the teams competed to win individual quarters. The fourth quarter had an untimed, alternate “Elam Ending”, which led to teams going hard down the stretch of the game.

Walker was a part of the closing group for Team Giannis, scoring seven points on a team-high nine shots in the final period. For the game, Walker scored 23 points on 9-of-18 shooting, including 5-of-11 from behind the arc. Walker used his signature cross-over dribble to put Domantas Sabonis on skates:

His pull-up jumper was on target:

And Walker flashed off some fancy passing:

Walker’s fourth All-Star appearance was a rousing success, despite the loss.

Jayson Tatum made his All-Star debut and, like most first-time All-Stars, he didn’t have a major role in the game. Tatum scored six points on 3-of-8 shooting. He also had three assists and three steals. Tatum had a highlight in transition:

Later in the first half, Celtics fans got to see what they came for when Tatum and Walker briefly went head-to-head:

Overall, Walker was great and Tatum looked like he belonged. Most importantly, both of the Celtics emerged from the game healthy. Now, Walker and Tatum can get off their feet for a couple of days before joining Boston for a West Coast trip to open the season’s stretch run. The Celtics will play at the Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz on a trip filled with difficult games.