Antetokounmpo brothers, Tatum highlight All-Star Saturday night participants Jrue Holiday scores 40, helps Bucks hold off shorthanded Celtics Nets reportedly will gauge Ben Simmons’ trade value this summer Durant reportedly told Nets he wanted trade to Phoenix right after Irving deal Tatum, Lillard, Herro reported headliners for All-Star 3-point contest

While names for the Dunk Contest and 3-Point Shootout have been leaking for weeks, the NBA waited until the relative last minute – five days before the event – to name the All-Star Saturday contestants, they did so on Tuesday night.

The headliner of the Skills Challenge will be Giannis Antetokounmpo and his brothers, Thanasis and Alex, who, along with Team Jazz and Team Rookies, make up one of the three teams in the competition.

Your 2023 #KiaSkills Challenge the members! ⭐️️

TEAM ANTETOKUMPOS:
Alex Antetokounmpo
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Thanasis Antetokounmpo

TEAM JAZZ:
Jordan Clarkson
Walker Kessler
Colleen Sexton

GRADE TEAM:
Paolo Bankero
Jayden Ivey
Jabari Smith Jr. pic.twitter.com/7Z4PzqGWRO

— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 15, 2023

Then comes the culmination of the evening – a three-point shootout. The only event that stars still come to, and this season has big names again:

• Jason Tatum (Celtics)
• Damian Lillard (Trail Blazers)
• Lauri Markkanen (Jazz)
• Kevin Huerter (Kings)
• Tyler Herro (Heat)
• Tyrese Halliburton (Pacers)
• Buddy Heald (Pacers)
• Anferny Simons (Trail Blazers)

Your 2023 #Starry3PT Competitors! ☔️
️
Tyrese Halliburton
Tyler Herro
Buddy Heald
Kevin Huerter
Damian Lillard
Lauri Markkanen
Anferny Simons
Jason Tatum pic.twitter.com/ZgfgJwlzis

— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 15, 2023

Dunk Contest ended the evening and there were no surprises in the foursome:

• Kevin Martin Jr. (Rockets)
• Mac McClung (76ers – just signed a two-way contract today)
• Trey Murphy 3 (Pelicans)
• Jericho Sims (Nyx)

Your 2023 #ATTSlamDunk Competitors! 🔨

Kenyon Martin Jr.
Mac McClung
Trey Murphy III
Jericho Sims pic.twitter.com/53U7qY9kUm

— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 15, 2023

Saturday’s All-Star Game surpassed Sunday’s All-Star Game in terms of observation. Being an All-Star is still more prestigious, the players want the honor, but Saturday night is more interesting, more fun, and the fans are taking his place. This year’s lineup is pretty tight and should rock the Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City.

Saturday’s All-Star Game kicks off at 8 a.m. ET and airs on TNT.

Milwaukee (AP) – Jrue Holiday demonstrated why he heads to the All-Star Game for the first time in a decade.

Holiday tied his career high with 40 points and hit a 3-pointer with 25.2 seconds left in overtime as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Boston Celtics 131–125 on Tuesday for their 11th straight win.

The 32-year-old Holiday hit 8 of 12 shots from behind the arc, including one from half-court that beat a third-quarter signal to set a career three-pointer record.

“I guess I don’t really care how I play as long as we win,” said Holiday, who also had seven assists. “For me, as long as we get the win, I’m fine. The only stats I look at are turnovers. This is how I determine whether I had a good or a bad game. Tonight, what did I have, five turns? For me, it hurts my soul.”

Holiday joins Bucks teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo Sunday All-Star Game in Salt Lake City. This marks the first time Holiday has been selected since playing for Philadelphia in 2013, marking the longest gap between All-Star appearances in league history.

“From the start of the season, I said he was an All-Star,” Antetokounmpo said.

Antetokounmpo had 36 points, 13 rebounds and 9 assists as the Bucks (40-17) edged out the Celtics (41-17) in the Eastern Conference semi-game.

Boston played without both of its All-Star Games. Jason Tatum (not COVID disease) and Jaylen Brown (facial fracture) – and also Marcus Smart (dislocation of the right ankle) and Al Horford (swelling of the right knee).

The Celtics still nearly won their fifth straight win.

“We expected to win this game,” he said. Malcolm Brogdonwith 26 points. “We approached this game like we were going to win, like we were going to win. We believe that every night we are the best team on the court.

Boston Sam Houserthe Wisconsin native, who had 40 friends and family in the stands, made the game-tying 3-pointer with three seconds left in regulation to force overtime.

CLUTCH HAUSER HIT 3 pic.twitter.com/m51ELo5Yvp

— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) February 15, 2023

Boston Derrick White then scored the first five points in overtime.

The Celtics still had a five-point lead with two minutes left, but the Bucks had the final seven points of the game. Finishing spurt began with a good three-pointer Holiday.

“He was phenomenal on both ends of the court,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “I think his ability to create some losses and create pressure helped turn the tide. We went downstairs and he played some loud pieces very similar to Jru. A special performance in his performance.

Grant Williams lost the ball on the next Boston possession, Grayson Allen received an interception and the Celtics called a foul on a clean path with 3.2 seconds left.

Antetokounmpo landed the next two free throws and ended the count with a dunk into the siren.

They may have hesitated before then, but the moment the wheels really fell off in Brooklyn came when the Nets were forced to trade. James Harden and received Ben Simmons back as a key part of the package. Simmons was slowed down by an injury last season and this season he has lost all confidence in his shooting and his game, and a few years ago he fell from being an All NBA player to playing primarily as a backup five for the Nets. . .

Speaking of the Nets’ next steps – which players are they keeping, who are they changing, have they hit rock bottom? – the first question, but what about Simmons? Jake Fisher touched on this at Yahoo Sports..

The Nets are expected to evaluate what kind of trading market could materialize for Simmons after his disappointing campaign comes to an end. The three-time All-Star is still nowhere near the form he showed during his best days in Philadelphia.

Simmons’ trading value plummeted. Simmons has two years, $77.9 million fully guaranteed under his contract, making this situation similar to the one the Lakers find themselves in. Russell Westbrook No team will agree to this contract with Simmons without adding a few first-round picks as a sweetener. Brooklyn might be better off trying to find a way to boost his trading value, but they’re going to have a hard time with this contract.

As for other players, Fischer says the Nets didn’t heed Miles Bridges’ offers at the deadline, but there will be more offers this summer and they may become too wealthy to ignore. Keep an eye on the Grizzlies, but other teams will be calling too. Then there is Cameron Johnson.

The Nets will also face interesting restricted free agency. Cam Johnsonwho failed to reach an agreement in Phoenix. The Suns were reluctant to offer Johnson more than $72 million over four seasons, sources said.

Anyone paying Johnson that much is betting on the development of his game, but at age 26, when he enters his sixth season next fall, how much more will his game grow? He brings athleticism and is career 39% out of 3, the skills are there, but will it be enough to get an offer like the Nets?

It’s going to be an interesting off-season in Brooklyn.