By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
A couple of free throws sank by TaShawn Thomas late in overtime lifted Team World to the win, 111-110, against Team France in the exciting back-and-forth LNB All-Star Game Wednesday evening.
BCM Gravelines-Dunkerque’s Brandon Taylor poured a game-high 22 points in the 35th edition of the French All-Star Game. Senegalese Youssou Ndoye, the lone non-US player of Team World, followed with 17 points and nine rebounds. Thomas ended up with 16 points.
On the opposite end, the former Phoenix Suns and current LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne player, Elie Okobo shared a team-high 19 points with Giovan Oniangue. The 24-year-old guard forced the extra five minutes tying the game, 96-96, from beyond the arc with five seconds left in the fourth quarter but failed to connect once again as time ran out in overtime.
Besides the actual All-Star Game, the co-main event of the evening was the TLC Dunk Contest held during halftime. Dylan Affo Mama capped off his effort by jumping over a motorcycle to claim first place ahead of Yoan Makoundou, David Efianayi, and Allan Dokossi.
Prior to the game, Justin Bibbins won the Gorillas FR Skills Challenge, defeating Loren Jackson in the final. David Holston and Antoine Eito bowed out in the semifinals.
Scott Bamforth of Le Mans went from a last-minute replacement to dominating and becoming the PEAK Sports France Three-Point Shootout champion.
— LNB (@LNBofficiel) December 29, 2021
Franklin the Dog and Jazz Bear, the official mascots of the Philadelphia 76ers and Utah Jazz, respectively, were welcomed as special guests at the All Star Game by Gorillas.
The LNB All-Star Game returned to Paris and Accor Arena for the first time since 2019. The 2020 game was abandoned due to the coronavirus pandemic.