SAN FRANCISCO — The profitable complete final yr: 211 factors.
The profitable complete this yr: 41 factors.
An All-Star Sport like none different — because it was three video games, not one — nonetheless had loads of flash and never a number of fireplace. And in the long run, Jayson Tatum had the dunk that determined a crown.
Shaq’s OGs gained the primary All-Star mini-tournament in NBA historical past on Sunday night time, getting 15 factors from Tatum and 12 from Stephen Curry to beat Chuck’s International Stars 41-25 within the closing.
It was principally over early, and the halftime present — an 18-minute tribute to TNT — lasted longer than the sport did. The International Stars began the title sport 0 for 10 from the sphere, 0 for six from 3-point vary and fell into a fast 11-0 gap.
In a daily NBA sport, that’s no large deal. In a first-to-40 sport in opposition to a number of the greatest gamers on the planet, that’s an issue.
Victor Wembanyama — the first-time All-Star who vowed that he would play arduous, and did — led the International Stars with 11 factors within the closing.
It was the debut of the All-Star mini-tournament format: 4 groups, three video games, with solely 40 factors wanted to finish every contest.
The league went to the event format of untimed, quick video games with hopes that asking All-Stars to play fewer minutes would result in higher competitors. Final yr’s sport in Indianapolis had a 211-186 closing rating, setting a slew of data however prompting the league to take motion after years of urging gamers to take the exhibition a bit extra significantly.
And no, there wasn’t precisely a playoff-type depth. Or at the very least, not a lot of it.
There have been some less-than-serious efforts the likes of which have been seen in previous years — underhand lobs from half-court, for instance, and a complete lot of interjection from on-court emcee Kevin Hart — however there was at the very least some protection performed. Kevin Durant argued for a foul late in his group’s first semifinal win, and in all probability merited a name that may have despatched him to the road for what may have been a game-winning free throw.
The primary two-shot foul of the night time got here early within the title sport. Nikola Jokic missed each pictures.
Damage report
The OGs have been with out LeBron James, who was dominated out earlier Sunday due to ongoing left foot and ankle discomfort. James was not changed on the roster, which means the OGs had seven gamers accessible.
Anthony Edwards didn’t play for Kenny’s Younger Stars due to a groin challenge.
The identify sport
The three groups of 24 NBA All-Stars have been drafted by TNT analysts Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith. The fourth group — Candace’s Rising Stars, which earned its manner into the All-Star event by profitable the Rising Stars occasion Friday night time — was named for an additional TNT analyst, Candace Parker.
The OGs acquired into the ultimate with a win over Candace’s Rising Stars, whereas the International Stars beat Kenny’s Younger Stars within the first semifinal.
Semifinal 1: International Stars 41, Younger Stars 32
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 12 factors, together with the clinching basket, and Chuck’s International Stars superior to the title sport by beating Kenny’s Younger Stars.
Wembanyama and Karl-Anthony Cities every had six factors for the International Stars. Darius Garland, Tyler Herro and Evan Mobley every had six factors for the Younger Stars, who have been with out Edwards. He was a last-second scratch with a groin challenge.
“My groin’s been messed up for a little minute,” mentioned Edwards, who had been listed as a starter for the primary semifinal. He added that with the quick warmup earlier than Sport 1, he didn’t assume there was time to check it out and see if he may go.
“You always want to play,” Edwards mentioned. “But when they put two minutes on the clock for warmup, I didn’t get no time to warm up my groin and it was all bad.”
Semifinal 2: Shaq’s OGs 42, Candace’s Rising Stars 35
Damian Lillard scored 9 factors, together with the 3-pointer to push his group previous the goal rating, and the OGs survived.
The Rising Stars — a group of first- and second-year gamers — weren’t a simple out in opposition to a roster with a mixed 86 All-Star appearances and $2.7 billion in on-court earnings. There have been 9 lead modifications and 5 ties.
Curry scored eight factors for the OGs, whereas Dalton Knecht and Ryan Dunn every had eight for the Rising Stars.
By Tim Reynolds
