Noticiero El Big Picture del Deporte: MSN, Boston Globe, Elam Ending revitalizes NBA All-Star Game

House of Highlights, 2020 NBA All-Star Game - Full Game Highlights - Team LeBron vs Team Giannis - February 16, 2020

The best game in years capped a sparkling All-Star Weekend that served as a tribute to the late Kobe Bryant (24 was one of his uniform numbers and the target fourth quarter score). After years of players approaching the game not to get hurt and pull off a couple of acrobatic plays, the All-Star Game resembled a playoff game, with players vigorously arguing calls, challenging each other defensively, and making the extra pass instead of the showboating play. The result was one of the more exciting All-Star Games in decades and it’s almost a certainty the NBA will stick with this new format. 

• The league devised a new game format, with each team playing to win quarters and then an untimed fourth period with the winning team needing to add 24 points to its combined score for three quarters.
• With Team Giannis leading by 9 points after their first three quarter scores were a combined 133, the target score became 157. And Team Giannis and Team LeBron played as physical and defensive-themed fourth quarter that brought shades of All-Star Games from the 1980s and ’90s.
• Anthony Davis of Team LeBron sealed the game with a free throw for a 157-155 win. While the ending with a free throw was anticlimactic, the passionate play that led up that conclusion was the storyline.

References:

MSN, Boston Globe, Elam Ending revitalizes NBA All-Star Game, Gary Washburn Globe Staff, Updated February 17, 2020, 1:32 a.m.