After a fair amount of hype, the new-look format ended up producing one of the most competitive All-Star games in years as Team LeBron fought back from an 11-point, fourth-quarter deficit to defeat Team Steph 148-145. I'll have the video breakdown of the action later this week (ha!) but here are a few thoughts on the fun evening.
1. LeBron James and Kyrie Irving actually got along: An interesting backdrop to this entire week was the reunion of the two former Cavs after LeBron James drafted Kyrie Irving as one of his starters last month. Irving played all of crunch time with James and put together a pretty stuffed stat sheet (16 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists) as far as All-Star games are concerned. He even assisted James on the eventual game-winning bucket.
KYRIE TO BRON. pic.twitter.com/xPsCbMdKsD
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 19, 2018
It's safe to say Kyrie and LeBron have made up... pic.twitter.com/7aHSX0Cw9M
— Dime on UPROXX (@DimeUPROXX) February 19, 2018
.@KyrieIrving innovating on the fly. #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/ce4QviBRvY
— The Ringer (@ringer) February 19, 2018
Kyrie just being Kyrie pic.twitter.com/NDIY2qBJG5
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 19, 2018
oooooo KYRIE ?? pic.twitter.com/JuIfJI0npj
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 19, 2018
All of the down to the wire action between #TeamLeBron and #TeamStephen in the thrilling #NBAAllStar Game! pic.twitter.com/Ox2AlNIFes
— NBA (@NBA) February 19, 2018
The best down the stretch action from #TeamLeBron and #TeamStephen in the 2018 #NBAAllStar Game! pic.twitter.com/tINZIqhfZe
— NBA (@NBA) February 19, 2018