Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is hoping to see more NBA All-Star Games like the one that went down on Sunday, as Team Giannis went down to Team LeBron in an intensity-filled fourth quarter.
The NBA adopted a new format, borrowing from The Basketball Tournament and turning it into a series of mini-games, all leading to a showdown in the fourth quarter that greatly delivered what many were expecting — some real competition.
“Especially in the fourth quarter, the defense got tighter,” said Antetokounmpo. “It had a little bit of playoff intensity. I loved it. I hope they can keep the same format for a lot of years.”
Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo on the new All-Star Game scoring format: “Especially in the fourth quarter, the defense got tighter. It had a little bit of playoff intensity. I loved it. I hope they can keep the same format for a lot of years.” pic.twitter.com/yZgJeK5GjK
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) February 17, 2020
Team Giannis had a cumulative nine-point lead entering the fourth quarter after losing the first, winning the second, and tying in the third. The target score was set to 157 points, as Team Giannis' lead was slowly chopped down by Team LeBron, who took over late in the game.
Once it became a one-possession game, the intensity and physicality really picked up, making for a very entertaining game and one that differed from the high-scoring glorified exhibitions the NBA had been showcasing for many years during All-Star Weekend.
It seems players and fans enjoyed this change to the NBA All-Star Game, with many eager to participate and be part of this new format that makes the game more entertaining and competitive.
Antetokounmpo finished with 25 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, a steal, and three blocks in the closely contested 157-155 loss on Sunday night.
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