Sunday's 2018 NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles was different compared to the ones from previous years. Not only was the format changed with two captains drafting their teammates, but it was also the first time in recent memory that defense was actually played for the majority of the match. The final play was even decided by a great defensive sequence from Team LeBron, who clamped down on Stephen Curry and DeMar DeRozan, preventing them from attempting a game-tying three-pointer before time expired.
Halfway through the fourth quarter, Team Stephen was still leading by 11 points and looked like they were on their way to winning on the night. However, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Kyrie Irving and the rest of their team had other plans, and completed a furious comeback to pull off the victory. The odds were stacked against them to win, but they worked together to erase the deficit they were facing, and made their opponents blow a 98.4 percent chance of coming out victorious, according to Reddit user guppppppppy.
James, who won the MVP award of the game, led his team's charge by recording 29 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists, while Durant chipped in with 19 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals. Westbrook came close to a triple-double as well with 11 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists, with Irving posting 13 points, seven rebounds and nine assists of his own.
Team Stephen got a huge lift from DeRozan, who top-scored for them and finished with 21 points to go along with six rebounds and two assists. Joel Embiid was also big for them with 19 points and eight rebounds, while their captain added 11 points, six rebounds and five assists in a losing effort.
The new format definitely made the event more competitive unlike in previous years where it essentially became an extension of the Slam Dunk Contest. It remains to be seen though if next season's All-Star Game will also have the same rules, but for what it's worth, Sunday's format proved to be a good change that the NBA applied.
Next year's All-Star Game will take place in Charlotte, North Carolina at the Spectrum Center on Feb. 17, 2019.
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