LeBron James and Kevin Durant trapped Stephen Curry, then Curry got the ball to DeMar DeRozan, who found himself stuck behind a defensive effort not expected in the All-Star game.
Then, after the final buzzer, there was joy and pain, as if this were a real game.
“We wanted to kind of change the narrative of the All-Star game being a joke,” said Durant, James’ first pick in the All-Star draft. “Today we wanted to make it a real basketball game.”
There were moments in the game when it felt like the same old story — a game that didn’t matter in front of fans who didn’t care. But it didn’t end that way, and the teams didn’t play that way. They played defense. They schemed and called plays. And in the game’s final minutes, both the players and the crowd rose to the occasion.
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Team LeBron beat Team Stephen, 148-145, and the game’s new format, and new financial incentives, seemed to work.
“They’ll probably bring up the cash prize, but, $100,000 to $25,000, I think everybody in this room would be doing the same things we were doing,” Kyrie Irving said laughing. “I think it did give some incentive, but also surrounding and circulating kind of the opinions of what the All-Star game has kind of turned into, I think we all took it kind of personal.”
James was named the game’s MVP with 29 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. DeRozan scored 21 points with six rebounds and two assists.
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“What I take pride in is taking care of my body,” said James, at 33 the oldest player in the game. “Taking care of my body, making sure I’m available every night and continue to get better and better. I don’t really take it as a young guy, OK, I need to show him that I’m still able to do this. I need to continue to show myself.”
This year, the NBA abandoned the traditional All-Star game format, which pitted the Eastern Conference all-stars against the Western Conference all-stars. Instead, 12 players were chosen from each conference before two team captains — James and Curry — drafted players in an untelevised draft.
Players on the winning team would earn $100,000, while players on the losing team would earn $25,000.
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It was all part of an attempt to change the conversation about the game.
“It was mandated by the league and also by the players,” said Toronto coach Dwane Casey, who coached Team LeBron. “The Players Association wanted it to be better, and I thought — I didn’t expect tonight to be as competitive as it was.”
Houston coach Mike D’Antoni coached Team Stephen.
“The Golden State guys kept taking my clipboard and trying to draw up plays, and I had to fight them,” D’Antoni said, feigning ignorance of a recent game when Warriors coach Steve Kerr allowed his players to take over the huddle. “I don’t understand that one.”
For a while, a more competitive game didn’t mean a more electric atmosphere. The crowd was so quiet at times that it was possible to hear the players’ conversations. During player introductions, the crowd cheered for Paul George, a player the Lakers and their fans hope to lure in free agency, but had little reaction when he checked into the game.
The energy in the building suddenly changed late in the fourth quarter. Lakers governor Jeanie Buss and Clippers owner Steve Ballmer handed off All-Star responsibilities to the host of next year’s game. As soon as Michael Jordan walked onto the court, the fans in the building began to roar. They stood up and cheered, and the players on the court joined them in their ovation.
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Chris Rock sits courtside at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Actors Chadwick Boseman, center, and Michael B. Jordan, left, sit courtside at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Chance the Rapper bites into a piece of pizza courtside at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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N.E.R.D perform with team mascots on the court at halftime of the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Fergie sings the National Anthem at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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LeBron James laughs as he waits to receive his MVP trophy after leading Team LeBron to a 148-145 win over Team Stephen at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Comedian Tracy Morgan eats a hot dog courtside at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Kevin Hart is center stage during a pregame show at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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LeBron James captains Team LeBron against Team Stephen (Curry) at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Team Stephen center Karl Anthony-Towns pulls down a rebound over Team LeBron center Andre Drummond during second half action at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Stephen Curry struggles to dribble past the defense of Victor Oladipo during second half action at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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DeMar DeRozan of Team Stephen gets by Kevin Durant of Team LeBron during second half action at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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DeMar DeRozan leads Joel Embiid to the court after the starting lineup for Team Stephen is announed at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Team Stephen defender Draymond Green blocks the shot of Team LeBron center Al Horford during second half action at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Stephen Curry stays warm on the sideline during a break in the action at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Jerry West chats with Bill Russel and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, left, courtside at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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LeBron James knocks Joel Embiid to the floor after losing control of the ball during first half action at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Russell Westbrook challenges Team Stephen defender DeMar DeRozan during first half action at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Joel Embiid signals after hitting a three-pointer for Team Stephen in the first half at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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DeMar DeRozan is fouled by Paul George during the last minute of play at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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LeBron James is awarded the MVP trophy after leading Team LeBron to a 148-145 win over Team Stephen at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Stephen Curry is trapped by Team LeBron defenders as he tries to attempt a last second shot at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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LeBron James, right, and Kevin Durant celebrate a close win over Team Stephen Curry at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Russell Westbrook reacts after a kicked ball call prevented a fast break for Team LeBron at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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LeBron James yells out after hitting a three-pointer late in the second half at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Russell Westrbrook fouls Giannis Antetokounmpo as LeBron James looks on during first half action in the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Team LeBron captain LeBron James shoots over Draymond Green to tie the score late in the game at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Giannis Antetokounmpo slams the ball home for two points over Team LeBron player Paul George during second half action at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell, sporting a Darrell Griffith jersey, jumps over three people, including comedian Kevin Hart, during the Slam Dunk Contest on Saturday night at Staples Center.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Cavaliers forward Larry Nance Jr. flies to the basket during the Slam Dunk Contest.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oldaipo puts on a “Black Panther” mask given to him by the star of the blockbuster movie, Chadwick Bosman, during the Slam Dunk Contest.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Pacers guard Victor Oladipo wears a “Black Panther” mask while participating in the Slam Dunk contest.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Cavaliers forward Larry Nance Jr. wears his father’s Phoenix Suns uniform during the Slam Dunk Contest.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell winds up as he elevates during the Slam Dunk Contest on Saturday night at Staples Center.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Cavaliers forward Larry Nance Jr. throws down a windmill dunk after taking a pass from his father, Larry Nance Sr., who won the first Slam Dunk contest in 1984.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell is congratulated by Cavaliers forward Larry Nance Jr. after winning the Slam Dunk Contest.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Suns guard’ Devin Booker lines up a shot during the Three-Point Shooting Contest on Saturday night at Staples Center.
(Chris Pizzello / Associated Press)
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Spencer Dinwiddie poses with the Skills Challenge Trophy after winning the competition on Saturday night at Staples Center.
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Getty Images)
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Lou Williams competed in the Skills Challenge on Saturday night at Staples Center. He would lose in the first round to eventual champion Spencer Dinwiddie.
(Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images)
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Kings guard Bogdan Bogdanovic of Team World celebrates after receiving the Rising Stars Challenge MVP Trophy from Chris Webber on Friday night at Staples Center.
(Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images)
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Buddy Hield of Team World is defended by Jaylen Brown of Team USA during the Rising Stars Challenge.
(Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images)
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Team World’s Bogdan Bogdanovic made seven three-pointers to finish with 26 points in the Rising Stars game.
(Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images)
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Dennis Smith Jr., of Team USA elevates for a dunk during the Rising Stars game.
(Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
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Lauri Markkanen of Team World finishes off a dunk during the Rising Stars game at Staples Center.
(Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images)
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Team World’s Dillon Brooks is set to throw down a dunk during the Rising Stars game on Friday.
(Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
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Team USA forward Kyle Kuzma attempts a reverse layup against Domantas Sabonis of Team World during the Rising Stars game.
(Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
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Team World forward Ben Simmons sends a pass ahead to a teammate during the Rising Stars game on Friday night at Staples Center.
(Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images)
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Quavo, center, accepts the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game MVP Trophy on Friday evening.
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Getty Images)
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Michael B. Jordan and Jason Williams greet each other during the Celebrity Game at Los Angeles Convention Center on Friday.
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Getty Images)
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Nick Cannon and Justin Bieber watch the Celebrity Game from Team Lakers bench on Friday.
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Getty Images)
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Actor Jamie Foxx jokes around before the start of the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game on Friday.
(Chris Pizzello / Associated Press)
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Rachel DeMita of Team Clippers attempts a shot against Stefanie Dolson of Team Lakers during the 2018 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game at Los Angeles Convention Center.
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Getty Images)
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Team Clippers’ Quavo leads a fast break against Team Lakers’ Justin Bieber during the 2018 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game on Friday at Los Angeles Convention Center.
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Getty Images)
That moment infused the building with an energy that hadn’t been present. It was rewarded with a finish that saw both teams invest themselves in the outcome.
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James had the ball near the three-point line, dribbled a bit, thought about shooting then licked his lips before sinking a step-back three, tying the game at 144.
“So I’ve got [Joel] Embiid on me, knowing that he’s going to give me a little space and I’m going to create a little bit more space once I get to that step-back,” James said. “It just felt good when it left my hands.”
Team LeBron pulled ahead by three moments later, then James asked for real defense from his team as the game ended.
“Very competitive game,” Curry said. “I think we did it the right way, showcased our talents and our skills, and put on a show, so that was fun.”
Tania Ganguli covered the Lakers for the Los Angeles Times from 2016-20. Previously, she spent six years covering football, first for the Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville, Fla., then the Houston Chronicle and ESPN. An alumnus of Northwestern University and Arcadia High School, she has written about everything from high school sports to college football to boat racing during the past 15 years.
