This year’s All-Star event, held at the Los Angeles Clippers’ home arena, introduced a revamped format featuring four mini-games contested by three teams. While the opening three matchups delivered high drama and tight finishes, the championship game turned out to be surprisingly one-sided.
Each game lasted 12 minutes, although the opener required overtime. The American players were split into two squads – “Stars” and “Stripes,” a nod to the U.S. flag – while international players formed the third team, labeled “World.”
The first three results were tightly contested:
- Stars vs. World – 37:35 (32:32 in regulation, 5:3 in overtime)
- Stripes vs. Stars – 42:40
- Stripes vs. World – 48:45
Ironically, the least competitive game of the night was the final. The Stars got their revenge against the Stripes with a dominant 47:21 win.
On the individual side, Nikola Jokić did not score, finishing with two rebounds. The Serbian center, who turns 31 in three days, did not feature in the second matchup – nor did Luka Dončić. In that contest, Kawhi Leonard delivered a standout performance, pouring in 31 points on an efficient 11-of-13 shooting from the field, including 6-of-7 from beyond the arc and a perfect 3-of-3 from the free-throw line.
Despite Leonard’s brilliance, his team collapsed in the final. Edwards, the dynamic guard for the Minnesota Timberwolves, was ultimately named the top performer of the evening.
He opened the tournament with 13 points (5-of-9 shooting, 3-of-7 from three) and two rebounds against the World team. In the lone defeat, he added 11 points (5-of-8 from the field, 1-of-4 from three), along with three rebounds and one assist. In the final outing, he contributed eight points (3-of-5 shooting, 2-of-4 from deep), four rebounds, and two assists.
Altogether, Edwards tallied 32 points across the event, capping off a memorable All-Star showing.
