Stephen Curry and Jayson Tatum lead Team Shaq’s All-Star game

The NBA All-Star Game was frequently criticized by the media for having very little defense.

After scoring 20 points in two games, Stephen Curry was crowned MVP on Sunday night.

On a night when Team Shaq emerged victorious in the three-game contest in San Francisco, opinions on the NBA’s new structure were divided.

After leading Team Shaq to a 41–25 victory over Team Chuck in the championship game, Curry expressed satisfaction with the concept.

Curry remarked, “I had a lot of fun,” “Compared to previous year, the intensity was unquestionably different, which was a positive move. Everyone is still trying to figure it out because it’s something new.

“There are ways to tinker with the product, but I think this was a step in the right direction.”

Curry’s teammate from the Golden State Warriors, Draymond Green, is strongly opposed to the format but did not participate in the All-Star Game.

No one can break single-game scoring records in such a style, he said, and he was upset that a non-All Stars club was playing among the four groups.

Green stated on TNT, the network that televised (and promoted) the competition, “You work all year to be an All-Star, and you get to play up to 40 (points) and then you’re done.” “This is so unfair to Victor Wembanyama, who just took this game really seriously, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who just took this game really seriously.”

“Ten being the best?” Green asked when asked to rank it on a scale. A zero. It’s awful. Horrible.

In the championship game, Team Shaq won easily by 16 points with to 15 points from Jayson Tatum and 12 from Curry on four 3-pointers.

Coached by former NBA player Shaquille O’Neal, Tatum finished the game for Team Shaq with a decisive dunk after making 6 of 7 shots from the field.

For the second time in his career, Curry was chosen MVP of the All-Star Game. He won in 2022 as well, scoring 50 points and making 16 3-pointers in Cleveland to set a record for the All-Star Game.

LeBron James (ankle) of Team Shaq did not participate in the celebrations on Sunday night.
Wembanyama led Team Chuck, led by former NBA player Charles Barkley, with 11 points.

Curry’s two treys brought Team Shaq within one point of the target score of 40, which was seven points away.

Soon after, Tatum made his dunk to conclude the inaugural All-Star Game in this format.

Damian Lillard, a guard for the Milwaukee Bucks and an Oakland native, was also victorious. He thought the All-Star Games this year were better than those in previous years.

“I think they’re just looking for a more competitive game and trying to find ways to create that and I thought tonight was a little bit more competitive than they have been the last few years,” Lillard stated. “That’s the No. 1 thing, just to provide the entertainment and that competitiveness on the floor, and I thought it was a little bit more of that tonight.”

Team Shaq made 9 of 17 3-point attempts and shot 57.1 percent from the field.

Team Chuck only made 2 of 16 from behind the arc and shot 35.5 percent overall.

The game’s first eleven points were scored by Team Shaq.

Tatum scored the next eight points on a dunk and two treys after Curry made the game-opening 3-pointer.

When Gilgeous-Alexander split two free shots, Team Chuck finally scored.

Karl-Anthony Towns’ layup put an end to Team Chuck’s drought after they missed their first ten field goal attempts. After that, Wembanyama made a 3-pointer to bring Team Chuck within 11-6.

After losing 12 points, Team Chuck closed the gap to 23-15 thanks to back-to-back dunks from Towns and Wembanyama.

One of the night’s biggest thrills came when Curry swished a shot from the midcourt line, pushing Team Shaq’s lead to 11.

Under the new format, the match was the second of the night for both teams.

With a 42-35 victory over Team Candace, led by former women’s great Candace Parker, Team Shaq advanced to the championship match. First- and second-year NBA players that advanced to the tournament in Friday’s Rising Stars competition comprised Team Candace.

With a 41-32 victory over Team Kenny, led by former NBA player Kenny Smith, Team Chuck advanced to the championship game.