NBA All-Star Game in Review

March 8, 2021
The GIST: We watched the NBA All-Star Game (ASG) so you could watch the Harry and Meghan interview with Oprah instead. You’re welcome.
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NBA All-Star Game in Review
Source: Sportscenter/Twitter

Pre-game drama: Many players (and us) weren’t stoked about an ASG in the middle of a pandemic, and what happened on Sunday shows exactly why. Just hours before the event began, All-Stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons were ruled out of the day’s competitions due to COVID-19 contact tracing, which may also affect their eligibility to play for their team, the Philadelphia 76ers, in the coming days.

  • On top of that, the NBA also sent out over 200 cease-and-desist orders to organizers around Atlanta for using NBA and ASG logos for unsanctioned parties planned over the weekend.

The festivities: Instead of a full weekend, like usual, the NBA condensed all the fun into a few hours yesterday. They started with the skills competition — won by Indiana Pacer Domantas Sabonis — then moved to the always-exciting three-point contest, where Golden State Warrior Steph Curry reclaimed his 2015 title.

Team LeBron won the ASG itself, 170–150, over Team Durant, and Portland Trail Blazer Anfernee Simons took home the title for best dunker. Fun times with a great purpose, but let’s get back to the real stuff now, shall we?