The new All-Star format was a win for the NBA, even if Donovan Mitchell, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ lone representative, didn’t end up making the winning team.
This year’s showcase is divided into four mini-games. Mitchell’s veteran Team USA Stripes faced off against the young Team USA Stars and Team World, a third team made up of international players.
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Each team played a 12-minute game. The two teams with the best records faced off in the final quarter. The Stripes won their first two games but ran out of energy in their final game against the Young Stars.
Mitchell played a key role, both good and bad, in the Stripes’ opening win over the Stars.
With 23 seconds left and the Stripes leading by two, Mitchell was intercepted by Anthony Edwards while trying to get around him. Edwards then hit a conversion three-pointer to give the Stars a one-point lead with 20 seconds left.
Mitchell made up for the loss on the final possession. With less than 10 seconds left in the game, Mitchell rushed inside, received a pass from LeBron James, and quickly hit De’Aaron Fox who was open in the corner for a buzzer-beating buzzer beater.
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Mitchell scored 6 points, 3 assists and 2 turnovers on 2-of-3 shooting in that game, helping the team defeat the Stars 42-40.
The Stripes then narrowly defeated Team World 48-45 in the second game.
Kawhi Leonard controlled that game, finishing with 31 points and two steals on 11-13 shooting in 12 minutes of action. That included hitting the game-winning 3-pointer with three seconds left.
Mitchell didn’t have that big of an impact in Game 2. He did not attempt a shot, but blocked Alperon Xianjun.
The experienced Stripes failed in their last game against the young American team. James, Kevin Durant and Leonard have all been a step slower after three straight games, and their two young starters, Jaylen Brunson and Jaylen Brown, have provided little help.
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When Mitchell entered the game, the Stripes trailed 26-9 midway through the 12-minute period. They ultimately lost 47-21, with Mitchell contributing 6 points in the game.
Overall, Mitchell played 17 minutes in three games, scoring 12 points and 3 assists on 4-of-7 shooting.
Anthony Edwards wins the Kobe Bryant Trophy as All-Star Game MVP.
This new All-Star format is fun. It was a definite win compared to some previous iterations, and much of the evening felt like a basketball game. The first three games were fun, but the game ran out of steam toward the end. Still, it’s a clear improvement over recent years when the All-Star Game has been difficult to watch.
