6:34pm EST: My current understanding is that Team World will advance to the finals if they secure a victory by more than two points. A loss or a win by less than two points will result in their elimination. Should the final margin be exactly two points, it appears we’d face a three-way tie, and I’m uncertain what the tie-breaking procedure entails.
6:30pm EST: Another clutch shot decides the game! De’Aaron Fox just sank a three-pointer at the buzzer, sealing the win for USA Stripes. Up next, we’ll see USA Stripes face off against Team World. Tip-off is expected shortly.
Barnes concluded his performance with 2 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, and 1 steal. Ingram finished with 2 rebounds and an assist, having missed all three of his attempts from the field.
6:21pm EST: Ingram found himself stifled by Cunningham in the paint on consecutive possessions. Meanwhile, Barnes executed a baseline dribble handoff with Cunningham, resulting in a successful three-point shot. It seems Barnes might have been poked in the eye on that last play, which is something to keep an eye on.
6:17pm EST: Both players are now on the court, with Barnes occasionally guarding Ingram. Barnes also delivered a powerful dunk that helped close the gap to six points.
6:13pm EST: Five minutes into the game, the Stripes hold a 19-15 lead. We haven’t seen Barnes or Ingram check in yet, but I’m eagerly anticipating an Ingram isolation play against Barnes when they eventually enter the game.
6:05pm EST: The USA Stripes vs. Stars matchup is just getting underway. It’s Barnes against Ingram!
5:53pm EST: BARNES CLAIMS THE WIN FOR USA STARS! He drained the game-winning three-pointer following a kickout pass from Jalen Duren. What an incredible moment! Barnes’ stats for game one include 3 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal, and a block.
5:50pm EST: Barnes made a critical defensive stop against Wembanyama at the end, sending the game into overtime with the score tied at 32-32. The first team to score five points in overtime wins.
5:46pm EST: Barnes just delivered a crucial block on Canadian Jamal Murray; his knack for clutch defense is truly remarkable.
5:44pm EST: The defensive intensity is rising; Barnes just secured a key steal and an offensive rebound, narrowing the World team’s lead to a single point.
5:36pm EST: Coach Darko’s World team is on a commanding 14-2 run, fueled by Karl-Anthony Towns’ impressive deep three-point shooting. Barnes has contributed one rebound so far.
5:30pm EST: Scottie Barnes has entered the game for the USA Stars; let’s see what he can bring to the court.
5:23pm EST: Indeed, Victor Wembanyama is making his presence felt, scoring all 7 of Team World’s initial points. He clearly meant business when he spoke of starting strong.
5:15pm EST: Introductions are just concluding. The inaugural matchup features Scottie Barnes and the USA Stars against Coach Darko and the World team. I’m really hoping for some reasonably competitive basketball today.
4:55pm EST: We’re approximately five minutes from tip-off. Which squad will emerge victorious? My prediction is Team World.
4:00 pm EST: We’re LIVE! Hello everyone, we’re roughly an hour away from the commencement of the 2026 NBA All-Star game. Grab some snacks, or perhaps an early dinner considering this year’s earlier start time. I’m very much looking forward to my first live blog, and I’ll be here for the entire event, so feel free to submit your questions in the comments.
This year’s All-Star game adopts a USA vs. World format, involving two USA teams and one World team competing in a concise round-robin tournament. Each game is limited to just 12 minutes, and following the round-robin stage, the top two teams will proceed to contend in a final championship game.
The tournament schedule is structured as follows:
- USA Stars vs. World
- USA Stripes vs. Winner of Game 1
- USA Stripes vs. Loser of Game 1
- Championship game (involving the top two teams)
Given the numerous All-Star substitutions and players shifting between the USA and World teams, I understand if you’re unsure about who is on which roster. Therefore, here are the full team lineups:
USA Stars
Scottie Barnes (Toronto Raptors)
Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns)
Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons)
Jalen Duren (Detroit Pistons)
Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves)
Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Jalen Johnson (Atlanta Hawks)
Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia 76ers)
Coach: J.B. Bickerstaff (Detroit Pistons)
USA Stripes
Brandon Ingram (Toronto Raptors)
Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics)
Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks)
Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors) – injured
Kevin Durant (Houston Rockets)
De’Aaron Fox (San Antonio Spurs)
LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers)
Kawhi Leonard (Los Angeles Clippers)
Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Coach: Mitch Johnson (San Antonio Spurs)
World
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks) – injured
Deni Avdija (Portland Trailblazers)
Luka Doncic (Los Angeles Lakers)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder) – injured
Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)
Jamal Murray (Denver Nuggets)
Norman Powell (Miami Heat)
Alperen Sengun (Houston Rockets)
Pascal Siakam (Indiana Pacers)
Karl-Anthony Towns (New York Knicks)
Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs)
Coach: Darko Rajakovic (Toronto Raptors)
Raptors supporters have plenty to keep an eye on, with Barnes playing for one USA team, Ingram for the other, and Coach Darko at the helm of the World team (which also features two former Raptors players and two Canadians).
For some pre-game All-Star insights, consider this reading: