Even before Trae Young’s half-court shot at the buzzer fell, teammate Pascal Siakam had collapsed underneath the basket in celebration.
As the final seconds ticked off the clock before halftime, Young took a few long leaps and heaved. The bench exploded after the shot swished, with Kyle Lowry bear-hugging Young, who finished with a double-double of 10 points and 10 assists in Team Giannis’ 157-155 loss to Team LeBron in the NBA All-Star game Sunday at the United Center.
“They were all hype for me. I didn’t know who picked me up, or anything. And then I saw Joel (Embiid) just start running toward me and I had to try and run away,” Young joked of the 7-foot-tall Sixers center. “I didn’t want to get tackled by him.”
His 10 assists were a game-high. He made the most of his playing time, as he played 15 minutes and 44 seconds, the fewest of any starter.
Young was disappointed to not get in the game in the fourth quarter, especially as it went down to the wire.
“It was definitely hard for me,” Young said. “I wanted to get in the game, get a stop, hit a 3 to end it. Didn’t happen, but I definitely had a great time.”
Team captain Giannis Antetokounmpo led Team Giannis with 25 points, with Kemba Walker adding 23 points and Embiid adding 22. Kawhi Leonard led Team LeBron with a game-high 30 points, taking home the first-ever Kobe Bryant All-Star MVP award, named in honor of Bryant after his recent death. Chris Paul and LeBron James each added 23 points.
Young got off to a slower start, his first and only bucket of the first quarter coming off a lob from Walker at the 7:41 mark. He was subbed out with about six minutes to go in the first, and didn’t come back in until the 3:27 mark in the second, looking much more comfortable that go-around.
He nutmegged James Harden (dribbling between his legs) late in the second quarter and found his footing, making his first 3-pointer of the night with 1:31 to go before halftime, his half-court shot putting Team Giannis up 92-83.
Team LeBron won the first quarter, 53-41, so $100,000 was donated to his charity of choice, Chicago Scholars, as part of the game’s new format. Team Giannis won the second quarter, 51-30, so After School Matters received $100,000.
On a much-needed play for Team Giannis, Young connected with Utah’s Rudy Gobert on a lob to close out the third with a 41-41 tie. Gobert, who had a double-double of 21 points and 11 rebounds, was impressed with Young’s passing: “It was fun. On the last one, I didn't think he saw me, but he has pretty good vision.”
Team Giannis took a 133-124 lead into the fourth. Under the new format, the first team to 157 would win (adding Bryant’s jersey number 24 to the leading team’s total).
The new rules prompted much more defense than usually expected in the All-Star game. Team LeBron nearly won after a goaltending call on Antetokounmpo — but the call was overturned — and nearly won again after Harden hit a 3-pointer with Team LeBron leading 154-153 — but Harden was called for an offensive foul.
Two free throws by Embiid brought Team Giannis within one point, 156-155, and made it a next-basket-wins scenario. Anthony Davis made one of two free throws to give Team LeBron the win (with a total of $400,000 going to his charity).
This was the third All-Star event for Young, who participated in the Rising Stars challenge Friday, adding 18 points and a team-high seven assists, and the 3-point contest Saturday where he was the first player to be eliminated.
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