Sports
Did the NBA Fix the All-Star Game? Mixed Reviews After New Format Debut
The knobs were turned, the recipe tweaked, and the NBA sat back and watched the latest version of its embattled showcase event unfold in the Los Angeles area this weekend.
The verdict? It was entertaining until it wasn’t as the NBA learned there actually can be too much of a good thing when it comes to the All-Star Game.
What went right was that one team of young stars, one team of veteran heroes and another of international standouts seemed to return an improved sense of pride to the event.
And 12-minute games, where energy and effort play is needed to move forward, added the sense of urgency that had been lacking in All-Star Games from the past.
But by essentially playing the equivalent high-stakes games that mirrored full-game fourth quarters, there were heavy legs and wayward shots by the time the title-game matchup rolled around.
It was hardly a surprise that the younger USA Stars were the last team standing. Their lopsided 47-21 victory over the veteran USA Stripes failed to deliver the proper crescendo that had been building from the beginning.
With victory and the MVP in hand, though, Anthony Edwards of USA Stars gave the event’s new format his stamp of approval.
“Yeah, I think they ain’t really going to take in what I’m saying, but I like this format,” the Minnesota Timberwolves’ star said. “I think it makes us compete because it’s only 12 minutes, and the three different teams separate the guys. I think it was really good.”
There are still those who want to put the old pieces back together.
“I mean, East-West is definitely a tradition,” said LeBron James of USA Stripes, before playing in his record 22nd All-Star Game. “It’s been really good. Obviously, I like the East and West format. They’re trying something. We’ll see what happens.”
Kawhi Leonard of Team Stripes leaned into the urgency and scored 31 points in 12 minutes to end Team World’s title hopes. He had fans in his home arena chanting “MVP” before running out of gas in the final when he scored one point.
“I thought it was good, but I still think going back to East-West will be great,” Leonard said. “I think guys will compete still.”
As promising as Sunday’s format was, there was plenty of confusion on the court after USA Stripes earned a 42-40 victory over USA Stars on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from De’Aaron Fox.
“I hit a 3 to get to 40, and we thought the game was over,” Edwards said. “Fox came back and hit a 3, and they won. I kind of felt like we got wigged out, but it’s all good.”
Leonard said Saturday that he wasn’t sure how the round-robin format was going to work. He still had questions Sunday.
“Even as the game’s going on, trying to figure out the records for being 2-1 and how you play that out as well,” Leonard said. “Is it like by points? How many? Point spread or what?”
Kevin Durant of Team Stripes failed to score in the title game and had 12 points on the day but went on the record multiple times begging to stop the criticism madness.
“I just feel like fans and media need something to complain about, and the All-Star Game don’t make them feel like they felt when they were kids,” Durant said this past weekend. “They need something to complain about. I don’t think it’s that big of a deal, to be honest.”
The NBA showed it is listening with its newest format. The league even added a Shooting Stars competition to All-Star Saturday. The addition of an international team in the All-Star Game gave the day an Olympics/Ryder Cup flavor.
There will still be plenty of detractors. Having the veteran USA Stripes play three consecutive high-energy 12-minute games didn’t seem like a good idea. And it wasn’t.
“The format, yeah, I liked it,” Team World’s Victor Wembanyama said. “I liked it. I wouldn’t be against this format in the future, and I wouldn’t be against the regular East versus West either.”
Now comes the wait to see what the NBA does next year as the Suns’ Devin Booker gets set to welcome the All-Star circus Phoenix. Booker validated Sunday’s festivities.
“I think every team honestly wanted to win,” Booker said.
Of course that is easy to say when you did actually win.
“I know the world guys wanted to win,” Booker said. “I know Victor wanted to win bad. You could see it. And I know our team did. Shout-out Kawhi. We were watching that game in the back. That’s probably one of the most special quarters of basketball we’ve witnessed.”
Sports
MLB roundup: Red Sox rout Orioles, fire manager Alex Cora
Apr 25, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras (40) celebrates with his teammates after hitting a home run during the ninth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images Garrett Crochet pitched six shutout innings and Andruw Monasterio drilled a late-game grand slam as the Boston Red Sox snapped a four-game losing streak in dominant fashion with a 17-1 win over the host Baltimore Orioles Saturday afternoon.
Later on Saturday, the Red Sox fired manager Alex Cora and five others on staff. Chad Tracy, the club’s manager at Triple-A Worcester since 2022, was named interim manager.
Caleb Durbin and Willson Contreras (five RBIs in the game) joined Monasterio with ninth-inning home runs as part of Boston’s 10-run blitz in the final inning. Connor Wong drilled a three-run double in the fifth inning. Monasterio and Ceddanne Rafaela had three hits apiece.
The Orioles, who racked up 20 hits on Friday night, had one hit through five innings Saturday. Taylor Ward had two of Baltimore’s six hits.
Dodgers 12, Cubs 4
Max Muncy hit a two-run home run and Andy Pages had three RBIs as host Los Angeles snapped Chicago’s 10-game winning streak thanks in large part to a six-run fourth inning.
Teoscar Hernandez had two hits and two RBIs, Alex Freeland had two doubles, a run and an RBI, and Hyeseong Kim had two hits, a run and an RBI for the Dodgers.
Seiya Suzuki, Moises Ballesteros and Miguel Amaya hit solo home runs for Chicago. Suzuki also had a three-hit game.
Phillies 8, Braves 5 (10 innings)
Bryce Harper’s bases-loaded single in the 10th inning drove in two runs and sparked visiting Philadelphia to a win over Atlanta to end its 10-game losing streak.
Harper was 2-for-3 with four RBIs. Philadelphia right-hander Zack Wheeler made his first appearance since Aug. 15 of last year after missing time due to undergoing surgery to treat thoracic outlet syndrome. He pitched five innings and allowed two runs on three hits.
Atlanta right-hander Bryce Elder pitched seven innings, matching his season high, and allowed three runs on six hits.
Nationals 6, White Sox 3 (10 innings)
Nasim Nunez had a pair of two-run singles, one of which capped off a breakout 10th inning to help Washington come away with a victory over host Chicago.
Nunez finished with four of Washington’s five RBIs, nearly doubling his total of six RBIs he had in his first 24 games this season. Cionel Perez (2-3) worked around two walks for a scoreless ninth inning and Brad Lord pitched the 10th for the Nationals, who snapped a three-game losing streak despite stranding 10 runners on base.
Only the automatic runner scored in the 10th for Chicago, which had won four of five. Miguel Vargas had a double and a pair of walks for the White Sox, who were 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position and stranded 12 runners.
Yankees 6, Astros 3
Austin Wells socked a leadoff home run to ignite a three-run seventh inning as New York claimed a three-game series against host Houston.
Wells’ second homer was the third of the game for the Yankees, who improved to 5-0 on their current nine-game road trip and have won eight straight overall. The Yankees were locked in a pitcher’s duel before Wells snapped a 2-2 tie by driving an inside fastball from Astros reliever Kai-Wei Teng (1-1) out to right field.
Astros starter Mike Burrows matched his career high of eight strikeouts while working five innings. Burrows surrendered a solo home run to Grisham, his fourth on the season, with one out in the third inning that enabled the Yankees to erase a 1-0 deficit.
Blue Jays 5, Guardians 3
Kevin Gausman pitched an effective 6 2/3 innings, Kazuma Okamoto homered and Toronto beat visiting Cleveland.
Gausman (2-1) allowed two runs, six hits and no walks with three strikeouts. Louis Varland allowed one run on two singles and a double in the ninth to pick up his second save. Andres Gimenez keyed a three-run sixth with a two-run double to help the Blue Jays gain a split of the first two games of the three-game series.
David Fry hit a solo homer for the Guardians. Joey Cantillo (1-1) allowed three runs and six hits in five-plus innings.
Mariners 11, Cardinals 9
Leo Rivas’ tie-breaking, two-run single in the ninth inning propelled Seattle to a victory over host St. Louis.
Julio Rodriguez, Will Wilson and Cole Young homered for the Mariners, who posted their third straight victory and sent the Cardinals to their third loss in a row, overcoming a poor start from Bryan Woo, who allowed seven runs on nine hits in three innings.
For St. Louis, Nathan Church hit two home runs and JJ Wetherholt, Ivan Herrera and Pedro Pages also went deep. The Cardinals took a 9-7 lead into the eighth before Connor Joe’s pinch-hit two-run single tied the game.
Giants 6, Marlins 2
Casey Schmitt hit a two-run homer, Drew Gilbert and Heliot Ramos added solo shots, and San Francisco evened its three-game home series against Miami at a game apiece.
Robbie Ray combined with four relievers on a six-hitter, lifting the Giants to their first home win over the Marlins since August of 2024. Miami had won six straight in San Francisco, including 9-4 in the series opener Friday night.
Schmitt, Ramos, Jung Hoo Lee and Luis Arraez had two hits apiece for the Giants, who out-hit the Marlins 11-6 en route to snapping a two-game losing streak. Xavier Edwards and Agustin Ramirez collected two hits each for Miami.
Rays 6, Twins 1
Jake Fraley hit a two-run homer and Ben Williamson went 3-for-4 with a triple, double and two RBIs to power Tampa Bay Rays to a victory over slumping Minnesota in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Junior Caminero extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a single and Yandy Diaz scored two runs for Tampa Bay, which extended its winning streak to three games. Shane McClanahan (2-2) allowed three hits over five shutout innings.
Byron Buxton had two hits for Minnesota, which took its fourth straight loss and eighth in the past nine games. Bailey Ober (2-1) allowed two runs on three hits over six innings.
Rangers 4, Athletics 3
Josh Jung hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the sixth inning as Texas beat the Athletics in Arlington, Texas.
Corey Seager had two hits and an RBI for Texas, which rallied from a 3-0 hole to level the series and set up a Sunday rubber match. Rangers starter MacKenzie Gore allowed three runs on six hits over five innings. Cole Winn (2-1), Jalen Beeks and Jakob Junis each pitched a scoreless inning before left-hander Jacob Latz retired the Athletics in order in the ninth for his first save.
Shea Langeliers and Jacob Wilson had two hits apiece for the Athletics, who lost despite out-hitting the Rangers 7-5. The Athletics saw Jeffrey Springs (3-2) give up four runs on five hits over six innings.
Padres 6, Diamondbacks 4
Ty France hit two bases-empty homers, Mason Miller recorded his major league-leading 10th save, and San Diego beat Arizona in the Mexico City Series at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu.
Miller has not allowed a run in 14 1/3 innings this season, and he extended his scoreless streak to a franchise-record 34 2/3 innings. France hit his second and third homers of the season and Gavin Sheets had a two-run single in a four-run seventh for the Padres, who overcame an early 4-0 deficit. They have won 13 of 15.
Alek Thomas homered in a four-run second inning, his second homer in three games, for the Diamondbacks, who are the designated home team in the two-game series. They have lost four of five. Arizona infielder Ildemaro Vargas extended his season-opening hitting streak to 19 games, the longest active streak in the majors. Vargas has a 22-game hitting streak dating to 2025.
Royals 12, Angels 1
Salvador Perez had three hits including a home run, Cole Ragans pitched six strong innings and Kansas City routed visiting Los Angeles.
Nick Loftin had two hits and drove in four runs for the Royals, who have won three of four. Ragans (1-4) allowed a run on five hits and struck out 11 batters without a walk. It was the third time this season he went six innings and allowed one run or less.
Jo Adell homered and Vaughn Grissom had three hits for the Angels, who have lost six of seven. Walbert Urena (0-3) lasted 3 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on six hits. Los Angeles pitchers issued 10 walks, including two with the bases loaded.
Pirates 6, Brewers 3 (10 innings)
Bryan Reynolds singled in the go-ahead run to trigger a three-run 10th inning and lift Pittsburgh to victory and hand host Milwaukee its fourth consecutive loss.
Left-hander Angel Zerpa (0-2) started the 10th for the Brewers. Pinch hitter Marcell Ozuna drew a one-out walk. Nick Yorke ran for Ozuna and Reynolds singled to left, scoring automatic runner Henry Davis from second. Both runners advanced on a groundout. Grant Anderson relieved Zerpa, and Nick Gonzales delivered an RBI single to left, with Reynolds continuing home on a bobble by left fielder Greg Jones.
Yohan Ramirez kept Milwaukee off the board in the 10th for his first save. Gregory Soto (2-0) delivered a scoreless ninth. Brewers starter Jacob Misiorowski struck out nine in six innings, allowing three runs on six hits.
Reds 9, Tigers 2
Sal Stewart homered and drove in five runs to help host Cincinnati clinch a series win over Detroit.
Brady Singer (2-1) allowed two runs on eight hits across 5 1/3 innings for the Reds, who have won nine of their last 11 games. Singer struck out three and TJ Friedl went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, as Cincinnati scored nine runs for the second straight day.
Jack Flaherty (0-2) lasted just two innings for the Tigers, yielding six runs on five hits. Spencer Torkelson homered in his fourth straight game for Detroit, which has dropped four of its last six.
–Field Level Media
Sports
BetBoom Team advances to grand final of PGL Wallachia 8
YMCA member Austin Manengu works the keyboard as he plays a game of Fortnite during the unveiling of the new gaming lab at the Maplewood Family YMCA in Rochester Thursday, June 20, 2024. YMCA of Greater Rochester in partnership with Metro Sports & Entertainment Group will open two gaming labs for youth and teens this year. BetBoom Team downed Aurora Gaming 2-1 on Saturday to advance to the grand final of the PGL Wallachia Season 8 event at Bucharest, Romania.
Aurora Gaming could earn a rematch in Sunday’s grand final if they can defeat Team Falcons in the lower-bracket final earlier in the day.
Sixteen teams began the $1 million Dota 2 tournament with the top eight advancing from the Swiss-system group stage. The double-elimination playoffs continue with all matches best-of-three until the best-of-five grand final on Sunday. The winning side will take home $300,000.
On Saturday, BetBoom Team opened the upper-bracket final with a marathon 82-minute victory on red, then Aurora Gaming drew level with a win in 40 minutes on red, before BetBoom emerged with a 37-minute win on green.
Russian Danil “gpk” Skutin paced BetBoom with a 32-7-44 kill-death-assist ratio over three games.
Team Liquid swept the South America Rejects in one lower-bracket quarterfinal, winning in 38 minutes on green and 49 minutes on red.
Poland’s Michal “Nisha” Jankowski led Team Liquid with a 22-6-28 K-D-A ratio.
In the other lower-bracket quarterfinal, Team Falcons swept PARIVISION by winning in 45 minutes on red and 43 minutes on green.
Jordan’s Ammar “ATF” Al-Assaf paced Team Falcons with a 21-11-17 K-D-A ratio.
Team Falcons outlasted Team Liquid 2-1 in the lower-bracket semifinals. The Falcons won the opener in 53 minutes on green, Liquid drew even in 38 minutes on green and Team Falcons won a 74-minute battle on green in the deciding faceoff.
Oliver “skiter” Lepko of Slovakia helped Team Falcons’ cause with a 30-9-35 K-D-A ratio.
Sunday’s schedule
Lower-bracket final — Team Falcons vs. Aurora Gaming
Grand final — BetBoom Team vs. lower-bracket final winner
PGL Wallachia Season 8 prize pool
1. $300,000 — TBD
2. $175,000 — TBD
3. $120,000 — TBD
4. $80,000 — Team Liquid
5-6. $60,000 — South America Rejects, PARIVISION
7-8. $40,000 — HEROIC, Team Spirit
9-11. $20,000 — GamerLegion, Xtreme Gaming, MOUZ
12-14. $15,000 — Vici Gaming, Virtus.pro, Natus Vincere
15-16. $10,000 — Team Yandex, Tundra Esports
–Field Level Media
Sports
OpTic Texas, Los Angeles Thieves in semifinals at CDL Stage 3 Minor
OpTic Texas, the Los Angeles Thieves, FaZe Vegas and the Miami Heretics won their quarterfinal matches on Saturday at the Call of Duty League Stage 3 Minor.
The semifinals on Sunday will pit Texas against Los Angeles, then Vegas against Miami with the winners in the grand final later in the day.
All 12 CDL teams are competing in the tournament, which will reward $20,000 and 30 CDL points to the champion. The single-elimination bracket is seeded based on teams’ standing following Major 2. All matches are best-of-five.
On Saturday, OpTic Texas started fast, then took a loss before eliminating Toronto KOI. Texas won 250-219 on Den Hardpoint and 6-3 on Gridlock Search and Destroy. Toronto stayed alive with a 5-1 victory on Scar Overload before OpTic secured the match with a 250-81 triumph on Scar Hardpoint.
The Los Angeles Thieves swept G2 Minnesota 3-0, winning 250-229 on Sake Hardpoint, 6-3 on Scar Search and Destroy and 6-0 on Scar Overload.
FaZe Vegas ousted the Riyadh Falcons 3-1, opening with a 250-146 win on Den Hardpoint and 6-2 decision on Fringe Search and Destroy. The Falcons forced a fourth map by taking Scar Overload 5-3, but Vegas emerged with a 250-187 triumph on Sake Hardpoint to finish the match.
The Miami Heretics dropped the opener to the Paris Gentle Mates, 250-236 on Sake Hardpoint. Then it was all Heretics, winning 6-3 on Fringe Search and Destroy, 4-3 on Scar Overload and 250-203 on Colossus Hardpoint.
Call of Duty League’s Stage 3 Minor prize pool
1. $20,000, 30 CDL points
2. no money, 20 CDL points
3-4. no money, 10 CDL points
5-8. no money, no CDL points — Toronto KOI, G2 Minnesota, Riyadh Falcons, Paris Gentle Mates
9-12. no money, no CDL points — Carolina Royal Ravens, Cloud9 New York, Vancouver Surge, Boston Breach
–Field Level Media
MLB roundup: Red Sox rout Orioles, fire manager Alex Cora
Creative Assembly drops first look at the Alien: Isolation sequel
