Tatum’s Team LeBron downs Walker’s Team Giannis 157-155 from the line

The so-called “Elam ending” was a hit as the Boston Celtics’ Kemba Walker and Jayson Tatum shined in one of the most interesting All-Star Games in memory.

The Elam ending worked, evidently.

In one of the most exciting All-Star Games in recent memory (if not ever), fans were treated to the best players in the world playing hard on both ends to close out the fourth quarter designed to end at a target score of 24 points over the leading score at the end of the third quarter.

The number 24 was selected to honor the career of Los Angeles Laker luminary Kobe Bryant, who recently passed in a tragic helicopter accident.

The peculiar construct behind the surprisingly exciting quarter — the aforementioned Elam ending — was introduced as a means of attempting to get players to buy into the usually-lax exhibition, and it worked amazingly.

Team LeBron took it down to the wire despite Toronto Raptor Kyle Lowry drawing several charges (yes, really) in a fourth quarter full of intense defense and eye-popping offense, Anthony Davis winning the game on a free throw, missing the first.

The Celtics were well-represented by their two players participating in the 2020 NBA All-Star Game, point guard Kemba Walker and forward Jayson Tatum.

Walker, who started for the second time in the midseason exhibition, would finish with 23 points for Team Giannis, behind only Antetokounmpo himself, who scored 25 points and 11 rebounds.

Tatum logged 6 points for Team LeBron, who were led by Kawhi Leonard’s 30 points and 7 boards in their winning effort, the Los Angeles Clipper earning the first-ever Kobe Bryant All-Star MVP award for his efforts.

Both Celtics players had several highlight plays throughout the match, which also raised money for charity, the winners of each quarter’s designated charitable organization receiving the larger purse.

All in all, it was an intensely engaging All-Star Game, with the Elam ending a probable return for future events, judging from the results.

And with four All-Star-caliber players on Boston’s roster, it’s not unreasonable to assume we’ll be seeing more Celtics scrambling for the win in one next year.

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