USA Stars Cruise Past USA Stripes to Claim All-Star Crown

USA Stars delivered a commanding performance on Sunday night, defeating USA Stripes 47-21 in the championship game of the revamped NBA All-Star mini-tournament.

The three-team round-robin event, which also featured Team World, consisted of fast-paced 12-minute contests and marked another shift in the league’s evolving All-Star format. After falling 42-40 to the veteran-led Stripes earlier in the round robin, the younger Stars returned the favor emphatically when it mattered most.

Tyrese Maxey led the charge in the final, scoring nine points on 4-of-8 shooting in the 12-minute decider. Anthony Edwards added eight points, knocking down two three-pointers as the Stars seized control early. Edwards’ consistent brilliance across the tournament — 32 total points over three games — earned him MVP honors.

The championship game was effectively settled in the opening minutes. USA Stars stormed to a 12-1 lead, with Maxey accounting for seven of those points. Although USA Stripes briefly cut the deficit to 18-9 with 7:03 remaining following back-to-back three-pointers from LeBron James and Jalen Brunson, the momentum quickly shifted back.

A decisive 15-0 surge put the contest beyond doubt, stretching the lead to 33-9 with just over four minutes left. From there, the Stars cruised to the title.

Chet Holmgren of the Oklahoma City Thunder contributed eight points, while Jalen Duren of the Detroit Pistons chipped in six, reinforcing the youthful energy that defined the Stars’ campaign.

For the Stripes, Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers scored six points and James of the Los Angeles Lakers added five in the final. Kawhi Leonard, representing the Los Angeles Clippers, was limited to just one point on 0-of-4 shooting — a sharp contrast to his explosive 31-point outing in the final round-robin game that propelled Stripes past Team World 48-45.

Earlier in the tournament, USA Stars edged Team World 37-35 in overtime, sealed by a dramatic three-pointer from Scottie Barnes of the Toronto Raptors.

In a format designed for speed and spectacle, USA Stars combined sharp shooting and relentless pace to claim the latest iteration of All-Star bragging rights in dominant fashion.