New NBA All-Star Game Format Delivers Ratings, New Energy

The NBA All-Star Game featured a revamped three-team USA vs. World format on Sunday that produced solid ratings numbers for the league after years of declining viewership.

The game was played at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, the new home of the Los Angeles Clippers and the new format also offered some additional twists for NBA betting. The game created some real competition and drama not seen in recent versions of the game.

The event, part of the league’s 75th All-Star Weekend, drew renewed interest from fans and bettors alike, combining competitive play with standout individual performances.

Rather than the traditional East vs. West matchup, the All-Star Game featured three teams — USA Stars, USA Stripes and Team World — competing in a round-robin mini-tournament culminating in a championship game. Each game consisted of four 12-minute matchups, adding some urgency to each contest.

The new format appears to have paid off in ratings. Early reports show the All-Star telecast drew the game’s highest viewership in 15 years, averaging about 8.8 million viewers across broadcast and streaming platforms. Viewership spiked to nearly 9.8 million during key moments.

Game Results & Key Performances

In the opening round, USA Stars edged Team World 37-35 in overtime, with Scottie Barnes knocking down the game-winning 3-pointer late in regulation. Victor Wembanyama set the tone for Team World, dominating early before the Stars rallied.

The second game saw USA Stripes defeat the Stars 42-40, highlighted by a clutch De’Aaron Fox buzzer-beater. In the third round-robin game, the Stripes secured a 48-45 win over Team World behind an explosive 31-point performance from Kawhi Leonard in front of his home-area fans.

The championship game action pitted the two U.S. squads against each other. The Stars dominated with a 47-21 victory to claim the All-Star crown. Anthony Edwards shined throughout the weekend and was named MVP, earning the Kobe Bryant Trophy after a multi-game performance that included high scoring and nice all-around play.

Five-time All-Star Devin Booker also played a key role, contributing consistent scoring, rebounding, and assists for the Stars. His all-around impact mirrored performances seen earlier in the season, cementing his status as a fixture.

Saturday Night Showcases & Celebrity Entertainment

Before Sunday’s competition, All-Star Weekend was packed with other ancillary events. Saturday night featured the Slam Dunk Contest, won by Keshad Johnson, and the State Farm 3-Point Contest, where Damian Lillard captured his third title.

The Castrol Rising Stars game also shined. spotlight on the league’s rising young talent. Celebrity and charity matchups added entertainment value early in the weekend as well.

The Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game saw actor and model Rome Flynn repeat as MVP, leading Team Giannis to a 65-58 victory with 17 points and 4 assists.

Ratings, Betting, & Looking Ahead

From a broadcast perspective, the new format helped drive strong numbers — a near doubling of year-over-year viewership. This signals potential long-term changes in how the league stages the midseason event.

Betting action was equally lively. Pre-game markets showed tight spreads between the three competing squads, and in-game NBA live betting saw surges as games swung in dramatic fashion, particularly during Matt Barnes’ overtime heroics and Fox’s dramatic buzzer.

The league now heads back into regular-season play. The playoffs are set to tip off on April 18 and teams will continue jockeying for postseason positioning.