75th NBA All-Star Game tips off at 5 p.m. ET with new U.S. vs. World format
The NBA's midseason showcase returns Sunday with a reimagined All-Star Game. Tip-off is set for 5: 00 p. m. ET at the Intuit Dome, where a three-team, U. S. vs. World format will determine the 75th All-Star champion. The weekend's spectacles already delivered memorable moments: Damian Lillard tied the 3-Point Contest record and Keshad Johnson stole the show in the dunk contest.
U. S. vs. World: three teams, new tournament setup
This edition abandons the traditional East vs. West matchup for a triangular design: USA Stars, USA Stripes and Team World. The day opens with round-robin play featuring four 12-minute games so that each team plays at least two matchups. The two teams with the best records advance to a winner-take-all championship game — and if the standings are tied, point differential decides the finalists.
USA Stars showcases the league's younger American talent, paced by electric guards and versatile bigs; seven players on that roster are 25 or younger, with veteran scoring presence anchoring the group. USA Stripes rounds out the domestic representation with a different blend of experience and star power. Team World leans into international size and skill, led by two of the game's most unique bigs: a dominant Serbian center and a generational French forward whose length and mobility stretch defenses in unprecedented ways.
The format is designed to highlight stylistic contrasts — youth and quickness against global size and craft — and to produce fast-paced, entertaining matchups before a single championship game crowns the 75th All-Star winner.
Saturday’s highlights: Lillard’s long range and Johnson’s high-flying finish
Saturday night’s events set the tone for Sunday. Damian Lillard, who has sat out much of the season with injury, returned to claim his record-tying third title in the 3-Point Contest. His victory underscored his status as one of the premier shooters in league history and gave him another signature All-Star Weekend moment.
In the dunk contest, Keshad Johnson provided some of the loudest moments of the weekend, delivering athletic, crowd-pleasing flights through the air that kept social feeds buzzing. Other Saturday scenes rewarded clutch shot-making and late bursts of offense from established stars, and a veteran guard’s holiday-from-the-regular-season temperament flashed the kind of late-game instincts that play well in an exhibition setting.
Final build-up: schedule notes and what to expect tonight
All eyes turn to the Intuit Dome at 5: 00 p. m. ET. Earlier in the afternoon, a veteran superstar is scheduled for a 2: 30 p. m. ET media session as part of the traditional All-Star press activities. The league’s commissioner also met with the media on Saturday for his annual All-Star press conference, adding context to the new format and weekend programming.
The event’s earlier start time this year was programmed to fit a busy February sports calendar, positioning the All-Star showcase in a slot that encourages broader viewership. Expect a blend of experimental competition and polished star play: short quarters and multiple matchups invite fast rotations, plenty of substitutions and opportunities for role players to shine alongside perennial All-Stars.
For fans and players alike, the 75th All-Star Weekend has already delivered highlights and surprises. Sunday’s triangular tournament promises more — unique matchups, showcase plays and a one-game final that will decide the new champion in what the league is calling a fresh chapter in All-Star history.
