2020 NBA All-Star Gamethread: Brandon Ingram marks 8th All-Star representative of New Orleans Pelicans franchise

The big star-studded exhibition contest kicks off tonight at 7:00 p.m. Central, and Brandon Ingram has earned the chance to show off his impressive growth in his fourth season (24.9 PTS, 6.4 REB, 4.2 AST) on the world stage, coming off the bench for Team Giannis.

Ingram is the first wing to represent the New Orleans franchise since Jamal Mashburn way back in 2002-03, and he’s only the eighth overall All-Star representative of this Pelicans/Hornets organization, following in the footsteps of Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins, Chris Paul, David West, Baron Davis, Jamal Magloire and Mashburn.

LeBron James is favored to win the 2020 All-Star MVP — now known as the Kobe Bryant MVP Award, with +250 odds, and Giannis Antetokounmpo sits next at +350. Davis has +375 odds, and Ingram not surprisingly sits much lower on the list, currently riding +4000 odds per www.sportsbetting.ag.

The biggest question in my opinion involves the quality of the actual game. Should we have any expectations of an improved viewing product? ICYMI: the NBA has made vast changes to the format, with the first three quarters counting as their own separate competitions. Then in the fourth quarter the clock will be turned off and team’s will play to reach a target score that’ll be determined by math!

The Final Target Score will be determined by taking the leading team’s total cumulative score through three quarters and adding 24 points. Once the Final Target Score is set, the teams will play an untimed fourth quarter and the first team to reach the Final Target Score will win the NBA All-Star Game.

For more on these rules, please go to NBA.com for greater in-depth explanations.

Geaux B.I.!!!

Where To Watch/Listen

What: 2020 NBA All-Star game

Where: United Center, Chicago, Illinois

When: Sunday, February 16, 2020, 7:00 PM

Watch: TNT