What is the Elam Ending and how will it work at the 2023 NBA All-Star Game? Exploring its significance and usage

Elam Ending will be used during the 2023 NBA All-Star Game. This format makes basketball games unique since teams no longer use the game clock. Instead, they use the target score as the goal.

Several basketball leagues use this format, but mostly for overtime games. Instead of playing the match for five more minutes, there is simply a target score teams have to reach. The team that reaches the target score first is the winner.

This article will reveal everything you need to know about Elam Ending and its usage in the 2023 NBA All-Star Game. We will take a deeper look at this scoring format and see what inspired the league to implement it.

Elam Ending will be used during the 2023 NBA All-Star Game

The NBA All-Star Game is a casual basketball match for fans. It features some of the best basketball players in the entire league who love putting on a fantastic show for the audience to enjoy.

Since this game is not very competitive, the NBA decided to change a few things about it. Starting with the 2020 NBA All-Star Game, Elam Ending was implemented during the fourth quarter and will be used for the upcoming All-Star Game as well.

The NBA honored Kobe Bryant with the new scoring system (Image via Getty Images)

During the 2023 NBA All-Star Game, teams will have to reach their target score to win the game. This score is calculated by adding the leading team's points from the first three quarters and adding 24 to them.

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For example, if LeBron James' team leads the game 130-125 after three quarters, the target score will be 154 (130+24). Elam Ending also means that there is no game clock. However, teams will still utilize a 24-second shot clock.

The new format was first used in 2020 (Image via Getty Images)

The new scoring format was first used in 2020. The All-Star Game took place three weeks after Kobe Bryant's death.

Upon Chris Paul's suggestion, the league decided to implement Elam Ending and honor one of its biggest icons by adding 24, Kobe's jersey number, to the leading team's score.

2020 NBA All-Star Game was unique

Watching the 2020 NBA All-Star Game was special due to the new scoring system. Giannis Antetokounmpo's team led the game after three quarters with a 133-124 score. Due to this, the target score was 157 points.

However, Team LeBron did not give up and ended up outscoring Giannis' team 33-22 in the final quarter, reaching the target score and winning the game by two points.

The All-Star Game ended when Anthony Davis hit a free throw while his team was leading 156-155. While this wasn't the most exciting finish, fans loved the new scoring format.

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In 2022, LeBron James hit a game-winner to end the All-Star Game. The shot was incredible and was even more special since James played in Cleveland, the city that drafted him back in 2003.