The first quarter was a non-stop offensive showcase, with both teams neglecting defense and playing for fun. After just half a quarter, the score was already 27–25, with the East slightly leading ahead. Every starter had contributed points, showing respect to one another by not dominating the game entirely.
Giannis and Embiid led the East with 8 points each, while Curry topped the West with 9. LeBron played it safe with 4 points and 3 assists, while Tang Lei kept it low-key, scoring 5 points and dishing out 2 assists.
With an official timeout, both teams brought in their substitutes:
• East: Harden, Lowry, Simmons, Beal, Griffin
• West: Davis, Westbrook, Jokic, Lillard, Thompson
Interestingly, four Warriors players made it to the All-Star lineup this season. While Draymond Green wasn't selected this year, Tang Lei's breakout performance filled that gap, extending the Warriors' streak of four All-Star selections to three consecutive years.
The pace remained intense, with Lillard sinking a deep three-pointer from half-court in true "Dame Time" fashion, earning cheers as loud as those for Curry's shots. Jokic, making his All-Star debut, impressed the crowd with his trademark one-handed passes, setting up his teammates effortlessly.
By the end of the first quarter, the score was an impressive 55–50, with the East holding a narrow lead. The high score underscored the playful, defense-light nature of the game.
In the second quarter, the last three remaining players took the court: Wade for the East and Nowitzki for the West, both of whom were special All-Star guests due to overwhelming fan demand. As the two legends entered, the arena erupted in cheers, underscoring the respect and love fans held for these retiring stars.
In addition to the final three substitutes, two high-performing starters rejoined: Giannis and Embiid for the East and Curry and Tang Lei for the West.
With no serious defense in sight, the game continued to entertain with dunks, flashy passes, and deep threes. Positioned as the West's center, Tang Lei repeatedly found himself facing Embiid, who seemed determined to dunk over him, clearly aiming to reclaim some pride from previous matchups. But Tang Lei tactically sidestepped these attempts, letting Embiid dunk freely, aware that an All-Star game wasn't the right stage for intense competition.
Instead, Tang Lei bided his time, planning to make his impact later in the game. Seizing his chance, Tang Lei turned up the heat, especially with his fellow countrymen cheering him on. He drilled three consecutive three-pointers, single-handedly erasing the East's lead and bringing his point total to 14, the highest in the game.
After half a quarter, Tang Lei and Curry were subbed out to allow other players their chance in the spotlight. All-Star Game tradition dictated that everyone got their time, with no one player monopolizing minutes.
At the end of the second quarter, the East managed to open the lead again, holding an 82–77 advantage heading into halftime.
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