APTOPIX All Star Game Basketball

Team LeBron’s Karl-Anthony Towns, of the Minnesota Timberwolves, heads to the hoop against Team Giannis’ Giannis Antetokounmpo, of the Milwaukee Bucks, during the first half of Sunday’s NBA All-Star basketball game.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — LeBron James was trading lob passes with Dwyane Wade again, one last time. Catching lobs from former teammate Kyrie Irving once again, too. After making a stepback three-pointer late, he stared down Joel Embiid to send a message without saying a word.

Oh, this mattered to James — and Team LeBron as well.