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Nail-Biting Ending at the 2019 Special Olympics Unified NBA All-Star Game

Special Olympics basketball players huddle up during practice the day before the Unified basketball game during NBA All-Star weekend.

Four athletes get big event experience before the World Games.

This year’s annual NBA Cares Special Olympics Unified basketball game during NBA All-Star weekend was full of fun, talent and excitement. Special Olympics assembled 12 international players to gather in Charlotte, NC to represent their countries, cities and a global movement of inclusion. The players were broken up into two teams of five Special Olympics athletes, with intellectual disabilities. Each team was joined by four international sport celebrities without intellectual disabilities to create a “home” and an “away” team for the Unified basketball game.

The away team squeaked out a 1-point victory over the home team with a final score of 27-26. The away team was coached by Boston Celtics Kyrie Irving. of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Portland Trail Blazers Damian Lillard (Special Olympics Global Ambassador) of the NBA coached the home squad.

Take a look at this photo gallery to catch a glimpse of the action!