21.   And because Budig screwed things up in the first place, the games go on with Alomar still playing.

22.   And he looked more like a co-op to the Stars, who grew increasingly frustrated as the game went on.

23.   And one game is not going to make or break that feeling.

24.   And the game went almost as he had hoped.

25.   And the game went on from there.

26.   And when the game went into extra innings, he turned first to Russell and, finally, to Brandenburg, the eventual loser.

27.   And you just go in there and each game is going to be a new event.

28.   And they know, first-hand, how it feels to watch a game go down the drain when a reliever falls apart on the mound.

29.   Another identity-check game went to the champions, who weathered every challenge from Duncan, David Robinson and all the Spurs could muster.

30.   As first games go, survival might be the prime consideration.