By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The West beat the East 196-173 and Russel Westbrook with 31 points, 8 rebounds, 5 steals and 5 assist got his second straight MVP award in the 65th NBA All Star Game at Toronto, Canada.
However it was all about Kobe Bryant. In his 18th All Star Game the “Black Mamba” was on the same time the biggest star and the guests of honor, from the moment of his introduction to the court until the final buzzer. Bryant entered the game after all tied with Bob Pettit for the most MVP awards – four, on of them shared in both cases – and also the most consecutive selections (18) and the most games as a starter (16). He finished the game with 10 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists but LeBron James surpassed him in the top of the scorers (290) in the history of the All Star Games.
After a first half which ended with the West leasing 92 to 90 and a new record in scoring for most points in a half. At the end of the third period West’s lead was nine points (145-136). Of course also the final 196-173 is also a record with the West smashing by 33 points its previous best (163).
This was not the only scoring record. East’s Paul George with 41 points scored the most points ever by a player of the Pacers in an All Star Game and the second best ever. He also made a record number of nine threes. In total 16 players scored in double digits, nine of them from the West. Τhe only player from Europe in the All Star Game, Pau Gasol, had 9 points and 7 rebounds for the East.