STAR CROSSED: West wins NBA All-Star Game as Kobe takes on LeBron at end

WEST 143, EAST 138

HOUSTON ? Maybe Michael Jordan had a point.

Just days after His Airness said he?d take Kobe Bryant over LeBron James, the Lakers guard made his idol look good at the All-Star Game.

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Bryant, demonstrating that he?s not yet ready to concede the title for the NBA?s best, picked up a big block on James down the stretch before dishing an assist to Kevin Durant, highlighting the West?s 143-138 victory Sunday in Houston.

Bryant scored just nine points and eight assists, while James was the better overall with 19 points and five assists. But Bryant made it a point to guard James hard down the stretch ? just like he did in the West?s 2012 All-Star victory, making the final five minutes personal. Bryant?s block helped give his squad a 10-point advantage with 2:38 remaining.

Chris Paul was the MVP with 20 points and 15 assists. Carmelo Anthony scored 26 points with 11 rebounds for the East. Kevin Durant scored a game-high 30 points for the West.

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A year earlier, Bryant similarly challenged James ? who responded by passing up an opportunity to take the potential game-winning shot. Instead, James committed a turnover.

Sunday was a close game throughout, devoid of defense and blessed with dunks. Blake Griffin, predictably, threw down his fair share of jams. Tyson Chandler, who finished with seven points and eight rebounds in 17 minutes, converted a thunderous alley-oop near the end of the second half.

Anthony started off hot, scoring seven points through the opening 6:45 of the game. He finished the first half with 10 points with a team-high five rebounds.

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Anthony and Kevin Garnett played nice together as teammates, more than a month after their tiff prompted Anthony to seek out Garnett by the team bus after the game. Garnett, the sage of the East squad and subject of trade rumors out of Boston, shut it down after just six minutes.

Chris Bosh had a tough night, starting with an airball on the East?s first shot. It was the first of three airballs in the opening half. In the second quarter, Chris Paul and Tony Parker dribbled the ball through Bosh?s legs on separate plays. The West did everything but pull Bosh?s pants down.

Bosh scored six points while logging 23 minutes, playing at the expense of first-time All-Star Brook Lopez. The Nets center was the last Eastern Conference player to enter the game with 9:23 remaining in the second quarter. He played just 10 minutes, scoring three points.

The stars made it to Texas. Jay Z, wearing a Nets cap, and his wife Beyonce received the biggest ovation from the crowd. Drake was in the front row, sitting on the opposite side of Puff Daddy. Olympic gold medalists Usian Bolt and Gaby Douglas were both in the crowd.

Alicia Keys performed her hits at halftime, which followed a 45-minute pre-game performance from Ne-Yo and lengthy player introductions ? highlighted by the starters being raised from under the stage.

The show finished without hiccups or blackouts, with the Black Mamba arriving in the fourth quarter.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/nydnrss/sports/~3/u58CrDX2DyM/story01.htm

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