It’s an exhibition, but it’s still a competition. Someone has to win (the West, 152-149). Someone has to lose.
We’re here to sort it all out for you. The winners. The losers. And even how you can be both.
Winner: Kevin Durant. The game MVP did it all — he had maybe the best dunk of the night (off the backboard from Chris Paul), hit 3 threes, and added to his legacy as one of the game’s elite players. When the game was open he owned it, but he only had two points in the fourth quarter as the East picked up its defensive intensity and focused it on him. But his MVP is well deserved and likely the first of several.
Loser: Dwight Howard. This was supposed to be his night and laughed, joked around, played at one-quarter speed and was a complete non-factor. In a sign of how serious he took everything, he was 0-4 from three. He got dunked on by Kevin Love, made a bad inbounds pass after that which was stolen, then five seconds later Kevin Durant dunked on him. He likely was tired after playing host all weekend, but he was a mess.
Winner: LeBron James. He put up 36 points and if the East had succeeded with their comeback he would have deserved the MVP. In the first half he was a dunking machine, then he comes out at the start of the third quarter and knocks down a couple threes, including one from about Daytona. He had eight points in the fourth quarter and was key to the East’s comeback.
Loser: LeBron James. He is never going to hear the end of that pass with 1.9 seconds left that was stolen by Blake Griffin and cost the East a shot to tie or take the lead. Because it was a terrible pass. Kobe was barking at LeBron to take the shot, but LeBron said afterward he saw Wade come open near the basket the first time but hesitated then when he threw the pass it got picked off. And the “LeBron is not clutch” meme gains more fuel. Only a ring will quiet it (and likely a couple are needed).
Winner: Kobe Bryant. Any time you pass Michael Jordan in anything – this time to become the all-time leading scorer in All-Star Game history — you are a winner. Kobe being in 14 All-Star Games is a tribute not only to his skill but also to how well he has taken care of his body and how he has been able to stay relatively healthy. Or at least play through the pain.
Winner: Dwyane Wade. He had an All-Star Game triple-double — 24 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists. That’s impressive.
Loser: Andrew Bynum. Finally gets the All-Star nod he has craved thanks to the fans, but a sore knee means he plays just 5:31 and goes 0-3 from the floor.
Winner: Mary J. Blige. She absolutely killed it with an a cappella version of the Star Spangled Banner. Note to young singers: She did it without autotune.
Loser: Nicki Minaj. What was that? And why was there so much of it? She needs to watch Mary J. and see how it’s done.
