NEW YORK – Russell Westbrook may have not started the 2015 NBA All Star Game at Madison Square Garden, but he made sure his fingerprints were all over the exhibition of the league’s elite. The Oklahoma City point guard scored 41 points and was named the game’s unanimous MVP.
“I came out and made a few shots and after I made a few shots I decided to stay aggressive,” he told TNT’s Ernie Johnson after the game.
The Los Angeles native scored an All-Star record 27 first half points and put his entire skillset on display in what at times felt like a glorified three-point contest. The two teams combined to shoot an All Star record 133 three-pointers, making 48 of them.
The three-point barrage helped the East and West squads set All-Star records for points in a half with 165 and most combined points in a game with 321. The West’s individual point total of 163 was also a record by one team.
Lebron James led the Eastern Conference with 30 points and Atlanta Hawks sharp shooter Kyle Korver scored 21 points on 7 three-pointers but it was not enough for the East to pull out the victory in the world’s most famous arena.
Hometown hero Carmelo Anthony who hinted he might shut himself down for the rest of the season following the game, played a surprising 30 minutes in the game, but shot an ugly 5-14 from the field including 3-12 from downtown.
The West have now won 4 of the last 5 All-Star games as the pendulum has certainly swung to the western hemisphere as far as the NBA’s top teams is concerned. 10 teams in the Western conference have a record above .500 compared to only six in the East.
Midseason MVP candidates LeBron James and Stephen Curry put on a show throughout the game with sensational alley-oop reverse dunks and incredible circus shots.
James Harden of the Houston Rockets scored 29 points with 7 three-pointers, eight assists, and eight rebounds while shooting 10-15 from the field. Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge added 18 points and Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul had a game high 15 assists.
Per usual, the game tightened up in the fourth quarter as the two teams were tied for most of the quarter. The West clung to a three-point lead with just over 2:00 minutes to play, but pulled away thanks to three-pointers by Harden and Westbrook.
Westbrook put the nail in the coffin with 1.3 seconds remaining in the game as he made two free throws to put the game out of reach for the East All Stars. His 41 points were the second most all-time in an All Star Game trailing only Wilt Chamberlain who scored 42 in 1962.
Game Notes:
Christina Aguilera and Nas performed before the game and Ariana Grande got help from her friend Nicki Minaj during her halftime performance. The game had an unusual start as the opening tip off was between brothers Pau and Marc Gasol.
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