Morgan Beard
Staff Writer
There were no shortages of story lines leading up to the 66th annual NBA All Star Game. The NBA event was played at the Smoothie King Center, home of the New Orleans Pelicans. This was also the third time that New Orleans has hosted the All Star Game.
The western all-stars defeated the Eastern all-stars 192-182, the most points ever scored in a NBA game. Both all-star teams combined for 374 points, becoming an All Star game record.
Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens coached the East and the Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr coached the West.
In the first half there was no defense being played in the game and only one block. Several NBA All Star records were broken in the first half, including 101 points scored in the 1st quarter and 189 points scored in the first half and the most combined field goals made in the 1st half with 83.
The Western all-stars broke two records with the most assists in a half with 34 and the most field goals in a half with 43. Eastern all-stars tied the record for the most points in a quarter with 53 in the first quarter.
According to Nielsen Fast national ratings, the All-Star Game was the most watched All Star game telecast since 2013, with an average of 7.8 million total viewers. In 2013, the West won 143-138 behind MVP Chris Paul, who scored 20 points and dished out 15 assists.
The MVP winner, Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans, scored 52 points, breaking NBA hall of famer Wilt Chamberlain’s All-Star Game scoring record of 42 (1962). Davis made a record breaking 26 of 39 shots, scored 20 points in the fourth quarter to tie record with Glen Rice (1997) and became the first player since Kobe Bryant in 2011 to win MVP honors on his home floor.
According to ESPN.com, an overjoyed Davis said, “That’s what I wanted to do … get the MVP for this crowd, for this city. This one definitely means a lot to me.” Also, a humble Davis said, “Being linked to Wilt Chamberlain only made it more special.”
This was the first time that Oklahoma City Thunders point guards Russell Westbrook and Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant teamed up on the same team since the 2016 NBA playoffs. Durant and Westbrook provided a glimpse of the past with a couple of alley-oop dunks and assists. West All-Stars mockingly cheered for Westbrook and Durant after the play.
During the game, Cousins was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans to team up with Anthony Davis to form the best NBA frontcourt. Cousins played 2 minutes in the game with only 3 points behind the arc with 1 of 3 shooting. Both Cousins and Davis average 27 points per game and the two best big men in the league today.
Junior criminal justice major Robert Smalls from Mobile, Ala., said, “I think it time for Cousins to get a ring and I’m happy for a Mobile native doing great things in NBA.”
Westbrook scored 41 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists. He almost won his 3rd straight NBA All Star MVP award. He won the last two MVP awards at the 2015 and 2016 NBA All Star games.
Kevin Durant recorded his 4th triple-double in All Star history, with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. He joins the triple double club of Michael Jordan (1997), LeBron James (2011), and Dwayne Wade (2012)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Anteokounmpo from Athens, Greece and Memphis Grizzlies Marc Gasol from Barcelona, Spain, were the only two international players to play in this year’s game. Giannis scored 30 points in 23 minutes with 14 of 17 field goal shooting and 6 rebounds. Giannis also broke the NBA record for his first ever NBA All Star appearance Sunday night that was set by NBA legend Glen Rice (1997).
Cleveland Cavaliers Lebrun James played and started in his 13th All Star game and he is also the all-time leading scorer with 314 points in All Star game history. James scored 23 points in 19 minutes and a couple of slam drunks that rocked the crowd.
At the end of the game, the record was broken for the highest combined field goal percentage in a game with 57.9 percent (162/280 FG). Next year’s 2018 All Star game will be held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Calif., hosted by the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers.
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