Defense was optional and points were in abundance at the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday night. Most of the stats were video game-like. Among the highlights from this game:
The Western Conference scored 196 points. The NBA record for points in a game is 186, and it took the 1983-84 Pistons three overtimes to reach that mark against the Nuggets (who scored 184). The West had the three highest-scoring quarters in All-Star Game history.
Kobe Bryant scored 10 points in his final All-Star Game. He added a notable record to his ledger, surpassing Michael Jordan’s All-Star mark for career steals. Bryant played in 15 All-Star Games, tied with Tim Duncan for second in history. Only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has more.
Russell Westbrook won MVP honors for the second straight year, tallying 31 points and five steals to lead the West. Westbrook became the second player to win All-Star Game MVPs in back-to-back seasons, joining Bob Pettit, who won the award outright in 1958 and shared it with Elgin Baylor in 1959.
Chris Paul had 14 points and 16 assists in 19 minutes. He has three 15-assist All-Star Games. Only Magic Johnson (five) has more.
Paul George scored 41 points in a losing effort, one shy of Wilt Chamberlain’s All-Star Game mark. George’s nine 3-pointers are an All-Star Game record. His single-game high for 3-pointers in the regular season is nine, set in 2012 against New Orleans.