Blake Griffin scored 18 of his 20 first-half points in the first quarter to help lead the Western Conference to an 89-76 lead over the Eastern Conference at the break of the 2014 All-Star Game in New Orleans. The 165 combined points tallied is the most ever scored in a half at an All-Star Game, and the West set a record for most points scored in a half.
NBA All-Star Game 2014 score update: Blake Griffin leads West to 89-76 lead
Griffin scored 20 points, including 18 in the first quarter, to help lead the West in a record-setting first half.
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Kevin Durant has 22 points to lead all scorers. Carmelo Anthony leads the East with 20 points, knocking down 4-of-6 from three. LeBron James added 12 points in the half.
The East started out strong, with James setting the tone early with a steal and dunk on the game’s first possession. The East led 11-2 just two minutes into the game before the West, and especially Griffin, began to wake up. The first quarter basically became a dunk contest between James and Griffin, as both players traded highlight reel slams:
The West erased the nine-point deficit by the end of the first quarter, taking a 44-42 lead into the second frame. Griffin’s 18 points in the first placed him just two points short of the record set by Glen Rice for most points in one quarter at an All-Star Game. However, Griffin did set a new record with nine field goals in the quarter.
The second quarter went back and forth at the outset before the West surged ahead. During the West run, Anthony Davis did this:
The West used a 19-6 run to take control and also finished the half on a strong note.
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