If there was a question regarding who would win Most Valuable Player of the 2017 NBA All-Star Game, Anthony Davis answered it resoundingly as he led the West to a 192-182 victory over the East All-Stars on Sunday.
NBA All-Star Game 2017 final score: Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook combined for almost 100 points chasing All-Star MVP
A whole lot of offense and just a little bit of defense, but what did you expect?
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Davis set a new All-Star Game record with 52 points on 26-of-39 shooting, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain’s 1962 mark of 42 points, to hoist the MVP trophy in front of his New Orleans Pelicans fan base. He joins just Kobe Bryant (2011), Shaquille O’Neal (2004, 2009), Karl Malone and John Stockton (1993), and Michael Jordan (1988) as the only players in recent memory to win All-Star MVP in front of their home crowd, according to Basketball-Reference.
That list also includes Jerry West, Rick Barry, Adrian Smith, Bob Pettit, and Bob Cousy.
He also became just the second player in All-Star history to record 40 points and 10 rebounds, joining Chamberlain.
Davis’s effort quelled an attempt from two-time reigning All-Star MVP Russell Westbrook, who tried his hand at a triple-double with 41 points (16-of-26 shooting), seven assists and five rebounds.
The 66th annual NBA All-Star Game served as a stark reminder that the Slam Dunk Contest isn’t the end all, be all dunk-a-thon of the basketball season.
And it was Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo’s gravity-defying windmill in the first quarter that put players and viewers on notice. He capped off a 30-point night with a put-back poster dunk on reigning league MVP Stephen Curry.
The East vs. West showdown wasn’t all dunks, though exactly half of Davis’s 52 points were uncontested throw-downs. In fact, more interesting than the de facto dunk showcasing was a heart-warming moment between Westbrook and his arch nemesis and ex-Thunder teammate Kevin Durant.
The two combined for a give-and-go that brought the basketball universe to tears of joy.
The West All-Stars celebrated their accomplishment shortly after.
There was a fun but short-lived back-and-forth between Westbrook and Isaiah Thomas, who matched each other for three-pointers before the triple-double machine chucked up a brick from near half-court.
In all, eight players scored 20 or more points in an offense-first, defense-never showcase. LeBron James and Kyrie Irving combined for 45 points, while Curry and Durant scored 21 point apiece. Both teams shot better than 56 percent from the field and combined for 374 points, the most in NBA All-Star Game history.
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