Western conference comes out on top in NBA showpiece

Chris Paul put in a thrilling all-round performance for the Western Conference in their 143-138 win over the East in last night’s All-Star game in Houston, Texas.

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It was the culmination of an entertaining weekend, as the LA Clippers point guard walked away with top honours, becoming the game’s MVP after scoring twenty points and dishing out fifteen assists.

Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder can count himself a little unlucky not to win a second-consecutive MVP trophy, after a stellar shooting performance that resulted in thirty points. Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks led the East with twenty-six points and twelve rebounds.

In a game full of dunks, Blake Griffin was his usual high-flying self and began the game in great fashion with a spectacular dunk after just sixteen seconds. The tone for the night was set. Although the West led at the end of all four quarters, the result never looked a formality as the East continued to stay close.

The highlight of the night was the individual battle between arguably two of the best players in the NBA, with the LA Lakers Kobe Bryant and Miami Heat’s LeBron James facing off in the fourth quarter. The battle was a highly-anticipated one, after Michael Jordan stoked the fires on his 50th birthday weekend, saying he would pick Bryant over LeBron as due to his five championship rings. LeBron won his first, but surely not his last Championship last season. It was a great battle but LeBron had no answer for Bryant’s defensive efforts. Bryant blocked a LeBron jumper, leading to a Kevin Durant fast break dunk and also dished out a rejection as the West made sure of their five point 143-138 victory.

It was a great end to an entertaining weekend in Houston, and a fitting way to celebrate the 50th birthday of the aptly-titled ‘His Airness’, Michael Jordan.