MVP Davis shines on All-Star stage

Any awkwardness faded with a perfect Russell Westbrook-Kevin Durant give-and-go. From there, the real dunk contest took over.

The 2017 NBA All- Star Game featured Stephen Curry wearing a headband, Giannis Antetokoumpo putting Curry and that headband on a poster and Anthony Davis keeping the game’s MVP award at home. The New Orleans Pelicans forward finished with an All- Star Game record 52 points as his Western Conference team won 192-182.

The story line coming in was all about Westbrook and Durant and their seven months of subtle feuding since Durant left the Oklahoma City Thunder for the Golden State Warriors in free agency. Westbrook entered the game early in the first quarter, and he and Durant were two of the stars of the game, showing that trademark chemistry from eight years together.

But Davis represented the host Pelicans with aplomb. West coach Steve Kerr told Davis before the game that he’d be given any shot he wanted, with seemingly the whole team hoping the 23year-old would win MVP.

He responded with dunks, jumpers and everything in between. The previous record was 42 points by Wilt Chamberlain in 1962.

On the Eastern Conference’s side, Antetokounmpo stole the show from even an impressive LeBron James with 30 on 14-for-17 shooting.

The Milwaukee Bucks’ 22year-old first-time All- Star produced the game’s secondmost memorable moment by slamming over Curry in a move that drew oohs from even Curry’s teammates.

As high as the scoring was, though, it could have been higher: Neither team shot particularly well on all those uncontested three-pointers, with Davis’ principle blemish on the evening being his 0-for-4 shooting from behind the arc.

But the All-Star Game is a celebration of the NBA, and its two youngest players — Davis and Antetokounmpo — showed where the league is headed.