Davis sets All- Star record with 52 points
NEW ORLEANS— It was a setup. But what a guy to set up.
New Orleans Pelicans center Anthony Davis wanted to win the All- Star Game MVP award in his home city, and his teammates helped him get it. Davis, set up repeatedly by teammates for easy dunks, scored an All-Star Game record 52 points to win the award and lead the West to a 192- 182 victory. It was the highest- scoring game in league history.
Davis broke Wilt Chamberlain’s record, which had stood for 55 years, by 10 points. He clearly appreciated his teammates’ effort.
“It was amazing,” the Chicago native said. “That’s what I wanted to do. I stressed that, I think more than enough, to the guys in the locker room that I wanted to get the MVP for this crowd, for this city, and I ended up doing it.”
Davis made 26 of 39 shots, including 0- for- 4 from three- point range. His teammates combined for 60 assists in the game. Davis had none.
“Those guys did a great job of just finding me, giving me the basketball. They wanted me to score 50,” Davis said. “Every time, Kawhi [ Leonard] was like, ‘ Six more points.’ And James [ Harden, who had 12 assists] was like, ‘ I’m going to pass you the ball.’ Those guys did a great job of allowing me to do this. I want to thank all of them. This definitely means a lot to me.”
Westbrook- Durant detente?
Arguably the highlight of the game was a give- and- go from Russell Westbrook to Kevin Durant and back to Westbrook for a dunk in the first half. The two former Thunder teammates, who considered themselves brothers, had a notable falling out after Durant bolted the Thunder for the Warriors in free agency in the offseason.
Their frosty relationship was palpable throughout the weekend. The West players on the bench celebrated the play demonstrably.
“I saw some ice flying,” West coach Steve Kerr said. “There were three or four guys that were kind of leading the charge with laughter and the mocking. I think it was DeAndre [ Jordan] and DeMarcus [ Cousins]. It was a fun moment.”
Westbrook’s postgame response didn’t exactly indicate a thaw.
“Yeah, he threw a lob. That’s all that happened,” said Westbrook, who scored 41 points for the West. “Just threw a lob. It’s basketball. That’s it.”
All- Star Game needs work
From a competitive standpoint, the game was largely a farce, with neither team playing defense and players on both sides going all- out for entertainment rather than competition. It’s a situation the NBA might have to address.
“Yeah,” Kerr said. “I think in the past at least generally in the fourth quarter guys have picked it up. That’s what I was expecting. It didn’t happen [ in this game]. I would like to see it more competitive. I’mnot sure how to do it. It’s up to the players, really.
“I think it would be good to possibly incentivize the guys somehow. I don’t know if you can get their charities involved or winner- take- all type thing. But I think it’s possible to play a lot harder without taking a charge.”
The next All- Star Game is Feb. 18, 2018, in Los Angeles, which will host for a record sixth time.