Russell Westbrook Wins 2015 NBA All-Star Game MVP: Stats, Highlights, Reaction

Russell Westbrook needed just 26 minutes to win All-Star MVP on Sunday night. 

The Oklahoma City Thunder point guard dropped 41 points in a scintillating effort at Madison Square Garden, leading the West to a 163-158 win over the East. He also had five rebounds and three steals.

Coming off the bench, Westbrook had no trouble getting into a rhythm. He made his first four shots and hit three consecutive threes to begin the second quarter. According to ESPN's Royce Young, he also broke a record for points in a half with 27 over the first two frames.

He slowed down a bit in the second half, needing 13 more shots to get his final 14 points, but it was a transcendent performance nonetheless.

As ESPN Stats and Info noted, he was just one point shy of Wilt Chamberlain's record: 

Westbrook was at the free-throw line with 40 points and one second remaining, but any chance of tying Wilt was erased when he knocked down the shot. He explained what happened after the game, via SLAM Magazine's Twitter feed: 

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James, who scored 30 in a losing effort for the East, talked about Westbrook's aggressive approach: 

Of course, the West wasn't short on MVP-worthy performances.

Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul had 12 points, 15 assists, six rebounds and a couple of big shots down the stretch, while Houston Rockets shooting guard James Harden had his typical stacked box score with 29 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.

Rockets general manager Daryl Morey was unsurprisingly advocating for his player to receive MVP honors, while the Houston Chronicle's Jonathan Feigen argued for Westbrook:

It's an interesting debate for a meaningless game, but no matter who you think is deserving of the award, it doesn't take away from Westbrook's night. He was hitting threes, hitting his head on the backboard and putting on a show. 

It was a fitting night in the middle of what has been a career year for the superstar point guard.