NBA All-Star 2012: D-Wade Cheapshot Can't Prevent Another Kobe Milestone

The hits keep coming for Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant—literally.

Bryant shook off a hard blow to the nose from Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade in the third quarter of the 2012 NBA All-Star Game to pass Michael Jordan as the leading scorer in All-Star history. Bloodied nose and all.

There will be some discussion as to whether or not Wade's shot at Bryant was cheap and/or deliberate, as the sequence of events that led to Bryant's bloody nose did seem to cause some hard feelings on Wade's part.

The mini-drama started when Bryant stole the ball from Wade and Wade having thought he was fouled, immediately turning to the nearest official to complain.

Shortly after, Bryant beat Wade badly off the dribble, and in a moment of possible frustration Wade grabbed Kobe's jersey from behind and came down hard across his face with both hands.

It may have been the most physical defensive move I have ever seen in the NBA's glorified scrimmage, but it only temporarily halted Bryant's continued assault on league history.

Bryant already passed Shaquille O'Neal earlier this season for fifth place on the NBA's all time scoring list. And while passing Jordan in this category doesn't really mean much, it is another notch on the belt for one of the game's most accomplished players.

Jordan's record wasn't the only one to fall, as this version of the All-Star game saw a multitude of long-time marks breached, some in the first half.

The West—behind Bryant, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul and Blake Griffin—set an all-time record for points in the first half with 88 and the two teams combined to tie the highest output for a half with 159.

Not to mention the game was actually entertaining near the end when LeBron James led the East back from a 21-point deficit to get his team as close as five points late in the fourth quarter.

James was a candidate for game MVP with 36 points, but the West's Durant was just as impressive and took home the award with 36 points of his own.

Although Bryant did not get to add a fifth NBA All-Star Game MVP to his resume, the elder statesman still found a way to leave his mark.

Bryant's days of All-Star game dominance may be over, but the old man proved that he still has a few tricks up his sleeves—despite an arguable cheap shot from one of the players looking up to Bryant in history.