NBA All-Star Game 2012: Video Highlights, Twitter Reaction and Grades

The best All-Star game of the four professional sports certainly lived up to the hype.

In a game that featured the most points ever in a non-OT All-Star affair, the Western Conference held off a late charge from the East to secure a 152-149 victory.

Kevin Durant finished with 36 points and seven rebounds to secure the MVP trophy. Kobe Bryant scored 27 to pass Michael Jordan as the No. 1 scorer in the history of the All-Star game.

After three quarters of an abundance of lobs, jams and centers shooting three-pointers, the intensity was finally turned on in the fourth quarter once they realized the winning team received more money than the loser.

Here are some of the highlights:

Kevin Durant needs to be in a dunk contest. Here's the proof.

We all knew the Blake Griffin-Chris Paul Lob City combo would make an appearance.

In a rare moment of aggressiveness in the third quarter, Dwyane Wade drilled Kobe with a very hard foul that made the Black Mamba bleed. It ended up breaking his nose.

The Heat love full-court alley-oops, and LeBron makes it look easy in the third quarter.

Russell Westbrook reminds everybody that Durant isn't the only player that's a star in Oklahoma City with this thunderous jam late in the fourth quarter. 

Here is the infamous play that will stick with LeBron for awhile. Not only does he pass the ball to Deron Williams for a potential three despite being one-on-one with Kobe, he inexplicably throws a horrible cross-court pass that Blake Griffin picks off. Game Over.

Twitter Reaction:

With the Oscar's also on Sunday night, ESPN's JA Adande seamlessly combines the two events in one tweet:

"

All-Star defenders are like, "If you want to see 'Help', switch over to the Oscars>"

— J.A. Adande (@jadande) February 27, 2012"

ESPN's John Hollinger reminds us all how ridiculous 301 total points is when thinking about a regular NBA game:

"

Thibodeau's Bulls give up 87.9 points per game this year. His East team allowed 88 in the first half tonight.

— John Hollinger (@johnhollinger) February 27, 2012"

Carmelo Anthony scored 19 points and grabbed nine rebounds, while actually playing some defense. Needless to say, that was a shocker. Just ask Robert Littal of BlackSportsOnline:

"

Why does Melo play harder Defense in the All-Star game than the real games?

— Robert Littal (@BlkSportsOnline) February 27, 2012"

CBS Sports' Ken Berger hits the nail on the head with these comments regarding Dwight Howard's poor performance: 

"

All-Star Games are the worst possible venue for Dwight Howard, because the nonexistent stakes validate his clown act.

— Ken Berger (@KBergCBS) February 27, 2012"

"

"

In case you're wondering, no, I have no idea what Dwight is doing out there. Not even bothering to run the floor.

— Ken Berger (@KBergCBS) February 27, 2012"

"

LeBron can't catch a break. The choke jokes flooded in once he turned the ball over to seal the West win. Yahoo! Sports' Dan Wetzel joined the party:

"

LeBron won't even take last shot in an all star game

— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) February 27, 2012"

Sure, the story on all of the sports blogs Monday morning will be about LeBron's bad pass at the end, but let's not forget about the incredible performance Durant had. Michael Lee of the Washington Post wonders if KD could sweep the MVP awards this season:

"

Will Kevin Durant end up with the trifecta? Lockout MVP. Check. All-star game MVP. Check. Regular season MVP...?

— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) February 27, 2012"

Grades

Kevin Durant: A+

This guy is the perfect player in today’s NBA. I have a funny feeling this won’t be KD’s last All-Star game MVP.

The up-and-down style was tailor made for Durant, and he delivered in a big way with 36 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals.

It certainly helped that his coach was Scott Brooks and his point guard, Russell Westbrook, played 28 minutes, but this was Durant’s night.

He is the NBA in 2012 and David Stern couldn’t be any happier.

Kobe Bryant: A

Man, is this guy competitive.

Bryant must have never heard of the word “exhibition” before.

Kobe drilled the first shot of the night and it was a preview of coming attractions. He finished with 27 points…and one assist.

Big surprise.

Anytime the team needed a big play they deferred to Kobe, and he delivered.

Passing MJ on any list has to make Kobe a happy camper.

LeBron James: B

He shot over 50 percent (15-of-23) and made nine consecutive shots en route to 36 points, seven assists and six rebounds.

Toss in a handful of incredible dunk contest-worthy jams and it was everything you could ask for.

If only he would play like this when…ah, never mind.

Yet in typical LeBron fashion, with the East down two in the final seconds, James refused to take the last shot and ended up turning the ball over.

It was the only bad play on the night, but once again, it’s the one fans remember.

Andrew Bynum: Incomplete

A sore knee limited the West’s starting center to six minutes, three rebounds, a missed three-pointer and a goose egg in the scoring column.

All Laker fans are now on Bynum injury watch yet again.

Dwight Howard: F

When he addressed the crowd before the game, he sounded like a guy that hadn’t gotten much sleep in the last few days.

The party host treated the game like some sort of circus event and he embarrassed himself out there. He finished with nine points while shooting four three-pointers in the process.

He treated the game like a joke and it wasn’t funny.

Final Thought

It was an enjoyable weekend that culminated in a pretty entertaining game on Sunday night. The competitiveness was there and the points were coming in bunches. Consider it a success.

Now back to the Dwight Howard trade rumors…