NBA All-Star Game 2015: Records Broken, Stats, Highlights and Top Reaction
The Western Conference earned a 163-158 victory over the Eastern Conference in Sunday night's All-Star Game. After a rapid-paced start from the West—one that appeared to have us headed for a blowout—the game settled down and became a nail-biting affair that came down to the final minutes.
But, really, who cares? Until the NBA adopts an MLB-like rule to make the game count for something—please, please don't ever do this, Commissioner Silver—the average person has as much concern about the final score of an All-Star Game as he or she does another person's fantasy league.
When looking back at games of years past, we don't remember final scores. We remember moments. A jaw-dropping alley-oop, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant sharing a floor, Dirk Nowitzki slam dunking a basketball and then offering an ode to former teammate Vince Carter.
Seriously. That happened Sunday night. I wouldn't have believed it had I not seen it with my two eyes, either.
In two weeks, I probably won't be able to tell you Carmelo Anthony's shooting line (bad) or how many threes Kyle Korver hit (lots and lots). I'll remember Dirk. I'll remember the Gasol brothers being introduced together and hugging. I'll remember following along on Twitter while I flipped over to the Saturday Night Live special for Kanye's performance and hoping I didn't miss anything.
So, as we burrow away the memories from the weekend and look forward to the season's stretch run, let's look in on the best moments from Sunday night.
Box Score
| LaMarcus Aldridge, PF | 18 | 7-11 | 4-4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 18 |
| Marc Gasol, C | 25 | 3-6 | 0-1 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| Stephen Curry, PG | 27 | 6-16 | 3-10 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 15 |
| James Harden, SG | 27 | 11-16 | 7-12 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 29 |
| Klay Thompson, SG | 20 | 2-11 | 1-9 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Tim Duncan, PF | 15 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Dirk Nowitzki, PF | 12 | 2-5 | 1-2 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Kevin Durant, SF | 10 | 1-6 | 1-6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| DeMarcus Cousins, C | 18 | 6-7 | 0-0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14 |
| Damian Lillard, PG | 16 | 4-12 | 3-9 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 11 |
| Russell Westbrook, PG | 26 | 16-28 | 5-9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 41 |
| Chris Paul, PG | 27 | 6-13 | 0-3 | 6 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 12 |
| Pau Gasol, PF | 26 | 5-7 | 0-0 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 10 |
| LeBron James, SF | 32 | 11-21 | 4-12 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 30 |
| Carmelo Anthony, SF | 30 | 6-20 | 2-13 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 14 |
| Kyle Lowry, PG | 26 | 4-13 | 2-11 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
| John Wall, PG | 29 | 9-16 | 1-4 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 19 |
| Paul Millsap, PF | 16 | 2-6 | 1-3 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| Al Horford, C | 14 | 4-6 | 0-0 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| Chris Bosh, C | 11 | 4-6 | 2-4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
| Kyrie Irving, PG | 19 | 4-9 | 2-6 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11 |
| Jeff Teague, PG | 13 | 6-9 | 2-2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 14 |
| Jimmy Butler, SG | 9 | 3-4 | 0-1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| Kyle Korver, SG | 16 | 7-13 | 7-12 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
Records Broken
- 27: Points In a Half, Russell Westbrook. The Thunder star scored 27 of his game-high 41 points in the first half, setting the stage for his MVP run. Westbrook wound up just one point shy of breaking Wilt Chamberlain's all-time record for points in a single All-Star Game.
- 28: Field Goals Attempted, Russell Westbrook. Westbrook being Westbrook stole the New York stage throughout Sunday night, as he thrived in a game designed to showcase his isolation skills. Crazy how much fun Westbrook can be to watch when everyone's not obsessing over every shot he takes—even when he takes a record-setting amount.
- 163: Most Points in a Game, Western Conference: The West tied the record-setting mark put up by the East in 2014.
- 321: Most Total Points Scored in a Game: The East and West combined to break the previous mark of 318, which, again, was set just 12 months ago. Sensing a theme here yet, peeps?
- ∞: Number of Three-Point Records Set: OK, not quite. But still. Three-pointers made by one team (25), both teams (48) and the similar attempts marks were all broken Sunday night. This is another trend that should continue as the three-ball's importance continues its increase.
Highlights
You've probably watched SportsCenter or the equivalent on your phone or the game itself by now. You know the dunks and the assists and all that jazz. So, rather than go "oh here LOOGIT THIS DUNK," let's instead count down the moments I found dopest since I'm sure there will be 100 percent agreement because I have never been wrong about anything.
Last. LeBron Brought His Young-Man Hairline But Not Young-Man Game to Madison Square Garden
5. Oh. Wait. LeBron Is Still Really Awesome and I Should Probably Shut Up Now? Got It. Sorry, Bron
4. Russell Westbrook's Life Is Dope. He Does Dope Things
3. Gasol Brothers Hugging? GASOL BROTHERS HUGGING!
2. Stephen Curry Is Point God Now. Please Return Your Cloak from Whence It Came and Exit the Chapel Immediately, Chris Paul
1. Neither You Nor I Will Ever Be as Cool as Dirk Nowitzki Was in This Moment
Wait, Wait, Correction: There Is Exactly One Person with the Ability to Be as Cool as Dirk Doing a VC Impression. That Person Is Bill Clinton
"https://t.co/fFIg2GbXr9 RT @netw3rk: Bill Clinton, you slick dog
— OHB (@ohholybutt) February 16, 2015"
"VIDEO: Pau Gasol blocks the shot. Dikembe Mutombo finger wave next to Bill Clinton. http://t.co/N2V7DwUXGI
— Marcus (@_MarcusD_) February 16, 2015"
All other highlights are irrelevant. President Clinton getting the finger wag and hanging with Dikembe automatically wins him a third term. Look it up. It's in the Constitution.
Top Reaction
Tired of my bad jokes and want to hear what people far funnier than I were saying during All-Star Weekend? OK, first: Harsh. What have I ever done to you? Second: OK, then, here are some funny things for you to giggle at:
"Welcome to the 2015 NBA All-Star Microcosm of Carmelo Anthony’s Time With The Knicks
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) February 16, 2015"
OK, that's all kids. Hopefully this satiated your need to see big, shiny things all in one place with some witty humor thrown in. Or, at the very least, reminded you all to Let Westbrook Be Westbrook forever and always. See you next year.
Follow Tyler Conway (@tylerconway22) on Twitter
All stats and record information via NBA.com unless otherwise noted
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