We’ve seen it before in Cleveland and, come to think of it, they’ve seen it before at The Garden: LeBron James taking over the game on both ends of the floor.
For much of the night in the 64th annual NBA All-Star Game, that’s exactly what the four-time league MVP (and two-time All-Star Game MVP) did at Madison Square Garden. But on Sunday night, Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook was even better – falling one point shy of the all-time record with 41 points, taking MVP honors and propelling the West to the 163-158 win.
”I think Westbrook came for it from the start,” praised James. “He’s an unbelievable talent in our league. His motor, his athleticism, his demeanor about how he approaches the game – it’s all great. And he showed that tonight.”
In his 11th straight All-Star Game start, LeBron led the East squad with 30 points – netting 15 of their first 23 points in the first quarter. On the night, James went 11-for-21 from the floor to go with five boards, seven assists and a pair of steals in 32 minutes of action. His 30-point effort puts him just two points shy of Kobe Bryant as the all-time top scorer in the history of the midseason classic.
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Watch full game highlights from the 64th All-Star Game.
Last year’s All-Star Game MVP, Kyrie Irving, lived up to his nickname – Mr. Fourth Quarter – netting eight points on 3-for-5 shooting in the final period. But he came into the fourth with just three points and finished with 11 on 4-for-9 shooting, adding six boards and five assists.
“I just wanted to go out there and play, compete and get a few shots up. I got a few good looks and ‘Russ-Mania’ was just out there going from end to end at 500 miles an hour like he normally does. But it’s just great to be a part of that with all those great guys out there.”
Both Kyrie and LeBron have had some monster games at the World’s Most Famous Arena. Irving, who grew up on the other side of the Hudson River, has only played four games at the Garden, but has averages 31.0 points per when he does. He’s had a 41-point performance there as a sophomore and dropped 37 on the Knicks –including the game-winning layup – in the Cleveland’s only appearance this year.
In 19 games at the Garden, LeBron has topped the 30-point plateau eight times, including a pair of 50-point outbursts on two different occasions. For his career, James averages 29.1 ppg on the corner of 34th Street and 7th Ave.
”Don’t get no better, man, you play in the Garden in front of these fans,” smiled James. “They know the game of basketball and to be able to go out there and represent my team and represent the league at the highest level. It means everything.”
The game itself was close right up until the final seconds. The West jumped out to an 11-point edge after one quarter, but the East stormed back to get within one at intermission. The game was tied after three quarters at 122-apiece and was knotted again with four minutes to play. But James Harden’s trey gave the West its final lead and Westbook’s fifth bomb of the night essentially put the game on ice.
The 318 points and 48 three-pointers were both All-Star records.
The Cavaliers All-Star triumvirate of LeBron, Kyrie and Matthew Dellavedova didn’t take top honors over the weekend. But they all acquitted themselves very well. Delly was part of the World Team that upset Team USA in Friday night’s Rising Stars Challenge. Kyrie was runner-up to a record-setting performance by Stephen Curry in the Three-Point Shootout on Saturday. And LeBron was the East’s top scorer in Sunday’s All-Star Game.
With All-Star Weekend now in the rear view mirror, the Cavaliers, who won 14 of their final 16 games heading into the Break, can focus on what really matters – getting in position for the playoffs over the next 27 games, beginning with Friday night’s matchup to start the second half in Washington.
It’s a familiar position for James, who’s made nine straight trips to the postseason and won the NBA title in two of them. For Kyrie, he returns to Cleveland after the Break with the playoffs set squarely in his sights.
”It’s way, way different – a better feeling,” beamed the former Blue Devil. “Even when I won All-Star MVP, people were still asking me questions regarding what was going on (with the Cavs). Here, there’s just so much positivity going on in Cleveland. The energy is getting going for the second half of the season, and I’m excited to be a part of it.”