Western Conference guard Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder (L) receives the MVP trophy from NBA commissioner Adam Silver after the 2015 NBA All-Star Game at Madison Square Garden Sunday. — Reuters
NEW YORK — Russell Westbrook exploded for 41 points to lead the Western Conference to a 163-158 victory over the East in the 64th NBA All-Star Game Sunday. The Oklahoma City Thunder guard showed off his dazzling athleticism with a series high-flying dunks, once slamming home an alley-oop pass from Chris Paul with his head above the rim. Having set a first half scoring record with 27 points in just over 11 minutes, Westbrook went on to hit 16 of 28 shots — including five three-pointers — and added three steals as he was named the game's MVP. Westbrook came within one point of the All-Star record 42 points scored by Wilt Chamberlain in 1962 and finished one point better than Michael Jordan's 40 scored in the 1988 game. “It's definitely an honor to be grouped with those two guys, especially in an All-Star Game,” said Westbrook. “We were just trying to win the game and close it out.” Leading the way for the East was four-time NBA most valuable player LeBron James, who posted 30 points. Kyle Korver of the Atlanta Hawks added 21 points for the East hitting 7-of-12 from three-point range, while James Harden matched him from beyond the arc in scoring 29 for the winners. The game made All-Star history right from the start as the Gasol brothers lined up for the opening tap as the first siblings ever to start the midseason classic. Pau Gasol of the Bulls won the tip from younger brother Marc of the Grizzlies and the game was on. “The opening tip was fun,” West coach Steve Kerr said. “Just to see them jumping against each other and to think about them growing up in Spain. “Whoever would have guessed that one day they would jump center at the All-Star Game at Madison Square Garden. That was a special moment.” With the players on both sides enjoying free-wheeling dashes up and down the floor, turning floating feeds into thundering dunks, the sides combined for 321 points, most ever in an NBA All-Star Game. Besides bragging rights, the winning West team players pocketed $50,000, double the amount taken away by the losers. Knicks, Stoudemire agree on buyout The New York Knicks took another step in the deconstruction of the struggling team by agreeing to buy out six-time NBA All-Star Amar'e Stoudemire, according to multiple reports Sunday. Stoudemire had two months left on his contract, but had expressed hopes of landing with a team that had a shot at making the playoffs. The Knicks would not confirm the buyout following the All-Star Game at Madison Square Garden, but Knicks All-Star Carmelo Anthony was already mourning the departure of his teammate. The Knicks, who had aspired to making the postseason under new president Phil Jackson, have the worst record in the NBA at 10-43, 26 games behind Atlantic Division-leading Toronto. — Agencies
