James Earns MVP Honours As East Beats West In NBA All-Star Game

Ray Allen poured in 28 points while LeBron James scored 27 to lead the Eastern Conference 134-128 over the West in the 57th annual NBA all-star game Sunday, on a night that was as much about celebrating the rebirth of a struggling city than it was a showcase of basketball stars.

Raptors forward Chris Bosh had 14 points and seven rebounds for the East, while Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash of Victoria had eight points and six assists for the West.

James (pictured) earned MVP honours for the second time in his career, entertaining the crowd with an array of spectacular dunks.

Denver’s Carmelo Anthony, Brandon Roy of Portland, and Phoenix Suns forward Amare Stoudemire scored 18 points apiece to lead the West in an entertaining affair punctuated by highlight-reel slam dunks by the high-flying James, Dwight Howard and Stoudemire, and nifty no-look passes from Nash.

Bosh, who was making his third all-star appearance, opened the game with dunks on his first three baskets, and had eight points by the end of the first quarter as the East led 34-28.

James lit it up in second, scoring 10 points as the East led 74-65 at halftime. The Cavs star and Howard brought the crowd to its feet during a 30-second stretch, throwing up alley-oops to each other for three monstrous dunks.

The East took a 106-93 advantage into the fourth quarter, and then the game got serious. With the score tied 116-116 with about four minutes left, James hurdled the front row of fans nearly skimming the head of actor Jet Li, diving for a loose ball.

Boston’s sharp-shooter Allen drained three consecutive three-pointers to put the East up by three points with just under two minutes left, but Hornets guard Chris Paul responded with a three of his own to tie the game. James then drove through virtually the entire West team for a huge slam dunk with a minute left to secure the victory for the East.

Bosh replaced Kevin Garnett in the starting lineup after the Celtics star pulled out with an abdominal strain, and East team coach Doc Rivers said the Raptors captain was deserving of the spot.

“I love Bosh’s game,” Rivers said before Sunday’s festivities got underway. “I don’t think he gets the attention he probably should get. Just seems like all the other young guys, when you mention the Wades and the Carmelos, you barely hear Bosh’s name with them, and it should be with them.

“I really think he deserves this.”

Just over two years since Katrina hit the Big Easy, the city’s rebuilding efforts were a theme of the evening, which featured the famous sounds of Louisiana blues and jazz. Louisiana native Harry Connick Jr. led an energetic jazz performance at halftime, while dancers in hard hats enacted the building of a house.

Bosh and his fellow starters strutted out through a facade of a New Orleans building with wrought-iron railings in the pre-game introductions, and danced to the big band tunes of Rebirth Brass Band and Kermit Ruffins.

The biggest cheers were saved for hometown heroes Paul and David West, and the two thanked the crowd for bringing the spotlight back onto the city.

“New Orleans is definitely back to being the city that the world knows and loves,” Paul said.

Canadian recording artist Deborah Cox sang O Canada, while Stephanie Jordan performed the U.S. anthem.

There was plenty of concern about security in New Orleans after the city was awarded its first-ever game last year, coming on the heels of the Las Vegas all-star weekend that was plagued by security problems and traffic woes.

But after Katrina, league commissioner David Stern was adamant the NBA be part of the city’s solution and not its problem.

The NBA launched a year-long program to help rebuild homes, schools, and playgrounds in New Orleans, and on Friday, the all-star players rolled up their sleeves alongside some 2,500 volunteers for the NBA’s Day of Service — the biggest single rebuilding effort in New Orleans.

In the end, the weekend went off without any major glitches, the one notable negative being the crowd. Two-day ticket packages for All-Star Saturday Night and Sunday’s game were US$750, and while the game was announced as a sellout, significant chunks of seats in the New Orleans Arena sat empty.

The game also lacked the celebrity punch of previous years. Actress Alyssa Milano, comedian Chris Tucker, and rapper Ludacris were among the familiar faces seated courtside, along with Dallas Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens, who was resoundly booed when shown on the Jumbotron.

The other glaring absence, of course, was the always-entertaining Shaquille O’Neal, who didn’t make the all-star team after 14 consecutive appearances.