Westbrook wins All-Star Game MVP as West beats East, 163-158

The Western Conference All-Stars let Westbrook be Westbrook, and it paid off huge.

In one of the most entertaining start-to-finish All-Star Games in recent memory, the Western Conference defeated the Eastern Conference 163-158, cementing their superiority.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook was named the game's Most Valuable Player, finishing with 41 points, one shy of the all-time All-Star Game record. He shot 16-of-28 from the floor in 23 minutes, hitting five triples and grabbing five rebounds in the process.

Westbrook set an All-Star Game record with 27 points in the first half, something he managed in just 11 minutes of action. He likely could have broken Wilt Chamberlain's 1962 record of 42 points, but he sat for several minutes down the stretch in the fourth quarter. The West then went with isolations for Chris Paul and James Harden on back-to-back plays as the game wound down.

Westbrook sealed the game with two key free throws for the West. He had the opportunity to try to tie the record by missing a free throw and going for the rebound, but opted for the make and win instead. That's a real MVP.

The league's 64th All-Star Game was the rare one that saw the teams play it close and give a legitimate effort - at least on one end of the floor - for the entirety of the game. The result was the highest-scoring affair in All-Star Game history with 321 points, one that also set the record for the most combined threes made in a game with the sides combining for 48 triples.

Kyle Korver and Harden each hit seven of those triples, one shy of the All-Star Game record. Host, hometown star and record-holder Carmelo Anthony tried his best to get in on the action but misfired with a 2-of-13 mark from outside. Anthony struggled all night, scoring 14 points on 6-of-20 shooting in 30 minutes, probably more run than a guy playing on a bum knee should be getting in an exhibition game.

LeBron James led the way for the East, scoring 30 points on 11-of-21 shooting and adding five rebounds and seven assists, while Pau Gasol had a quiet 10-point, 12-rebound double-double.

On the West side, it was Harden flanking Westbrook with 29 points on a strong 11-of-19 shooting night and grabbing eight rebounds with eight assists in support. Paul had a game-high 15 assists to go with 12 points, and Marc Gasol nearly matched his brother with six points and 10 rebounds.

Notes and Highlights

• Anthony receives warm welcome at home and the Gasols hug it out during player introductions.
• James opens the game by finishing a John Wall alley-oop pass. He opened the second half finishing one from Kyle Lowry.
• Steph Curry one-ups Wall's alley-oop by dishing an unbelievable one to Harden. He's pretty good when he keeps the ball for himself, too.
• Dirk Nowitzki dunks for the second time this season, which is cool, but it's followed shortly by Lowry dunking for the first time since 2008.
• Westbrook may have flown a little too close to the sun, or at least the backboard.
• James moves into second on the all-time All-Star Game scoring list, just two points shy of Kobe Bryant.