James gets MVPof NBA All-Star Game
NEW ORLEANS — Like tourists who flock here, a few All-Stars departed the Big Easy with souvenirs from a memorable weekend.
LeBron James took another MVP trophy back to Cleveland. Dwight Howard headed to Florida a much bigger star. Kobe Bryant left well-rested and nursing the same injured finger that made his visit strictly ceremonial.
Jason Kidd strolled out of New Orleans Arena a winner, but not exactly sure which uniform he'll wear next.
And the NBA, a league with an eye on European expansion, boosted its image by helping New Orleans' recovery.
For three days, superstars bowed to a city in need.
"The way the NBA reached out to the community is something I'll never forget," Hornets guard Chris Paul said.
Led by James and Ray Allen, the Eastern Conference outplayed their more trumpeted counterparts from the Western Conference and avenged a year-old beating with a 134-128 win on Sunday night.
Allen scored 28 points, making three straight 3-pointers in the final 3:15 and James added 27, including a did-he-really-do-that? dunk in the last minute to lift the East, which is constantly fighting for respect against the West's heavy hitters.
Last year near the Las Vegas Strip, the West humiliated the East in a 153-132 rout when Bryant and Co. rewrote the event's record books. However, this time led by Allen's 14 fourth-quarter points and James, the East salvaged some pride and stole some bragging rights.
"They beat up on us pretty bad last year," James said. "We didn't want to allow that to happen. We wanted to win."
James, who added nine assists and eight rebounds, was named MVP for the second time in three years.
"I didn't know he had done all that," said East coach Doc Rivers of Boston.
Amare Stoudemire, Brandon Roy and Carmelo Anthony scored 18 points apiece to lead the West, which trailed by 13 entering the fourth but rallied behind Paul, the Hornets' wondrous point guard.
Paul's seventh assist of the final period — he finished with 14 — set up Roy's layup to give the West a 122-119 lead.
But Boston's Allen, the final player added to either roster, knocked down his second 3-pointer in 48 seconds to tie it before Paul answered with a 3 to make the hometown crowd, which was treated to familiar jazz and brass bands throughout the evening, erupt.
Allen finally missed and James forced a turnover before coming up with the night's most stirring moment.
Slashing through the lane, Cleveland's megastar rose and dunked over several West defenders, much like he did in Game 5 of last year's Eastern Conference finals in Detroit.
