Kobe Bryant has won four All-Star Game MVP awards, including last season, and on Sunday night in Orlando Kobe is playing like he wants a record-tying fifth MVP award. Bryant scored 14 points in the first half on 6-of-9 shooting, helping the Western Conference to a 88-69 lead over the Eastern Conference at halftime of the 2012 NBA All-Star Game.
Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder had 21 points and six rebounds in the first half, while his Thunder teammate Russell Westbrook scored 17 points, all in the second quarter. Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat led the Eastern Conference with 14 points and seven assists, while LeBron James added 13 points, four rebounds and three assists. Kobe entered the game needing 19 points to pass Michael Jordan for most points in All-Star Game history, and scored 11 points quickly in the first quarter, and three more in the second
| Most Points, NBA All-Star History | |||
| Rank | Player | Points | Games |
| 1 | Michael Jordan | 262 | 13 |
| 2 | Kobe Bryant | 258* | 13 |
| 3 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 251 | 19 |
| 4 | Oscar Robertson | 246 | 12 |
| *Through first half Sunday | |||
The Los Angeles Clippers had their first starter(s) since World B. Free in 1980, and they did not disappoint. Blake Griffin scored 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting, and Chris Paul had seven assists to go with his six points and four rebounds for the Western Conference.
Lakers center Andrew Bynum started and played just five and a half minutes, grabbing three rebounds. Bynum missed all three field goals he attempted, including a three-pointer that did not draw iron. Bynum will not play the rest of the night, as planned, as he had a routine injection in his knee on Friday.
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