The 55th annual NBA All Star Game was won by the East team last Sunday 122-120 at the Toyota Center. Cleveland's LeBron James was named the game's MVP after scoring 29 points. As he declares, he wasn't thinking of winning the MVP but winning the NBA All Star Game game. The NBA player made four three-pointers, six rebounds and two assists to become the youngest NBA All-Star MVP at age 21.
Tracy McGrady of the NBA Houston Rockets led the West team with 36 points, but shot an air ball on a potential game-tying basket with 9.9 seconds left. James admitted afterward that he hit McGrady on the arm on the shot, but no foul was called. By halftime, the West led, 70-53.
Former President George Bush who was present at the NBA game, seemed to enjoy the West's offensive ability, although the East was offering little to no defensive resistance. Interesting NBA notes: Four Detroit Pistons - Ben Wallace, Chauncey Billups, Simon Gratz's Rasheed Wallace and Coatesville's Richard Hamilton - were on the court at the same time in the first, third and fourth quarters of the NBA game. Three players on the East team wore No. 3 - Iverson, Ben Wallace and Wade - and fans had no trouble telling them apart.
After missing his first five shots, Iverson made his first point with 10:35 left in the third quarter on a turn-around jumper over Phoenix's Steve Nash. That seemed to ignite Iverson, who entered the game averaging 18.2 points in his previous six NBA All-Star appearances. Iverson shot 4 for 5 in the third quarter and entered the fourth period with nine points.
The NBA East team had narrowed the deficit to 97-94 entering the fourth quarter. .
By: Julie Smith
