Stars

All-Star West beats East 148-143, Bryant MVP

(Agencies)
Updated: 2011-02-21 14:14

West All Star Kobe Bryant (R) of the Los Angeles Lakers steals the ball from East All Star Dwyane Wade (L) of the Miami Heat during the NBA All-Star basketball game in Los Angeles, Feb 20, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant won his record-tying fourth All-Star Game Most Valuable Player award by leading the Western Conference to a 148-143 victory on Sunday in front of his hometown fans.

Bryant electrified a celebrity-filled Staples Center crowd with an array of slam dunks and led all players with 37 points and 14 rebounds.

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"I wanted to come out and play hard and put on a good show," said Bryant, who joins Bob Pettit as the only player to win four All-Star MVP trophies. "It feels great being at home here and playing in front of the home crowd."

LeBron James recorded a triple-double with 29 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists to lead the East, which pulled to within two points with 72 seconds left to set up an intense finish after a game filled with highlight-reel dunks and trickery.

Laker Pau Gasol scored 17 points and delighted his hometown fans with a putback that gave the West a four-point lead with under a minute left.

NBA leading scorer Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder poured in 34 points and sealed the victory for the West with a pair of free throw with five seconds to play.