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Eastern Conferences forward Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks (34) goes for a layup against Western Conference forward Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans (23) and Western Conference forward Kawhi Leonard of the San Antonio Spurs (2) during the first half of the NBA All-Star basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Eastern Conferences forward Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks (34) goes for a layup against Western Conference forward Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans (23) and Western Conference forward
Western Conference guard Russell Westbrook, of the Oklahoma City Thunder, dunks during the first half of the NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans, Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Max Becherer)
Western Conference guard Russell Westbrook, of the Oklahoma City Thunder, dunks during the first half of the NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans, Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Max Becherer)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – FEBRUARY 19: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dunks the ball in the first half of the 2017 NBA All-Star Game at Smoothie King Center on February 19, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – FEBRUARY 19: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dunks the ball in the first half of the 2017 NBA All-Star Game at Smoothie King Center on February 19, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Western Conference guard Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors (30) slam dunks during the first half of the NBA All-Star basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, Pool)
Western Conference guard Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors (30) slam dunks during the first half of the NBA All-Star basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert,
Eastern Conference guard John Wall, of the Washington Wizards (2), makes a dunk during the first half of the NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans, Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Eastern Conference guard John Wall, of the Washington Wizards (2), makes a dunk during the first half of the NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans, Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – FEBRUARY 19: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans shoots the ball in the first half of the 2017 NBA All-Star Game at Smoothie King Center on February 19, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – FEBRUARY 19: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans shoots the ball in the first half of the 2017 NBA All-Star Game at Smoothie King Center on February 19, 2017 in New Orleans,
NEW ORLEANS, LA – FEBRUARY 19: Kyrie Irving #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots the ball in the first half of the 2017 NBA All-Star Game at Smoothie King Center on February 19, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – FEBRUARY 19: Kyrie Irving #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots the ball in the first half of the 2017 NBA All-Star Game at Smoothie King Center on February 19, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
NEW ORLEANS, LA – FEBRUARY 19: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dunks the ball in the first half of the 2017 NBA All-Star Game at Smoothie King Center on February 19, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – FEBRUARY 19: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dunks the ball in the first half of the 2017 NBA All-Star Game at Smoothie King Center on February 19, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
NEW ORLEANS, LA – FEBRUARY 19: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dunks the ball in the first half of the 2017 NBA All-Star Game at Smoothie King Center on February 19, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – FEBRUARY 19: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dunks the ball in the first half of the 2017 NBA All-Star Game at Smoothie King Center on February 19, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
NEW ORLEANS, LA – FEBRUARY 19: Kyrie Irving #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers gestures in the first half of the 2017 NBA All-Star Game at Smoothie King Center on February 19, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – FEBRUARY 19: Kyrie Irving #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers gestures in the first half of the 2017 NBA All-Star Game at Smoothie King Center on February 19, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE
NEW ORLEANS, LA – FEBRUARY 19: DeMar DeRozan #10 of the Toronto Raptors shoots the ball in the first half of the 2017 NBA All-Star Game at Smoothie King Center on February 19, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – FEBRUARY 19: DeMar DeRozan #10 of the Toronto Raptors shoots the ball in the first half of the 2017 NBA All-Star Game at Smoothie King Center on February 19, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
NEW ORLEANS, LA – FEBRUARY 19: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors shoots the ball in the first half of the 2017 NBA All-Star Game at Smoothie King Center on February 19, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – FEBRUARY 19: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors shoots the ball in the first half of the 2017 NBA All-Star Game at Smoothie King Center on February 19, 2017 in New Orleans,
NEW ORLEANS, LA – FEBRUARY 19: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors dunks the ball in the first half of the 2017 NBA All-Star Game at Smoothie King Center on February 19, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – FEBRUARY 19: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors dunks the ball in the first half of the 2017 NBA All-Star Game at Smoothie King Center on February 19, 2017 in New Orleans,
NEW ORLEANS, LA – FEBRUARY 19: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans battle for the opening tip-off at the start of the 2017 NBA All-Star Game at Smoothie King Center on February 19, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – FEBRUARY 19: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans battle for the opening tip-off at the start of the 2017 NBA All-Star Game at
NEW ORLEANS, LA – FEBRUARY 19: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors looks on in the first half of the 2017 NBA All-Star Game at Smoothie King Center on February 19, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – FEBRUARY 19: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors looks on in the first half of the 2017 NBA All-Star Game at Smoothie King Center on February 19, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
NEW ORLEANS, LA – FEBRUARY 19: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket in the first half against the Western Conference All-Stars during the 2017 NBA All-Star Game at Smoothie King Center on February 19, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – FEBRUARY 19: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket in the first half against the Western Conference All-Stars during the 2017 NBA All-Star Game at Smoothie
NEW ORLEANS, LA – FEBRUARY 19: DeMar DeRozan #10 of the Toronto Raptors drives to the basket as James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets looks on in the first half of the 2017 NBA All-Star Game at Smoothie King Center on February 19, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – FEBRUARY 19: DeMar DeRozan #10 of the Toronto Raptors drives to the basket as James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets looks on in the first half of the 2017 NBA All-Star Game at Smoothie King
Kawhi Leonard either did not get the memo about easing up on defense or did not care.
Making his second straight All-Star Game appearance, the Spurs’ forward snatched a lazy pass from East guard DeMar Derozan and took off down court. With no resistance, Leonard casually soared in for a two-handed slam to put the West up 4-0 31 seconds into the league’s 66th annual meeting of stars.
But that was basically it for Leonard, who was essentially a bit player in the West’s 192-182 win over the East at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.
He scored four points on 2 of 4 and added two assists, two rebounds and one steal in 14 minutes. He did not play in the second half.
Proof that they play defense in the All Star Game. Of course, it's Kawhi pic.twitter.com/VhsY2vVqCp
West big man and hometown hero Anthony Davis shattered Wilt Chamberlain’s All-Star Game scoring record (42 points in 1962), finishing with 52 points on 26 of 39 shooting. He added 10 rebounds and two steals and was named the game’s MVP.
“The show was for Anthony tonight,” Leonard said.
Despite not starting, Russell Westbrook finished with 41 points, seven assists and five rebounds. He slammed home a lob from “frenemy” Kevin Durant in the first half that ignited the West’s bench.
In his first All-Star appearance, Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo led the East with 28 points on 13 of 15. He had a number of vicious dunks throughout the night, including one rim-rattling put-back jam over Stephen Curry.
“Good player,” Leonard said of Milwaukee’s 22-year-old cornerstone. “Brings it every night in every aspect for his team, rebounding, points, passing. Just the whole focal point for that team. He’s long, athletic. This dude does everything on the floor.
Making his 13th straight All-Star Game start, LeBron James finished with 23 points, becoming the first player to surpass 300 career points in the game’s 66-year history.
Eight players scored at least 20 points in the defense-optional contest.
nmoyle@express-news.net
Twitter: @NRmoyle
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