ALL-STAR GAME WEST 152, EAST 149 W L Pct GB Bryant...
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6 x 7” By Brian Mahoney The Associated Press ORLANDO, Fla. — Kobe Bryant took Mi- chael Jordan’s record, then nearly lost the game to LeBron James. Bryant and the best of the West held off a furi- ous East comeback, win- ning 152-149 in the NBA All-Star game on Sunday night. Bryant scored 27 points, moving past Jor- dan as the career scor- ing leader in the game. MVP Kevin Durant had 36, and Thunder team- mate Russell Westbrook finished with 21. James and the East cut a 21-point deficit to one in the closing seconds, but weren’t able to move in front. James had 36 points and fellow Heat star Dwyane Wade fin- ished with a triple-dou- ble. Blake Griffin scored 22 points for the West, which rang up 89 points in the first half, setting an All-Star record. But he won the game with his defense, picking off James’ pass when the East had a chance to tie in the final seconds. “I can’t turn the ball over like that,” James said. “I let my team down, but overall it was a great weekend.” Griffin then hit one free throw with 1.1 sec- onds left, and Wade was off on a 3-point attempt from the corner. He fin- ished with 24 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, joining Jordan and James as the only players with All-Star game triple-dou- bles. Durant was the MVP, leaving Bryant tied for the All-Star record with his four. But he got a bigger mark in his 13th All-Star game. He broke Jordan’s re- cord of 262 points on a dunk with 4:57 left in the third quarter and now has 271 for his career. He entered with 244 and passed Oscar Robertson (246 points) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (251) ear- lier in the game. It nearly wasn’t enough, as the East’s comeback had the crowd filled with entertainers and athletes chanting for defense — never a part of the All- Star game vocabulary — in the final seconds. With Bryant covering him, James hit two long 3-pointers in the final pe- riod, and the East had a chance when Bryant, with the crowd loudly booing, missed a free throw with 18 seconds left and the West up 151-149. “Just being a competi- tor,” James said. “They pretty much beat us up all game so we just wanted to make a game of it.” But New Jersey’s Deron Williams was short on a 3-pointer, and after the East came up with it, James fired a pass into a crowd that Griffin inter- cepted. EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division W L Pct GB Philadelphia 20 14 .588 — New York 17 18 .486 3½ Boston 15 17 .469 4 Toronto 10 23 .303 9½ New Jersey 10 25 .286 10½ Southeast Division W L Pct GB Miami 27 7 .794 — Orlando 22 13 .629 5½ Atlanta 20 14 .588 7 Washington 7 26 .212 19½ Charlotte 4 28 .125 22 Central Division W L Pct GB Chicago 27 8 .771 — Indiana 21 12 .636 5 Cleveland 13 18 .419 12 Milwaukee 13 20 .394 13 Detroit 11 24 .314 16 WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest Division W L Pct GB San Antonio 24 10 .706 — Dallas 21 13 .618 3 Houston 20 14 .588 4 Memphis 19 15 .559 5 New Orleans 8 25 .242 15½ Northwest Division W L Pct GB Oklahoma City 27 7 .794 — Portland 18 16 .529 9 Denver 18 17 .514 9½ Minnesota 17 17 .500 10 Utah 15 17 .469 11 Pacific Division W L Pct GB L.A. Clippers 20 11 .645 — L.A. Lakers 20 14 .588 1½ Golden State 13 17 .433 6½ Phoenix 14 20 .412 7½ Sacramento 11 22 .333 10 ALL-STAR GAME RESULTS 2012—West 152, East 149 2011—West 148, East 143 2010—East 141, West 139 2009—West 146, East 119 2008—East 134, West 128 2007—West 153, East 132 2006—East 122, West 120 2005—East 125, West 115 2004—West 136, East 132 2003—West 155, East 145, 2OT 2002—West 135, East 120 2001—East 111, West 110 2000—West 137, East 126 1999—No game. 1998—East 135, West 114 1997—East 132, West 120 1996—East 129, West 118 1995—West 139, East 112 1994—East 127, West 118 1993—West 135, East 132, OT 1992—West 153, East 113 1991—East 116, West 114 1990—East 130, West 113 1989—West 143, East 134 1988—East 138, West 133 1987—West 154, East 149, OT 1986—East 139, West 132 1985—West 140, East 129 1984—East 154, West 145, OT 1983—East 132, West 123 1982—East 120, West 118 1981—East 123, West 120 1980—East 144, West 136, OT 1979—West 134, East 129 1978—East 133, West 125 1977—West 125, East 124 1976—East 123, West 109 1975—East 108, West 102 1974—West 134, East 123 1973—East 104, West 84 1972—West 112, East 110 1971—West 108, East 107 1970—East 142, West 135 1969—East 123, West 112 1968—East 144, West 124 1967—West 135, East 120 1966—East 137, West 94 1965—East 124, West 123 1964—East 111, West 107 1963—East 115, West 108 1962—West 150, East 130 1961—West 153, East 131 1960—East 125, West 115 1959—West 124, East 108 1958—East 130, West 118 1957—East 109, West 97 1956—West 108, East 94 1955—East 100, West 91 1954—East 98, West 93, OT 1953—West 79, East 75 1952—East 108, West 91 1951—East 111, West 94 ALL-STAR GAME MVPS 2012 — Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City 2011 — Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers 2010 — Dwyane Wade, Miami 2009 — Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers; and Shaquille O’Neal, Phoenix 2008 — LeBron James, Cleveland 2007 — Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers 2006 — LeBron James, Cleveland 2005 — Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 2004 — Shaquille O’Neal, LA Lakers 2003 — Kevin Garnett, Minnesota 2002 — Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers 2001 — Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 2000 — Tim Duncan, San Antonio; and Shaquille O’Neal, LA Lakers 1999 — No game. 1998 — Michael Jordan, Chicago 1997 — Glen Rice, Charlotte 1996 — Michael Jordan, Chicago 1995 — Mitch Richmond, Sacramento 1994 — Scottie Pippen, Chicago 1993 — Karl Malone and John Stockton, Utah 1992 — Magic Johnson, LA Lakers 1991 — Charles Barkley, Philadelphia 1990 — Magic Johnson, LA Lakers 1989 — Karl Malone, Utah 1988 — Michael Jordan, Chicago 1987 — Tom Chambers, Seattle 1986 — Isiah Thomas, Detroit 1985 — Ralph Sampson, Houston 1984 — Isiah Thomas, Detroit 1983 — Julius Erving, Philadelphia 1982 — Larry Bird, Boston 1981 — Tiny Archibald, Boston 1980 — George Gervin, San Antonio 1979 — David Thompson, Denver 1978 — Randy Smith, Buffalo 1977 — Julius Erving, Philadelphia 1976 — Dave Bing, Detroit 1975 — Walt Frazier, New York 1974 — Bob Lanier, Detroit 1973 — Dave Cowens, Boston 1972 — Jerry West, Los Angeles 1971 — Lenny Wilkens, Seattle 1970 — Willis Reed, New York 1969 — Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati 1968 — Hal Greer, Philadelphia 1967 — Rick Barry, San Francisco 1966 — Adrian Smith, Cincinnati 1965 — Jerry Lucas, Cincinnati 1964 — Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati 1963 — Bill Russell, Boston 1962 — Bob Pettit, St. Louis 1961 — Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati 1960 — Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia 1959 — Elgin Baylor, Minneapolis; and Bob Pettit, St. Louis 1958 — Bob Pettit, St. Louis 1957 — Bob Cousy, Boston 1956 — Bob Pettit, St. Louis 1955 — Bill Sharman, Boston 1954 — Bob Cousy, Boston 1953 — George Mikan, Minneapolis 1952 — Paul Arzin, Philadelphia 1951 — Ed Macauley, Boston INDIVIDUAL LEADERS Scoring G FG FT PTS AVG Bryant, LAL 34 351 217 966 28.4 Durant, OKC 34 343 204 948 27.9 James, MIA 33 326 225 903 27.4 Love, MIN 32 258 234 799 25.0 Westbrook, OKC 34 303 166 799 23.5 Ellis, GOL 29 239 133 651 22.4 Aldridge, POR 32 289 134 713 22.3 D. Williams, NJN 34 253 168 756 22.2 Griffin, LAC 31 272 118 663 21.4 Howard, ORL 35 258 186 702 20.1 Nowitzki, DAL 30 214 134 587 19.6 Parker, SAN 33 241 149 639 19.4 Lee, GOL 29 232 95 559 19.3 Jefferson, UTA 29 242 70 554 19.1 Gay, MEM 34 261 92 642 18.9 Bosh, MIA 34 241 138 627 18.4 Jennings, MIL 33 225 88 606 18.4 Irving, CLE 28 189 96 508 18.1 Granger, IND 31 182 135 558 18.0 Martin, HOU 32 193 124 576 18.0 Rebounds G OFF DEF TOT AVG Howard, ORL 35 126 408 534 15.3 Love, MIN 32 132 317 449 14.0 Bynum, LAL 30 103 280 383 12.8 Griffin, LAC 31 102 250 352 11.4 Cousins, SAC 32 145 218 363 11.3 Gasol, LAL 34 106 255 361 10.6 Humphries, NJN 32 123 214 337 10.5 Gortat, PHX 34 90 265 355 10.4 Gasol, MEM 34 73 269 342 10.1 Noah, CHI 34 125 212 337 9.9 Assists G AST AVG Nash, PHX 31 339 10.9 Rondo, BOS 22 210 9.5 Calderon, TOR 33 295 8.9 Paul, LAC 26 223 8.6 Rubio, MIN 34 284 8.4 D. Williams, NJN 34 278 8.2 Parker, SAN 33 266 8.1 Rose, CHI 25 192 7.7 Steals G STL AVG Conley, MEM 32 79 2.47 Rubio, MIN 34 80 2.35 Paul, LAC 26 59 2.27 Shumpert, NYK 28 56 2.00 Lowry, HOU 32 63 1.97 Allen, MEM 31 59 1.90 Blocks G BLK AVG Ibaka, OKC 34 109 3.21 McGee, WAS 33 88 2.67 Jordan, LAC 31 80 2.58 Howard, ORL 35 77 2.20 Gasol, MEM 34 74 2.18 Smith, ATL 34 71 2.09 Bynum, LAL 30 61 2.03 Field goal percentage FG FGA PCT Chandler, NYK 137 195 .703 Pekovic, MIN 126 216 .583 Gortat, PHX 230 410 .561 Howard, ORL 258 466 .554 James, MIA 326 596 .547 Bynum, LAL 196 360 .544 All Times EST Saturday’s games No games scheduled. Sunday’s game West 152, East 149 Monday’s games No games scheduled. Tuesday’s games Boston at Cleveland, 7 p.m. Golden State at Indiana, 7 p.m. Philadelphia at Detroit, 7:30 p.m. New Orleans at Chicago, 8 p.m. Washington at Milwaukee, 8 p.m. Toronto at Houston, 8 p.m. New Jersey at Dallas, 8:30 p.m. Utah at Sacramento, 10 p.m. Minnesota at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m. ALL-STAR GAME WEST 152, EAST 149 In uniform for unity Twenty years after play- ing in the NBA All-Star game here, Chris Mullin and Clyde Drexler were back on the court in Or- lando. So how did it feel to be out there again? “It hurts,” Mullin said. The two Hall of Famers played in the first NBA Cares Special Olympics Unity Sports basketball game. Dikembe Mutombo and Sam Perkins also took part, along with WNBA players Lindsey Harding, Ruth Riley, Marie Ferdi- nand-Harris and Sophia Young, and 12 Special Olympics athletes. Mullin was more screener than shooter, and Drexler isn’t quite as much “The Glide” anymore. “A little bit,” he said. “There’s not a lot of glide left.” The for- mat followed the Special Olympics’ unified sports program, which combines athletes with and without intellectual disabilities as teammates. The 12 play- ers who were chosen to play Sunday on center court at the All-Star Jam Session were nominated by chapters throughout the country, and the NBA alums were impressed with their skills. Jesse Burnett of Colorado even lofted a layup high over Mutombo’s attempt at a blocked shot. “I’ll tell you what, these guys are re- ally good athletes,” Drex- ler said. “You saw just how skillful they are. They really love the game.” 76ers ready to get back to work First-time All-Star Andre Iguodala welcomed his three-day respite in Or- lando, but said the 76ers are poised to get back to work after ending the first half on a five-game losing streak. Philadel- phia is in fourth place in the East and boasts one of the younger rosters in the conference, with rookie LaVoy Allen get- ting some starts and guards Jodie Meeks, Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner — all in their third NBA seasons — all big con- tributors as well. Though it might seem that would give the Sixers at least a small edge over a few of the older teams in the East like Boston down the stretch dealing with the compact schedule, Iguodala said it is actu- ally the opposite. That’s why he thinks it will be incumbent on veterans like himself and leading scorer Louis Williams to keep the Sixers on track if they want to be a factor in the postsea- son. “I think it’s helped us, but for us it’s still mostly being tired and being drained mentally — like any other team,” Iguodala said. “And that can hurt the younger guys. The older guys are used to the schedule. So mentally they know how to prepare themselves, where the younger guys can get out of tune or can kind of lose focus.” NOTES Bryant breaks Jordan’s record, helps West to win Minnesota forward Kevin Love (42) dunks on Orlando center Dwight Howard during the first half of Sunday’s All-Star game in Orlando, Fla. AP PHOTO/CHRIS O’MEARA
Transcript of ALL-STAR GAME WEST 152, EAST 149 W L Pct GB Bryant...
6 x 7”
By Brian MahoneyThe Associated Press
ORLANDO, Fla. — Kobe Bryant took Mi-chael Jordan’s record, then nearly lost the game to LeBron James.
Bryant and the best of the West held off a furi-ous East comeback, win-ning 152-149 in the NBA All-Star game on Sunday night.
Bryant scored 27 points, moving past Jor-dan as the career scor-ing leader in the game. MVP Kevin Durant had 36, and Thunder team-mate Russell Westbrook finished with 21.
James and the East cut a 21-point deficit to one in the closing seconds, but weren’t able to move in front. James had 36 points and fellow Heat star Dwyane Wade fin-ished with a triple-dou-ble.
Blake Griffin scored 22 points for the West, which rang up 89 points in the first half, setting an All-Star record. But he won the game with his defense, picking off James’ pass when the East had a chance to tie in the final seconds.
“I can’t turn the ball over like that,” James said. “I let my team down, but overall it was a great weekend.”
Griffin then hit one free throw with 1.1 sec-onds left, and Wade was off on a 3-point attempt from the corner. He fin-ished with 24 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, joining Jordan and James as the only players with All-Star game triple-dou-bles.
Durant was the MVP, leaving Bryant tied for the All-Star record with his four. But he got a bigger mark in his 13th All-Star game.
He broke Jordan’s re-cord of 262 points on a dunk with 4:57 left in the third quarter and now has 271 for his career. He entered with 244 and passed Oscar Robertson (246 points) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (251) ear-lier in the game.
It nearly wasn’t enough, as the East’s comeback had the crowd filled with entertainers and athletes chanting for defense — never a part of the All-Star game vocabulary — in the final seconds.
With Bryant covering him, James hit two long 3-pointers in the final pe-riod, and the East had a chance when Bryant, with the crowd loudly booing, missed a free throw with 18 seconds left and the West up 151-149.
“Just being a competi-tor,” James said. “They
pretty much beat us up all game so we just wanted to make a game of it.”
But New Jersey’s Deron Williams was short on a
3-pointer, and after the East came up with it, James fired a pass into a crowd that Griffin inter-cepted.
EASTERN CONFERENCEAtlantic Division
W L Pct GBPhiladelphia 20 14 .588 —New York 17 18 .486 3½Boston 15 17 .469 4Toronto 10 23 .303 9½New Jersey 10 25 .286 10½
Southeast Division W L Pct GBMiami 27 7 .794 —Orlando 22 13 .629 5½Atlanta 20 14 .588 7Washington 7 26 .212 19½Charlotte 4 28 .125 22
Central Division W L Pct GBChicago 27 8 .771 —Indiana 21 12 .636 5Cleveland 13 18 .419 12Milwaukee 13 20 .394 13Detroit 11 24 .314 16
WESTERN CONFERENCESouthwest Division
W L Pct GBSan Antonio 24 10 .706 —Dallas 21 13 .618 3Houston 20 14 .588 4Memphis 19 15 .559 5New Orleans 8 25 .242 15½
Northwest Division W L Pct GBOklahoma City 27 7 .794 —Portland 18 16 .529 9Denver 18 17 .514 9½Minnesota 17 17 .500 10Utah 15 17 .469 11
Pacific Division W L Pct GBL.A. Clippers 20 11 .645 —L.A. Lakers 20 14 .588 1½Golden State 13 17 .433 6½Phoenix 14 20 .412 7½Sacramento 11 22 .333 10
ALL-STAR GAME RESULTS2012—West 152, East 1492011—West 148, East 1432010—East 141, West 1392009—West 146, East 1192008—East 134, West 1282007—West 153, East 1322006—East 122, West 1202005—East 125, West 1152004—West 136, East 1322003—West 155, East 145, 2OT2002—West 135, East 1202001—East 111, West 1102000—West 137, East 1261999—No game.1998—East 135, West 1141997—East 132, West 1201996—East 129, West 1181995—West 139, East 1121994—East 127, West 1181993—West 135, East 132, OT1992—West 153, East 1131991—East 116, West 1141990—East 130, West 1131989—West 143, East 1341988—East 138, West 1331987—West 154, East 149, OT1986—East 139, West 1321985—West 140, East 1291984—East 154, West 145, OT1983—East 132, West 1231982—East 120, West 1181981—East 123, West 1201980—East 144, West 136, OT1979—West 134, East 1291978—East 133, West 1251977—West 125, East 1241976—East 123, West 1091975—East 108, West 1021974—West 134, East 1231973—East 104, West 841972—West 112, East 1101971—West 108, East 1071970—East 142, West 1351969—East 123, West 1121968—East 144, West 1241967—West 135, East 1201966—East 137, West 941965—East 124, West 1231964—East 111, West 1071963—East 115, West 1081962—West 150, East 1301961—West 153, East 1311960—East 125, West 1151959—West 124, East 1081958—East 130, West 1181957—East 109, West 971956—West 108, East 941955—East 100, West 911954—East 98, West 93, OT1953—West 79, East 751952—East 108, West 911951—East 111, West 94
ALL-STAR GAME MVPS2012 — Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City2011 — Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers2010 — Dwyane Wade, Miami2009 — Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers; and Shaquille O’Neal, Phoenix2008 — LeBron James, Cleveland2007 — Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers2006 — LeBron James, Cleveland2005 — Allen Iverson, Philadelphia2004 — Shaquille O’Neal, LA Lakers2003 — Kevin Garnett, Minnesota2002 — Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers2001 — Allen Iverson, Philadelphia2000 — Tim Duncan, San Antonio; and Shaquille O’Neal, LA Lakers1999 — No game.1998 — Michael Jordan, Chicago1997 — Glen Rice, Charlotte1996 — Michael Jordan, Chicago1995 — Mitch Richmond, Sacramento1994 — Scottie Pippen, Chicago1993 — Karl Malone and John Stockton, Utah1992 — Magic Johnson, LA Lakers1991 — Charles Barkley, Philadelphia1990 — Magic Johnson, LA Lakers1989 — Karl Malone, Utah1988 — Michael Jordan, Chicago1987 — Tom Chambers, Seattle1986 — Isiah Thomas, Detroit1985 — Ralph Sampson, Houston1984 — Isiah Thomas, Detroit1983 — Julius Erving, Philadelphia1982 — Larry Bird, Boston1981 — Tiny Archibald, Boston1980 — George Gervin, San Antonio
1979 — David Thompson, Denver1978 — Randy Smith, Buffalo1977 — Julius Erving, Philadelphia1976 — Dave Bing, Detroit1975 — Walt Frazier, New York1974 — Bob Lanier, Detroit1973 — Dave Cowens, Boston1972 — Jerry West, Los Angeles1971 — Lenny Wilkens, Seattle1970 — Willis Reed, New York1969 — Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati1968 — Hal Greer, Philadelphia1967 — Rick Barry, San Francisco1966 — Adrian Smith, Cincinnati1965 — Jerry Lucas, Cincinnati1964 — Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati1963 — Bill Russell, Boston1962 — Bob Pettit, St. Louis1961 — Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati1960 — Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia1959 — Elgin Baylor, Minneapolis; and Bob Pettit, St. Louis1958 — Bob Pettit, St. Louis1957 — Bob Cousy, Boston1956 — Bob Pettit, St. Louis1955 — Bill Sharman, Boston1954 — Bob Cousy, Boston1953 — George Mikan, Minneapolis1952 — Paul Arzin, Philadelphia1951 — Ed Macauley, Boston
INDIVIDUAL LEADERSScoring
G FG FT PTS AVGBryant, LAL 34 351 217 966 28.4Durant, OKC 34 343 204 948 27.9James, MIA 33 326 225 903 27.4Love, MIN 32 258 234 799 25.0Westbrook, OKC 34 303 166 799 23.5Ellis, GOL 29 239 133 651 22.4Aldridge, POR 32 289 134 713 22.3D. Williams, NJN 34 253 168 756 22.2Griffin, LAC 31 272 118 663 21.4Howard, ORL 35 258 186 702 20.1Nowitzki, DAL 30 214 134 587 19.6Parker, SAN 33 241 149 639 19.4Lee, GOL 29 232 95 559 19.3Jefferson, UTA 29 242 70 554 19.1Gay, MEM 34 261 92 642 18.9Bosh, MIA 34 241 138 627 18.4Jennings, MIL 33 225 88 606 18.4Irving, CLE 28 189 96 508 18.1Granger, IND 31 182 135 558 18.0Martin, HOU 32 193 124 576 18.0
Rebounds G OFF DEF TOT AVGHoward, ORL 35 126 408 534 15.3Love, MIN 32 132 317 449 14.0Bynum, LAL 30 103 280 383 12.8Griffin, LAC 31 102 250 352 11.4Cousins, SAC 32 145 218 363 11.3Gasol, LAL 34 106 255 361 10.6Humphries, NJN 32 123 214 337 10.5Gortat, PHX 34 90 265 355 10.4Gasol, MEM 34 73 269 342 10.1Noah, CHI 34 125 212 337 9.9
Assists G AST AVGNash, PHX 31 339 10.9Rondo, BOS 22 210 9.5Calderon, TOR 33 295 8.9Paul, LAC 26 223 8.6Rubio, MIN 34 284 8.4D. Williams, NJN 34 278 8.2Parker, SAN 33 266 8.1Rose, CHI 25 192 7.7
Steals G STL AVGConley, MEM 32 79 2.47Rubio, MIN 34 80 2.35Paul, LAC 26 59 2.27Shumpert, NYK 28 56 2.00Lowry, HOU 32 63 1.97Allen, MEM 31 59 1.90
Blocks G BLK AVGIbaka, OKC 34 109 3.21McGee, WAS 33 88 2.67Jordan, LAC 31 80 2.58Howard, ORL 35 77 2.20Gasol, MEM 34 74 2.18Smith, ATL 34 71 2.09Bynum, LAL 30 61 2.03
Field goal percentage FG FGA PCTChandler, NYK 137 195 .703Pekovic, MIN 126 216 .583Gortat, PHX 230 410 .561Howard, ORL 258 466 .554James, MIA 326 596 .547Bynum, LAL 196 360 .544
All Times ESTSaturday’s games
No games scheduled.Sunday’s game
West 152, East 149Monday’s games
No games scheduled.
Tuesday’s gamesBoston at Cleveland, 7 p.m.Golden State at Indiana, 7 p.m.Philadelphia at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.New Orleans at Chicago, 8 p.m.Washington at Milwaukee, 8 p.m.Toronto at Houston, 8 p.m.New Jersey at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.Utah at Sacramento, 10 p.m.Minnesota at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
ALL-STAR GAME WEST 152, EAST 149
In uniform for unityTwenty years after play-ing in the NBA All-Star game here, Chris Mullin and Clyde Drexler were back on the court in Or-lando. So how did it feel to be out there again? “It hurts,” Mullin said. The two Hall of Famers played in the first NBA Cares Special Olympics Unity Sports basketball game. Dikembe Mutombo and Sam Perkins also took part, along with WNBA players Lindsey Harding, Ruth Riley, Marie Ferdi-nand-Harris and Sophia Young, and 12 Special Olympics athletes. Mullin was more screener than shooter, and Drexler isn’t quite as much “The Glide”
anymore. “A little bit,” he said. “There’s not a lot of glide left.” The for-mat followed the Special Olympics’ unified sports program, which combines athletes with and without intellectual disabilities as teammates. The 12 play-ers who were chosen to play Sunday on center court at the All-Star Jam Session were nominated by chapters throughout the country, and the NBA alums were impressed with their skills. Jesse Burnett of Colorado even lofted a layup high over Mutombo’s attempt at a blocked shot. “I’ll tell you what, these guys are re-ally good athletes,” Drex-ler said. “You saw just how skillful they are. They really love the game.”
76ers ready to get back to workFirst-time All-Star Andre Iguodala welcomed his three-day respite in Or-lando, but said the 76ers are poised to get back to work after ending the first half on a five-game losing streak. Philadel-phia is in fourth place in the East and boasts one of the younger rosters in the conference, with rookie LaVoy Allen get-ting some starts and guards Jodie Meeks, Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner — all in their third NBA seasons — all big con-tributors as well. Though it might seem that would give the Sixers at least a small edge over a few of the older teams in the
East like Boston down the stretch dealing with the compact schedule, Iguodala said it is actu-ally the opposite. That’s why he thinks it will be incumbent on veterans like himself and leading scorer Louis Williams to keep the Sixers on track if they want to be a factor in the postsea-son. “I think it’s helped us, but for us it’s still mostly being tired and being drained mentally — like any other team,” Iguodala said. “And that can hurt the younger guys. The older guys are used to the schedule. So mentally they know how to prepare themselves, where the younger guys can get out of tune or can kind of lose focus.”
NOTES
Bryant breaks Jordan’s record, helps West to win
Minnesota forward Kevin Love (42) dunks on Orlando center Dwight Howard during the first half of Sunday’s All-Star game in Orlando, Fla. AP PHOTO/CHRIS O’MEARA
