SB Nation Tampa Bay - NBA All-Star Weekend: West Holds Off East, Kevin Durant Wins MVPhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49019/tb-fave.png2012-02-27T15:08:50-05:00http://tampabay.sbnation.com/rss/stream/25677072012-02-27T15:08:50-05:002012-02-27T15:08:50-05:00Dwayne Wade All-Star Weekend Interview
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<p>Dwayne Wade of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.hothothoops.com/">Miami Heat</a> did more over All-Star Weekend than just score 24 points, corral 10 rebounds, and dish out 10 assists and one bloody nose during Sunday's All-Star Game. Over the weekend Wade also donated two new basketball courts to Tangelo Park Elementary and hosted the "All-Star Luncheon" with chairperson Harris Rosen (President and COO of Rosen Hotels & Resorts) through his Wade's World Foundation. </p>
<p>It was Wade's fifth straight year hosting his "All-Star Luncheon," and this year the proceeds went to support the Tangelo Park Program, a community-based education non-profit to benefit children and and families living in the Tangelo Park neighborhood. The luncheon also featured performances by Grammy-winning artist Estelle, and was emceed by Channel 9 News anchor Lauren Rowe. </p>
<p>Wade caught up with SB Nation Tampa Bay after the event for an exclusive interview about the importance of having Florida so well-represented in the All-Star Game.</p>
<p><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/976674/Dwayne_Wade_Interview.m4v">Dwayne Wade All-Star Interview</a> <br id="1330373229331"></p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/orlando-magic/2012/2/27/2828649/dwayne-wade-all-star-interview-miami-heatTimothy McCormack2012-02-26T22:49:51-05:002012-02-26T22:49:51-05:00Kevin Durant Wins 2012 NBA All-Star Game MVP
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<p>Oklahoma City <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/">Thunder</a> forward <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="#">Kevin Durant</a> is your 2012 NBA All-Star Game MVP winner. Durant ended the night scoring 36 points and picking up 7 rebounds with 3 assists and 3 steals. Durant even had this dazzling dunk in the game, flying right through the lane for the dunk. This was just one of many dunks for Durant on the night.</p>
<p><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/974173/kd.gif"></p>
<p>Durant hit on just three of his eight three-point attempts, but the Durantula just scored points in bunches to help the West win the game. Had the West lost, it's likely the MVP award would have gone to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.hothothoops.com/">Miami Heat's</a> LeBron James, who also finished with 36 points, which including some late impress three-point shots to put the East in position to win or tie.</p>
<p><i><i>For more on All-Star Weekend, stay tuned on this </i><a href="http://tampabay.sbnation.com/2012/2/16/2803666/nba-all-star-weekend-james-jones-mario-chalmers-and-ryan-anderson-to"><b><i>StoryStream</i></b></a><i>. </i><i>For all news and information regarding the Slam Dunk Contest and the All-Star Weekend in general, please stay tuned to <a href="http://tampabay.sbnation.com/2012/2/nba" target="_blank">SB Nation's dedicated NBA hub</a>.</i></i></p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/orlando-magic/2012/2/26/2827182/kevin-durant-nba-all-star-game-2012-mvpAlfie Crow2012-02-26T22:36:54-05:002012-02-26T22:36:54-05:00VIDEO: LeBron James And Dwayne Wade Turn The Ball Over To Lose
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<p>At halftime the West team led the East team by nearly 20 points and looked like they were going to keep building they're lead. <a href="#" class="sbn-auto-link">LeBron James</a> however want to win the game and rallied back the East team by hitting a trio of ridiculous three-point shots, two of which were from five-point range territory.</p>
<p><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/974321/lbj32.gif"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/974257/lebronshot.gif"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/974309/lbj3.gif"></p>
<p>Thanks to the scoring of LeBron, the East was able to pull within just two points with seconds left in the game, but in the final possession Dwayne Wade and LeBron James turned the ball over in the clutch, sealing the West's 152-149 victory.</p>
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<p>James ended the game leading the East in scoring with 36 points, hitting on six of his eight three-point shots. Dwayne Wade ended with a triple-double, scoring 24 points and picking up 10 rebounds and 10 assists while Deron Williams added 20 points.</p>
<p>For the West, they built their big lead early on thanks to the shooting of Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, and Russell Westbrook. Durant led the West in scoring with 36 points while Bryant finished up with 27 points. Blake Griffin also picked up 22 points and some nifty dunks off passes from Chris Paul, who ended the night with 12 assists.</p>
<p><i><i>For more on All-Star Weekend, stay tuned on this </i><a href="http://tampabay.sbnation.com/2012/2/16/2803666/nba-all-star-weekend-james-jones-mario-chalmers-and-ryan-anderson-to"><b><i>StoryStream</i></b></a><i>. </i><i>For all news and information regarding the Slam Dunk Contest and the All-Star Weekend in general, please stay tuned to <a href="http://tampabay.sbnation.com/2012/2/nba" target="_blank">SB Nation's dedicated NBA hub</a>.</i></i></p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/orlando-magic/2012/2/26/2827131/video-lebron-james-dwayne-wade-nba-all-star-gameAlfie Crow2012-02-26T21:43:49-05:002012-02-26T21:43:49-05:002012 NBA All-Star Game: LeBron James Putting On A Dunk Show
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<p>After what was called a halftime show, the third quarter got started with the West team extending their lead over the East team. Apparently, Dwayne Wade was tired of Kobe Bryant scoring points... so he hacked him on the way to the basket bloodying Bryant's nose.</p>
<p><iframe src="https://tampabay.sbnation.com/videos/iframe?id=28703" frameborder="0" seamless="true" marginwidth="0" mozallowfullscreen="true" webkitallowfullscreen="true" name="28703-chorus-video-iframe"></iframe>
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<p><a href="#" class="sbn-auto-link">LeBron James</a> continued laying down the ridiculous dunks in the third quarter, showing off his neon shoes with this latest jam.</p>
<p><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/974116/brond2.gif"></p>
<p>Los Angeles Lakes guard set the NBA All-Star Game career scoring record in the game with this dunk and free throw, passing Michael Jordan on the list:</p>
<p><iframe src="https://tampabay.sbnation.com/videos/iframe?id=28705" frameborder="0" seamless="true" marginwidth="0" mozallowfullscreen="true" webkitallowfullscreen="true" name="28705-chorus-video-iframe"></iframe>
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<p>And still in the third quarter, LeBron James continues to put on a dazzling display of dunks, but he still won't comete in the dunk competition.</p>
<p><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/974136/lebj.gif"></p>
<p>With all his dunks, LeBron leads the East in scoring currently with 28 points as the East have cut the West lead to just 12 points as the West still lead 124-112.</p>
<p><i><i>For more on All-Star Weekend, stay tuned on this </i><a href="http://tampabay.sbnation.com/2012/2/16/2803666/nba-all-star-weekend-james-jones-mario-chalmers-and-ryan-anderson-to"><b><i>StoryStream</i></b></a><i>. </i><i>For all news and information regarding the Slam Dunk Contest and the All-Star Weekend in general, please stay tuned to <a href="http://tampabay.sbnation.com/2012/2/nba" target="_blank">SB Nation's dedicated NBA hub</a>.</i></i></p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/orlando-magic/2012/2/26/2827080/nba-all-star-game-2012-lebron-jamesAlfie Crow2012-02-26T21:13:25-05:002012-02-26T21:13:25-05:00NBA All-Star Game 2012 Halftime Show: Pitbull, Chris Brown Perform
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<p>The 2012 NBA All-Star Halftime Show must have lost out on top talent because it was competing with the Oscars for performances. While the Oscars got the likes of Jennifer Lopez, etc. the NBA All-Star game was happy to treat the crowd to the likes of... of... whatever this is:</p>
<p><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/973912/20120226195253.gif"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/974080/pitb.gif"></p>
<p>That's R&B singer Chris Brown doing... doing.. well, something. He's definitely doing something. Then you have Pitbull coming out, looking like he's performing the Kris Kross 1992 classic "Jump". He does look like he's having a real good time, though. They should have just held the dunk competition during halftime, since guys like <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="#">LeBron James</a> who won't compete in it but they'll make dunks like this during the game.</p>
<p><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/974024/brond.gif"></p>
<p><i><i>For more on All-Star Weekend, stay tuned on this </i><a href="http://tampabay.sbnation.com/2012/2/16/2803666/nba-all-star-weekend-james-jones-mario-chalmers-and-ryan-anderson-to"><b><i>StoryStream</i></b></a><i>. </i><i>For all news and information regarding the Slam Dunk Contest and the All-Star Weekend in general, please stay tuned to <a href="http://tampabay.sbnation.com/2012/2/nba" target="_blank">SB Nation's dedicated NBA hub</a>.</i></i></p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/orlando-magic/2012/2/26/2826994/pitbull-chris-brown-2012-nba-all-star-game-halftime-showAlfie Crow2012-02-26T20:42:32-05:002012-02-26T20:42:32-05:00NBA All-Star Game 2012: Russell Westbrook Takes 11 Shots In 12 Minutes
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<p>The spectacular dunks continued in the second quarter of the 2012 NBA All-Star game. Here we have <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.libertyballers.com/">Philadelphia 76ers</a> <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="#">Andre Iguodala</a> stealing the ball and then taking it in for the dunk. </p>
<p><iframe src="https://tampabay.sbnation.com/videos/iframe?id=28697" frameborder="0" seamless="true" marginwidth="0" mozallowfullscreen="true" webkitallowfullscreen="true" name="28697-chorus-video-iframe"></iframe>
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<p>Without getting much action in the first quarter, the scoring machine known as Russell Westbrook picked up the pace in the second quarter with more playing time, scoring more points than minutes played. Two of Westbrook's points came from this neat pass from West guard Steve Nash.</p>
<p><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/973614/nash.gif"></p>
<p>As you can see, Nash sent the bounce pass from half court where Westbrook picked it up for the lay in. Westbrook has nearly as many shot attempts as he has minutes played in the first half, which is totally expected from Westbrook in a game where the goal is to just flat out score.</p>
<p>And here's a video of Westbrook trying to throw himself an ally-oop, messing it up, but still being able to lay it in for points.</p>
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<p>Then of course, Westbrook finally got his dunk:</p>
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<p>So far in the game, Westbrook is second on the West in scoring with 17 points in just 12 minutes on 11 shots. As for the score at halftime, the West are blowing the doors off the East, 88-69.</p>
<p><i><i>For more on All-Star Weekend, stay tuned on this </i><a href="http://tampabay.sbnation.com/2012/2/16/2803666/nba-all-star-weekend-james-jones-mario-chalmers-and-ryan-anderson-to"><b><i>StoryStream</i></b></a><i>. </i><i>For all news and information regarding the Slam Dunk Contest and the All-Star Weekend in general, please stay tuned to <a href="http://tampabay.sbnation.com/2012/2/nba" target="_blank">SB Nation's dedicated NBA hub</a>.</i></i></p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/orlando-magic/2012/2/26/2826961/video-2012-nba-all-star-game-russell-westbrookAlfie Crow2012-02-26T20:13:52-05:002012-02-26T20:13:52-05:002012 NBA All-Star Game: West Takes Control Early
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<p>After the first quarter of the 2012 NBA All-Star Game the West team holds the early lead 39-28. The West jumped out to a big lead, but the East came right back into it. Early in the game, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="#">LeBron James</a> sent a behind the back pass to his teammate, then his teammate lobbed the ball in the air for LeBron to dunk the ball to tie the game. James ended the first quarter leading the East in scoring with 11 points already.</p>
<p><iframe src="https://tampabay.sbnation.com/videos/iframe?id=28693" frameborder="0" seamless="true" marginwidth="0" mozallowfullscreen="true" webkitallowfullscreen="true" name="28693-chorus-video-iframe"></iframe>
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<p>The West hold the lead, thanks to some crazy plays like the one in the video below. As you can see, Chris Paul dumps the ball behind him under his legs to his <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.clipsnation.com/">Los Angeles Clippers</a> teammate Blake Griffin for the big dunk. </p>
<p> <iframe src="https://tampabay.sbnation.com/videos/iframe?id=28695" frameborder="0" seamless="true" marginwidth="0" mozallowfullscreen="true" webkitallowfullscreen="true" name="28695-chorus-video-iframe"></iframe>
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<p>Kevin Durant leads the West team in scoring with 13 points while Kobe Bryant has 11 points already. Look for more scoring in the second quarter and more dunks.</p>
<p><i><i>For more on All-Star Weekend, stay tuned on this </i><a href="http://tampabay.sbnation.com/2012/2/16/2803666/nba-all-star-weekend-james-jones-mario-chalmers-and-ryan-anderson-to"><b><i>StoryStream</i></b></a><i>. </i><i>For all news and information regarding the Slam Dunk Contest and the All-Star Weekend in general, please stay tuned to <a target="_blank" href="http://tampabay.sbnation.com/2012/2/nba">SB Nation's dedicated NBA hub</a>.</i></i></p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/orlando-magic/2012/2/26/2826814/nba-all-star-game-2012-lebron-james-chris-paulAlfie Crow2012-02-26T19:59:05-05:002012-02-26T19:59:05-05:00ANIMATED: LeBron James Just Having A Good Time
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<p>Don't really have much of a description of this, just the guys having a good time in the NBA All-Star Game. Here's <a href="#" class="sbn-auto-link">LeBron James</a> dunking.</p>
<p><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/973482/lebronn.gif"></p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/2012/2/26/2826843/animated-lebron-james-dunk-all-star-gameAlfie Crow