Eric PincusEric Pincus Email Print 0

The Miami HEAT and Oklahoma City Thunder hit the All-Star Break with identical 27-7 records.  The HEAT are looking for a return visit to the NBA Finals, with hopes to win their second title with Dwyane Wade.  The Thunder have improved yearly since drafting Kevin Durant.  After losing in the Western Conference Finals a year ago, OK City may be the primary obstacle standing in Miami’s way.

In February, however, the attention turns to the All-Star Game in Orlando where Wade makes his eighth appearance and Durant his third.

“I remember my first All-Star when I came down to the rookie game and I still remember it today like it was yesterday,” said Wade.  “This is just an experience that you don’t know if you’re ever going to come back again but you might be back for many years but that first one’s always special.”

The HEAT in general are well-represented in Orlando this weekend.

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Derek PageDerek Page Email Print 0

HOOPSWORLD caught up with rookies Chandler Parsons and Kemba Walker this weekend. Walker participating in the Rising Stars Challenge and Parsons in the Shooting Stars. The Houston forward also helped out teammate Chase Budinger in the slam dunk contest.

Chandler Parsons Comfortable Back Home in Orlando

Growing up 10 minutes from the Arena in Orlando, Chandler Parsons first foray into All-Star festivities has been a homecoming of sorts for the Houston Rockets starting forward.

Jason FlemingJason Fleming Email Print 0

On Sunday the main event of NBA All-Star Weekend finally came: the All-Star Game itself. Early on the game progressed as these games usually do, filled with highlight dunks and no defense whatsoever, but after the Western Conference dominated the first half and the beginning of the third the Eastern Conference stormed back, coming within a point. In the end the West prevailed, 152-149.

The Amway Center in Orlando was not full to capacity for the game, though it was fuller than during All-Star Saturday night. R&B singer Mary J. Blige performed a very solid rendition of the Star Spangled Banner to kick things off. It was also noted before tipoff Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant was just 19 points away from passing Oscar Robertson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Jordan to become the all-time leader in points scored at the All-Star Game. This becomes relevant later.

Bryant starts the game on fire, scoring 11 in the first quarter while teammate Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder ends up with 13 as the West took a 39-28 lead after one. Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin added 10 while Miami HEAT forward LeBron James led the East with 11.

Lakers’ center Andrew Bynum, the starter for the West, did not return after playing six minutes. This was actually by design because of an injection he had Friday in his knee. Laker fans relax