The five best things from NBA All-Star weekend
By Connor Learn
1. Anthony Davis breaks the All-Star scoring record
Wilt Chamberlain set the NBA All-Star scoring record with 42 points back in 1962. Paul George nearly broke the record last year when he scored 41, and Russell Westbrook scored 41 points in only 19 minutes during this year’s game. But the record was finally broken this year. And it wasn’t just broken, Anthony Davis crushed it.
Davis turned in 52 points and 10 boards on his home floor. He seemed determined to put together in a good performance from the start, and benefited from Demarcus Cousins’ largely sitting out the game (it turned out later that Cousins had been traded to the Pelicans). He only made field goals on his way to 52 points, making 26 shots out of his 39, both also new records. The local New Orleans fans tuned in to root on their prodigal son, and he did not disappoint.
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Critics of the NBA say that there isn’t enough defense. In all honesty, the defense in the All-Star game is what those people expect of NBA defenses in that it is almost entirely non-existent. The West won 192-182, and we will probably get a team over 200 points relatively soon. But that’s fine — the game is fun and entertaining to watch. It’s the best pick up game in the world, and fans were reminded of that again on Sunday night.