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Spurs hit rocky patch despite Manu’s return

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Nuggets 99, Spurs 94: March 4, 2012

Matt Bonner guards Denver’s Al Harrington in the first half Spurs vs Nuggets, Sunday, March 4, 2012. (JENNIFER WHITNEY) (special to the Express-News)

Manu Ginobili tries to maintain control of the ball in the first half Spurs vs Nuggets, Sunday, March 4, 2012. (JENNIFER WHITNEY) (special to the Express-News)

Tim Duncan gets the dunk guarded by Denver’s Kenneth Faried in the first half Spurs vs Nuggets, Sunday, March 4, 2012. (JENNIFER WHITNEY) (special to the Express-News)

Richard Jefferson is fouled by Denver’s Timofey Mozgov in the first half Spurs vs Nuggets, Sunday, March 4, 2012. (JENNIFER WHITNEY) (special to the Express-News)

Tiago Splitter manages to maintain control and pass to Duncan after a fall guarded by Denver’s Timofey Mozgov in the first half Spurs vs Nuggets, Sunday, March 4, 2012. (JENNIFER WHITNEY) (special to the Express-News)

Mnu Ginobili shoots guarded by Dnever’s Chris Andersen in the first half Spurs vs Nuggets, Sunday, March 4, 2012. (JENNIFER WHITNEY) (special to the Express-News)

Tim Duncan gets the dunk guarded by Denver’s Chris Andersen in the first half Spurs vs Nuggets, Sunday, March 4, 2012. (JENNIFER WHITNEY) (special to the Express-News)

By Jeff McDonald

Manu Ginobili paced himself through a brief pregame workout Sunday night, testing his left oblique strain one last time before a nationally televised game against Denver.

Satisfied, he finally wandered to the bench area to dribble around with his twin 2-year-old sons, Dante and Nicola.

Until that point, it was the most action Ginobili had seen inside the ATT Center in 2012.

Ginobili made his second return from injury in a 99-94 loss to the Nuggets. He hopes to make this comeback his last.

“Here we go again,” Ginobili said before his first game in the Spurs’ gym since New Year’s Eve. “I haven’t played in this arena since December. I missed it. It’s been too long.”

Ginobili, who had his brief comeback from a broken hand aborted by a strained oblique, hadn’t played anywhere since Feb. 18.

The return of the Spurs’ catalyst, playing in only his 10th game this season, wasn’t enough to lift them to victory.

Ty Lawson had 22 points and danced with a triple-double as the Nuggets rode a big first quarter to a wire-to-wire win.

After falling behind by 16 points in the first half and never leading, the Spurs had a chance to tie in the final 10 seconds, but Gary Neal’s 3-pointer hit the back of the iron.

Three games into a seven-game homestand, the Spurs (25-12) have already notched more defeats (two) than they did during the whole nine-game rodeo trip that preceded the All-Star break.

“We competed well and played together on the road,” said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, whose team is 1-2 since the break. “We’ve got to try to duplicate that at home.”

Ginobili’s return did put the Spurs at full strength for the first time since the opening tip of a Jan. 2 game in Minnesota, but only technically.

Just as Ginobili came back, Tim Duncan came down with a stomach illness. Duncan played, but had to dig deep for 14 points and nine rebounds, including four dunks.

His slam off a pass from Tony Parker with 29.3 seconds left brought the Spurs within 95-94, but Lawson buried a 19-footer on the other end to push Denver’s edge back to three.

Parker had 25 points and seven assists to lead the Spurs, who have already lost more games at home post-All Star break than before it.

The Nuggets (21-17) won despite playing without regular starters Danilo Gallinari and Nene and key reserve Kosta Koufos. Denver was further depleted in the second half, when center Timofey Mozgov collided with DeJuan Blair and had to leave the game.

The Nuggets won behind Lawson, who added 11 assists and nine rebounds. He was one of five players who scored in double figures for Denver.

Denver is 3-0 since the All-Star break, a run of success coach George Karl traces to a 114-99 loss to the Spurs leading into it.

“We played the right way with a passion and intensity, and it’s carried over,” Karl said.

For the Spurs, the most positive development Sunday involved Ginobili. He thought he could have played in Friday’s win over Charlotte but woke up that morning a little tight in the rib cage region.

“We all got a little worried,” Ginobili said. “I said, ‘No big deal. We’ve waited so long, let’s wait two more days.’?”

The Argentine star was not his sharpest Sunday but did show flashes.

Twenty-eight seconds after checking in in the first quarter, he drilled an open 3-pointer. He added another late in the third to pull the Spurs within two.

All told, Ginobili logged nearly 24 minutes and notched eight points, five assists and four rebounds. He lacked his natural explosion to the basket, twice being blocked at the rim in the first half.

All in all, however, it was a productive night for the 34-year-old. He got on the floor, and got away without hurting anything.

“I think I’m better than when I came back previously,” Ginobili said. “We’ll see.”

jmcdonald@express-news.net
Twitter: JMcDonald_SAEN

Revenge-minded D-Will snuffs out ‘Linsanity’ at least for one night

After helping create ”Linsanity” in its earliest stages, Deron Williams was ready to show what he could do Monday night.

The veteran New Jersey point guard outplayed Jeremy Lin, leading New Jersey to a 100-92 victory over New York.

“This all started on me,” Williams told the Associated Press after of Lin and the Knicks. Lin had helped the Knicks win eight of nine coming into the game.

Williams erupted for a season-best 38 points, including eight 3-pointers, as he outscored Lin 36-11 through three quarters.

The New Jersey All-Star had noted some of Lin’s recent publicity and his early role in helping create it.

“I don’t really watch too many games, but I do see Twitter, people tweet me and every, you know, three lines it was Jeremy Lin destroyed Deron Williams,”’ said Williams, who singed the Knicks’ leaky defense for 16 points in the third quarter. “So I definitely took offense to that in the first game and definitely, like I said, I had it circled.”

Lin went for 21 points, nine assists and seven rebounds, but Williams had the stronger performance to exact a measure of revenge after the first game.

“Deron was on fire,” New Jersey coach Avery Johnson . “I told him even this morning, if you’ve got some looks at threes, just take them. We know you can make them, but just be aggressive, and if their point guard’s not on you, we’ll figure out a way to get him back on you, and we want you to attack.”

Williams’ big game catapulted him to the top of Monday’s Studs and Duds.

STUDS

New Jersey G Deron Williams: Went for 38 points on eight 3-pointers and produced six assists, four rebounds and was plus-12 in the Nets’ victory at New York.

Oklahoma City F Kevin Durant: Produced 31 points, eight rebounds, four assists, two steals and was plus-4 in the Thunder’s victory over New Orleans.

Houston G Kyle Lowry: Tallied 24 points, seven rebounds, nine assists, four steals and was plus-4 in the Rockets’ victory over Memphis.

San Antonio G Tony Parker: Produced 23 points and 11 assists — his third consecutive 20-10 game — along with six rebounds, three steals and was plus-4 in the Spurs’ victory at Utah.

Dallas F Dirk Nowitzki: Muscled for 26 points, 16 rebounds, two blocks and was a game-high plus-27 in the Mavericks’ victory over Boston.

Orlando C Dwight Howard: Notched 28 points, 16 rebounds, four assists, three steals and was plus-6 in the Magic’s victory at Milwaukee.

DUDS

New York F Carmelo Anthony: Struggled in his return to the lineup with 4-for-11 shooting, six turnovers and was minus-10 in the Knicks’ loss to New Jersey.

Minnesota G Ricky Rubio: Clanked through a 5-for-16 shooting night with five turnovers in the Timberwolves’ overtime loss to Denver.

Denver G Andre Miller: Missed all eight field-goal attempts and had four turnovers in the Nuggets’ overtime victory over Minnesota.

Washington G John Wall: Hit 4 of 11 from the field with four turnovers and was a game-worst minus-26 in the Wizards’ loss at Phoenix.

Denver C Timofey Mozgov: Went 2 for 5 from the field with four turnovers in 11 minutes and was a team-worst minus-17 in the Nuggets’ overtime victory over Minnesota.

New Orleans C Chris Kaman: Clanked through a 4-for-17 shooting night with three turnovers and was minus-14 to match the game low in the Hornets’ loss at Oklahoma City.

Titans of West rule hoops extravaganza

West forward Kevin Durant, of the Oklahoma City Thunder, tries to go over the East’s Dwight Howard, of the Orlando Magic, for a dunk. Durant had 36 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals to win MVP. (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

ORLANDO, Fla. — Kobe Bryant took down Michael Jordan. Kevin Durant took aim at Wilt Chamberlain.

Dwight Howard launched 3-pointers in what could be his de facto swan song in Orlando. LeBron James led a furious comeback.

Watching all the storylines unfold in the West’s 152-149 victory in the NBA All-Star Game at the Amway Center on Sunday, more fan than participant, was Spurs point guard Tony Parker.

“I was just happy to be a part of it,” Parker said.

Make no mistake. Parker is a star in his own right, his berth in Sunday’s game earned by the sweat of carrying the injury-plagued Spurs to the Western Conference’s second-best record.

He’s got a little Hollywood in him, too, more at home in the eye of Saturday’s celebrity-driven, rock-star spectacle than, say, Tim Duncan ever could be.

But somewhere amid the circus, between Russell Westbrook bouncing alley-oops to himself off the backboard and Howard firing away from 3-point range, Parker began to feel the pull of Gregg Popovich.

He was ready to come home.

“I had a great time,” Parker said. “But I’m ready to go home and get some rest.”

Durant, the Oklahoma City star and NBA’s two-time defending scoring leader, pumped in 36 points to earn Most Valuable Player honors. He briefly flirted with the All-Star Game’s 50-year-old scoring record — 42 points set by Chamberlain in 1962.

Bryant, meanwhile, did rewrite the record book. His 27 points pushed him past Jordan as the All-Star Game’s all-time leading scorer with 271 in 14 appearances. Jordan had 262 in 13 games.

Parker, an amateur NBA historian who grew up a fan of Jordan, was among the impressed.

“That’s got to be an amazing feeling for him, because Michael Jordan is one of the best in the history of the game,” Parker said.

Looming over the entire weekend was the question of Howard, the towering center who has requested a trade from Orlando. The home crowd cheered him before the game, when he took the mic and welcomed the audience to a city he designs to leave.

Throughout the weekend, Howard has declined to answer questions about his future — “If it’s not about All-Star Weekend, I don’t want to talk about it,” he said — and stuck to that script after Sunday’s game.

If it was a farewell party of sorts for Howard, it was a bizarre one. He scored a pedestrian nine points to go with 10 rebounds and jacked up four unsuccessful 3-pointers.

Instead, it was James and Miami teammate Dwyane Wade who led the East back from a 21-point deficit. James ended with 36 points, while Wade notched 24 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the third triple-double in All-Star history. James had one last year.

After Deron Williams missed a potential go-ahead 3-pointer in the waning moments, James wound up with the ball after the rebound but promptly turned it over to Blake Griffin, ending the East’s best shot at victory.

“I can’t turn the ball over like that,” James said. “I let my team down.”

Making his fourth All-Star appearance, Parker was just delighted to be in the building for it all. He played 12 minutes, a number that surely made Popovich happy, scoring six points with four assists.

When the night was over, the requisite postgame interviews completed, Parker left the Amway Center for a plane waiting at the Orlando airport. All-Star Weekend was over. It is time to get back to work. Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls loom Wednesday.

Asked if he would have liked a greater chance to be a bigger star in a room full of them, Parker laughed.

“I’m good,” he said. “We’ve got a big game against D-Rose on Wednesday, so I’m good.”

jmcdonald@express-news.net

Twitter: @JMcDonald_SAEN

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2012 NBA All-Star Game

Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs and the Western Conference looks on during the 2012 NBA All-Star Game at the Amway Center on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. He had six points, four assists and two rebounds in 12 minutes. (Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)

Western Conference’s Steve Nash, of the Phoenix Suns, warms up before the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) (AP)

Western Conference’s Kevin Durant, of the Oklahoma City Thunder, warms up for the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) (AP)

Western Conference’s Steve Nash, right, of the Phoenix Suns, and Dirk Nowitzki, of the Dallas Mavericks, warm up forthe NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) (AP)

Western Conference’s Andrew Bynum, of the Los Angeles Lakers, warms up before the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) (AP)

Western Conference’s Russell Westbrook, of the Oklahoma City Thunder, warms up for the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) (AP)

Western Conference’s Dirk Nowitzki, of the Dallas Mavericks, warms up before the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) (AP)

Eastern Conference’s Derrick Rose, of the Chicago Bulls, warms up before the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) (AP)

Eastern Conference’s Rajon Rondo, of the Boston Celtics, right, speaks with filmmaker Spike Lee, left, in front of the Rev. Jesse Jackson before the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012 in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) (AP)

The Rev. Jesse Jackson speaks to Eastern Conference’s Deron Williams, of the New Jersey Nets, before the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) (AP)

Eastern Conference’s Andre Iguodala, of the Philadelphia 76ers, warms up for the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) (AP)

Hall of Famer Earvin “Magic” Johnson, right, speaks to filmmaker Spike Lee before the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) (AP)

Rapper Flo Rida performs before the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (AP)

Western Conference’s Kobe Bryant, of the Los Angeles Lakers, left, and Dirk Nowitzki, of the Dallas Mavericks, warm up before the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) (AP)

Singer Nicki Minaj performs before the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) (AP)

Singer Mary J. Blige performs the national anthem before the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) (AP)

Mary J. Blige sings the U.S. national anthem before the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012 in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) (AP)

Eastern Conference’s Dwight Howard (12), of the Orlando Magic, blocks a shot by Western Conference’s Andrew Bynum (17), of the Los Angeles Lakers, during the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) (AP)

Eastern Conference’s LeBron James (6), of the Miami Heat, pressures Western Conference’s Kevin Durant (35), of the Oklahoma City Thunder, during the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) (AP)

Western Conference’s Blake Griffin (32), of the Los Angeles Clippers, dunks the ball during the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) (AP)

Eastern Conference’s Dwight Howard (12), of the Orlando Magic, and Western Conference’s Andrew Bynum (17), of the Los Angeles Lakers, reach for the opening tip at the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (AP)

The Eastern Conference and Western Conference All-Stars play during the first half of the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (AP)

Western Conference’s Blake Griffin (32), of the Los Angeles Clippers, dunks the ball during the first half of the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) (AP)

Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Western Conference attempts a dunk against Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic and the Eastern Conference during the 2012 NBA All-Star Game at the Amway Center on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images)

Rapper Lil Wayne watches the first half of the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) (AP)

Western Conference’s Blake Griffin (32), of the Los Angeles Clippers, dunks the ball past Eastern Conference’s Derrick Rose (1), of the Chicago Bulls, Dwight Howard (12), of the Orlando Magic, and Western Conference’s Andrew Bynum (17), of the Los Angeles Lakers, during the first half of the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Ronald Martinez, Pool) (AP)

Western Conference’s Kevin Durant (35), of the Oklahoma City Thunder, dunks over Eastern Conference’s Dwight Howard (12), of the Orlando Magic, during the first half of the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (AP)

Singer Nicki Minaj, left, greets rapper Lil Wayne during the first half of the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) (AP)

Hall of Famer Earvin “Magic” Johnson waves as he is introduced before the start of the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) (AP)

Western Conference’s Kevin Love (42), of the Minnesota Timberwolves, dunks on Eastern Conference’s Dwight Howard (12), of the Orlando Magic, during the first half of the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) (AP)

Eastern Conference’s Dwyane Wade (3), of the Miami Heat, shoots against Western Conference’s Russell Westbrook (0), of the Oklahoma City Thunder, during the second half of the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. The Western Conference won 152-149. (AP Photo/Ronald Martinez, Pool) (AP)

Eastern Conference’s LeBron James (6), of the Miami Heat, shoots against Western Conference’s Kobe Bryant (24), of the Los Angeles Lakers, during the first half of the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (AP)

Eastern Conference’s LeBron James (6), of the Miami Heat, shoots during the first half of the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (AP)

Rapper Pitbull performs during the halftime show of the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) (AP)

Rapper Pitbull performs during the halftime show of the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (AP)

Western Conference’s Russell Westbrook (0), of the Oklahoma City Thunder, elevates for a dunk past Eastern Conference’s Dwyane Wade (3), of the Miami Heat, Carmelo Anthony (7), of the New York Knicks, Dwight Howard (12), of the Orlando Magic, and Western Conference’s Chris Paul (3), of the Los Angeles Clippers, during the first half of the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser, Pool) (AP)

Western Conference’s Russell Westbrook (0), of the Oklahoma City Thunder, goes for a dunk past Eastern Conference’s Dwyane Wade (3), of the Miami Heat, and Carmelo Anthony (7), of the New York Knicks, during the first half of the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Ronald Martinez, Pool) (AP)

Eastern Conference’s Dwyane Wade (3), of the Miami Heat, shoots a layup past Western Conference’s Dirk Nowitzki (41), of the Dallas Mavericks, during the second half of the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) (AP)

Western Conference’s Kobe Bryant (24), of the Los Angeles Lakers, dunks the ball during the second half of the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (AP)

Eastern Conference’s Dwyane Wade (3), of the Miami Heat, looks to pass as Western Conference’s Kobe Bryant (24), of the Los Angeles Lakers, defends during the second half of the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) (AP)

Eastern Conference’s Dwyane Wade (3), of the Miami Heat, defends Western Conference’s Kobe Bryant (24), of the Los Angeles Lakers, during the second half of the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. The Western Conference won 152-149. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) (AP)

Western Conference’s Dirk Nowitzki (41), of the Dallas Mavericks, acknowledges filmmaker Spike Lee during the second half of the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. The Western Conference won 152-149. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (AP)

Eastern Conference’s LeBron James (6), of the Miami Heat, reacts during the closing seconds of the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. The Western Conference won 152-149. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) (AP)

Western Conference’s Blake Griffin (32), of the Los Angeles Clippers, jumps to block a pass by Eastern Conference’s LeBron James (6), of the Miami Heat, during the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. The Western Conference won 152-149. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (AP)

Eastern Conference’s Dwight Howard (12), of the Orlando Magic, and Dwyane Wade (3), of the Miami Heat, talk at midcourt during the second half of the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. The Western Conference won 152-149. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) (AP)

Eastern Conference’s LeBron James (6), of the Miami Heat, laughs with Western Conference’s Kobe Bryant (24), of the Los Angeles Lakers, during the fourth quarter of the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. The Western Conference won 152-149. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) (AP)

Western Conference’s Kevin Durant, left, of the Oklahoma City Thunder, passes the ball around Eastern Conference’s LeBron James (6), of the Miami Heat, in the second half of the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. The Western Conference won 152-149. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (AP)

Eastern Conference’s LeBron James (6), of the Miami Heat, right, drives around Western Conference’s Kobe Bryant (24), of the Los Angeles Lakers, during the fourth quarter of the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. The Western Conference won 152-149. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) (AP)

Commissioner David Stern presents the Most Valuable Player trophy to Western Conference’s Kevin Durant (35), of the Oklahoma City Thunder, after the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. The Western Conference won 152-149. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) (AP)

Western Conference’s Kevin Durant, of the Oklahoma City Thunder, hoists the Most Valuable Player trophy following the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. The Western Conference won 152-149. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) (AP)