2012 NBA All-Star Game

2012 NBA All-Star Game

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Dwight Howard and Andrew Bynum vie for the opening tip. Bynum exited early with knee soreness.

Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images

Photographers swarmed when Howard sat next to and started chatting up Magic owner Richard DeVos.

Greg Nelson/SI

Kevin Durant, who scored 36 points, was named MVP as the West beat the East 152-149.

Greg Nelson/SI

LeBron James dunks as Chris Paul watches, a pair of actions not foreign to the All-Star Game.

Greg Nelson/SI

Blake Griffin rises to one of his many slams.

Greg Nelson/SI

LeBron and Paul, again, as Bill Russell watches from a courtside seat.

Greg Nelson/SI

Kobe Bryant passed Michael Jordan as the leading scorer in All-Star history.

Greg Nelson/SI

Griffin made up for his absence in the dunk contest.

Greg Nelson/SI

Durant and the West stormed to an 88-69 halftime lead, a record for most points by one team in one half.

Greg Nelson/SI

LeBron dunks, while Kobe turns his attention to the crowd.

Greg Nelson/SI

Kobe and LeBron go toe-to-toe.

Greg Nelson/SI

Kobe lost a little blood after Dwyane Wade popped him in the nose.

Greg Nelson/SI

Durant skies as Team USA teammates LeBron, Dwight Howard, Carmelo Anthony and Griffin watch in awe.

Greg Nelson/SI

Wade registered the third triple-double in All-Star history -- 24 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Russell Westbrook gets in on the gravity-defying action.