Updated Feb. 18, 2014 9:54 a.m. ET
Western Conference guard Chris Paul (3) of the Los Angeles Clippers drives to the basket against Eastern Conference Kyrie Irving (2) of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday. USA Today Sports
NEW ORLEANS—In an up-and-down showing that would have disappointed those who prefer to watch good defense, the Eastern Conference and Western Conference produced the highest-scoring All-Star Game in NBA history on Sunday night. The East came out of the exhibition game on top, winning 163-155 here at the Smoothie King Center.
The game was highlighted early by Clippers star Blake Griffin, who threw down alley-oop dunk after alley-oop dunk at the beginning of the contest.
But Cleveland's Kyrie Irving, who finished with 31 points and 14 assists, closed the game out strong and took home the game's Most Valuable Player Award. At 21, he's the youngest player to have claimed the honor.
Sunday's game, the 63rd edition, was missing a few of its usual stars; most notably Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, who is rehabbing the knee that he fractured earlier in the season.
A number of other usual participants—Boston's Rajon Rondo, Chicago's Derrick Rose and Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook—have lost significant time to knee injuries and weren't part of the game. Future Hall of Famers Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett, both aging and in decline, weren't selected to play in the game this season.
There was no shortage of scoring in their absence, though. The 318 combined points between the teams blew away the previous record of 304 points set in 1987. The East shot 61% from the field, while the West shot 51%.
The Eastern Conference's LeBron James of the Miami Heat heads for the net as the Western Conference's Blake Griffin #32 of the Los Angeles Clippers defends during the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday. Getty Images
Four players—Blake Griffin (38 points), Kevin Durant (38), Kyrie Irving (31 and 14 assists) and Carmelo Anthony (30)--finished with 30 points or more. The Knicks' Anthony broke an All-Star Game record with eight three-pointers.
"I didn't even know about the record," said Anthony, adding that a ball boy sitting along the bench informed him late in the game. "He tapped me on the shoulder and said I had the record, and I was like, 'What record are you talking about?' "
On some level, though, Irving stood out more because he was taking advantage of an opportunity: He was voted in as an All-Star starter, something that likely wouldn't have happened had Rondo or Rose, a former MVP, been healthy enough throughout the season.
The fact that the Cavaliers' Irving claimed the award figured to prompt natural comparisons between him and LeBron James, who left Cleveland as a free agent in 2010. (Irving was drafted by the Cavs the year after James left.) In particular, there has been speculation that Irving wants out of Cleveland, too, once he becomes a free agent.
"I don't think they needed Kyrie Irving to win this to have a good vibe," James said after the game, referring to Irving's MVP award. "I think they know they have someone very special. He's very special. And I just think that it probably adds a cherry on top for him to receive this award."
Irving earned the MVP award by scoring 24 points and logging seven assists after the break. His dribbling skills, arguably the best in the league, shook defenders off balance and prompted audible noises from the New Orleans crowd—which included new NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who sat courtside—at times.
Those in attendance had a handful of other moments in which their attention was most engaged: When Anthony Davis, who plays for the hometown Pelicans, was introduced, and when former Celtics great Bill Russell, who turned 80 on Sunday, was honored in the middle of the game.
Legendary point guard Magic Johnson stepped to half-court with a microphone and led the entire arena in singing "Happy Birthday" to Russell, before then imploring every player from each team to go greet Russell personally and shake his hand. "I thought that was one of the more special moments in All-Star history," said Western Conference coach Scott Brooks, who leads the Oklahoma City Thunder.
For the Crescent City, it marked the second time in six years that the All-Star Game had been held here; perhaps an effort on the NBA's part to give the city an economic boost as it continues to stabilize in the wake of Hurricane Katrina nearly nine years ago.
Write to Chris Herring at chris.herring@wsj.com
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