NBA All-Star Game: West 37, East 27 (end of first quarter)
Kobe Bryant wanted the ball and he kept launching shots, putting up seven attempts in his first eight minutes on the court. Bryant is the leading scorer on the West squad with 11 points.
Clippers rookie phenom Blake Griffin checked in with about four minutes to go in the first quarter and scored on a dunk a minute later on bounce pass from Utah's Deron WIlliams. The pair got the crowd going again the final minute when Griffin scored another dunk on a give-and-go pass from Williams.
It almost sounded like a Lakers-Celtics Finals with the catcalls heating up at Staples Center when Boston's Paul Pierce and Ray Allen shot free throws.
During a timeout there was a video on the scoreboard of director Spike Lee insulting Magic center Dwight Howard for missing free throws, which triggered a wave of laughter in the stands.
The Heat's Chris Bosh hit his first four shots and leads the East with eight points.
--Barry Stavro
Photo: Lakers and West guard Kobe Bryant goes for a steal against Heat and East guard Dwyane Wade in the first quarter Sunday at Staples Center. Credit: Danny Moloshok / Reuters
