West outscores East 196-173 in Kobe’s finale

TORONTO (AP) – In the highest-scoring NBA All-Star Game, the West posted a 196-173 victory over the East in Kobe Bryant’s final All-Star appearance of his stellar 20-year career. Both teams scored more than any team had ever managed and the 369 points was also a record combined total.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook won the MVP Award for the second straight year. Westbrook had 31 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Westbrook is the first repeat MVP in an All-Star game since Bob Pettit in 1958-59.

Westbrook led nine West players in double figures. Bryant scored 10 points on 4 of 11 shooting in his final All-Star game. He was taken out to a standing ovation and chants of "Ko-be, Ko-be, Ko-be" with 1:06 left. Players from both teams hugged Bryant as he went to the bench to be hugged by West Coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs.

Indiana Pacers forward Paul George led all scorers with 41 points. That’s one shy of the NBA All-Star game scoring record set by Wilt Chamberlain in 1962. George canned a record nine 3-pointers.

LeBron James finished with 13 points, just enough to move ahead of Bryant for most ever in the All-Star Game. He has 291. Bryant, who is retiring after this season, leaves with 290.

The NBA is off the next three nights, resuming on Thursday.