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East makes great comeback
By Jeremy Kahn February 22, 2006 |
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Things looked bleak for the Eastern Conference when they trailed the Western Conference by 21 points with just two minutes gone in the third quarter. Behind the combination of the four Detroit Pistons, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, the Eastern Conference all the way back and defeated the Western Conference, 122-120 in the 55th Annual NBA All-Star Game at the Toyota Center in Houston. Wade rebounded a missed Allen Iverson shot, and hit the eventual game-winning shot with 16 seconds left to give the East a dramatic victory. The West did have two different shots at overtime, or a victory; Tracy McGrady missed a shot, then Kobe Bryant had the ball slip out of his hands to Vince Carter to seal the game away. James, who scored 29 points, was named the Most Valuable Player, thus becoming the youngest MVP in All Star Game history. Oscar Robertson was 22 years and 55 days old when he won the award, but James was 21 years and 55 days old. Hometown favorite McGrady of the Houston Rockets led all scorers with 36 points. With the East trailing by those 21 points in the third quarter, Eastern Conference Head Coach Flip Saunders had little concern, especially with the talented players he had on his team. The East went on a 28-13 run to cut the West lead to 87-81 at the quarter to setup a wild and frantic finish. James scored 13 of those 28 points. Rasheed Wallace, Ben Wallace, Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton each represented the Pistons. It was the most All-Stars for one team since the 1998 All-Star Game at Madison Square Garden, when the Los Angeles Lakers had Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Eddie Jones and Nick Van Exel represent the Purple and Gold at the midseason classic at the “Mecca of Professional Sports.” |
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