In the highest-scoring All-Star Game in NBA history, Stephen Curry scored 26 points as the West beat the East 196-173 in the 2016 NBA All-Star Game Sunday night at the Air Canada Center in Toronto.
Klay Thompson, the winner of the 3-point contest on Saturday night, dropped in nine points on 3-of-3 3-point shooting.
Draymond Green, making his first All-Star appearance, added four points and five rebounds in 11 minutes of action.
Curry put a fitting cap on the record scoring with a halfcourt 3-pointer in the final seconds of the game that drew a huge reaction from the crowd.
After the game, Curry explained what happened on that final shot:
"It was a little imaginary tug of war for the ball and the decision to shoot or not. I think (Kevin Durant) wanted it at one point. Then the crowd got into it and wanted me to shoot. Coach Popovich wanted one of us to shoot. Thankfully it went in and finished the game off with a bang and caused some excitement," Curry told reporters after the game.
Russell Westbrook scored 31 points to lead the Western Conference and was named All-Star Game MVP for the second straight season.
Kobe Bryant scored 10 points on 4-for-11 shooting while playing in his 18th and final All-Star game. Chris Paul had 14 points and 16 assists for the West. Bryant left the game to a standing ovation with 1:06 to play.
Indiana Pacers forward Paul George led all scorers with 41 points for the East, one off Wilt Chamberlain's single-game record set in 1962.
LeBron James finished with 13 points, just enough to move ahead of Bryant for most ever in the All-Star Game. He has 291, while Bryant, who is retiring after this season, leaves with 290.
Bryant checked out with 1:06 left to cheers and hugs from his fellow All-Stars who now put up points in bunches the way Bryant did for so long.
"It was fun," Bryant said. "I had a blast playing with those guys, laughing and joking with them on the bench."
"To see him now, it's like the passing of a generation," West coach Gregg Popovich said. "He's been such an iconic figure for so long, and he passes it on to that other group of young guys that you saw out there tonight."
Curry was asked, if in five or 10 years, he'll reflect back on being a part of Bryant's final All-Star Game.
"It'll definitely be special. The entire night was very memorable for sure, with his entrance during the starting lineups and the tribute video. Magic Johnson giving a speech about Kobe and his legacy to some highlight moments during the game where had some nice plays. Then obviously the curtain call at the end that you knew was coming, but you didn't know what part of the game. It was amazing. Kinda got goosebumps out there. Kobe means something to everybody individually as a basketball fan, including us as players, so you kinda have a lot of different thoughts about what he means to the game and how he inspired you growing up," Curry said.
The previous high for points in a game was 163, which had been done twice previously. The West surpassed that with about eight minutes to play in the game.
The game goes back to the U.S. next year, and for the first time since 1997 won't have Bryant. He made his All-Star debut in New York in 1998, a game also remembered for Michael Jordan's last with the Chicago Bulls.
Jordan, now chairman of the Hornets, was on hand Sunday for a ceremonial passing of the All-Star torch from Toronto to Charlotte, the 2017 host.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
