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Popovich coaches West to comfortable win in the NBA All-Star game

West All Stars cruise past the East in a low-defense contest.

Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

For once, Coach Gregg Popovich genuinely seemed to enjoy himself, looking as gleeful as if he earned his sixth Larry O'Brien trophy after the All-Star game. Beaming, the Spurs coach lead the Western Conference squad over the East 196-173.

After leading all West scorers in the first half, Kawhi Leonard had a quieter second half, finishing with 17 points and six rebounds in his first All-Star competition.

Utilizing typical San Antonio strategy, LaMarcus Aldridge was limited in minutes (14:13), scoring four points (2/8 fgm) and seizing four rebounds, playing the third least amount of minutes of any Western Conference player.

During a commercial break, Popovich watched in awe as a trapeze artist stacked several chairs and did a handstand at the apex of the piled furniture. The Spurs coach passionately cheered the man on, and Reggie Miller remarked that the performer "looked like Pop's brother."

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