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Westbrook voted MVP, Kobe waves farewell at KIA All-Star Game 2016

Records were obliterated in every way possible during the contest in Toronto's Air Canada Centre

By Kyle Spishock
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Russell Westbrook broke the scoreboard.

After leading the Western Conference over the East 196-173 (a match that resembled a 2K16 video-played on an NBA fan's Xbox console) the Air Canada Centre digital display stopped registering buckets after 191. The OKC pg became the first player to win back-to-back MVP's since Bob Pettit in 1958-1959.

The West nearly scored two bills, shattering a plethora of All-Star records.

As the game wore on, defense was completely abandoned for offensive fast-breaks, dunks, and 3-pointers (as previously seen during Friday's USA vs. The World exhibition.) Some defensive strategy was attempted near the close of regulation; the West successfully stopped Paul George (41 points) one point shy of tying Wilt Chamberlain's All-Star point record.

Even though Westbrook earned the MVP hardware, the night belonged to Kobe Bryant's last All-Star appearance; The Black Mamba's All-Star voting tally is the highest of all-time. 12-time NBA All-Star and Hall-of-Famer Magic Johnson offered a touching tribute to Kobe Bean before the game. A montage video was then played of Bryant celebrating his victories and accomplishments, narrated by the current generation of ballers offering kind words of his inspiration to the game of basketball. Kobe took the mic, offered a couple words to the crowd, and claimed most of the current players on the court were his kids age when he started.

Prior to the match, he said he was fine with only suiting up for ten minutes. Western Conference All-Star coach ended up playing him the most time of any starters (25:49), a fitting tribute to one of the greats; he finished with 10 points, seven assists, and six boards.

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