The largest crowd to watch a basketball game saw an all too familiar sight — Dwyane Wade dominating a big game in Texas — as the Eastern Conference beat the West 141-139 in Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game.
Wade had 28 points and won MVP honors in a game watched by 108,713 at Cowboys Stadium.
Chris Bosh make the winning free throws for the East with five seconds left. The West had a chance to win it, but Carmelo Anthony’s 3-point attempt came up short.
PHOTO: AFP
“To be in front of 108,000 fans, that was actually what it was, that was not a false number. You could look up in the stands, and there was not a seat open,” LeBron James said. “To be part of history is something that you always wish and dream for.”
The largest cheer of the night came earlier, when Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones came onto the court to announce the record crowd, which was also the largest in the US$1.2 billion building’s short history.
They were booing at the end when Wade went to the line and made two free throws with 12.7 seconds left. Dirk Nowitzki tied it with two of his own five seconds later before Bosh put the East on top for the final time.
James had 25 points, and Bosh finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds for the East. For the West, Anthony scored 27 and Nowitzki had 22.
Wade’s performance brought back memories of his MVP performance when Miami won the title in Dallas.
“I’ve had a little luck in Dallas. Of course, 2006 is very, very memorable, something I dreamed of doing for a long time, winning the NBA championship and I was lucky enough and blessed enough to win the MVP there,” Wade said. “To come and do it again is special.”
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