NEW ORLEANS _ Steve Kerr didn't wait long to deliver NBA fans what they'd been dreaming about all weekend. His first substitution came midway through the first quarter: Russell Westbrook for Steph Curry with Kevin Durant still on the court.
The former teammates turned publicly feuding opponents were teammates again. At least temporarily, creating the spiciest sequence in the Western Conference's 192-182 All-Star win on Sunday night in New Orleans.
All weekend, the two avoided both each other and the topic, ignoring questions about the bubbling rift. But now they were on the court together, pushed into a forced interaction on a national stage. And finally, for the first time since Durant divorced Westbrook and the Thunder on July 4, they had a light-hearted, tension-easing moments together.
A couple possessions after Westbrook entered, he hit Druant with a pass near the middle of the key. As he did, Westbrook bolted by his defender and Durant returned the favor, tossing a give-and-go lob to Westbrook _ the type of highlight the two combined on so many times over the years.
Right after Westbrook dunked it, the East called timeout. Westbrook pointed upcourt to Durant, signaling 'good pass' and Durant nodded in his direction. As the two walked toward the huddle, their smiling teammates awaited, ready to mob them.
Durant and Westbrook sheepishly smiled as their fellow West All-Stars, sensing what the moment meant for a friendship in an awkward spot, jumped around, clapped and laughed. Steph Curry tossed water on the celebration. Then Kerr pulled Durant from the game and the two wouldn't be on the court together again.
But Durant would get his moment in the third quarter to be on the court with all his All-Star teammates. Kerr promised before the game that he'd play Durant with Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green at one point. There was intrigue whether the fifth member of the lineup would be Westbrook.
It wasn't. The four were joined by Anthony Davis, the hometown star who scored an All-Star record 52 points and won MVP in front of his New Orleans fans.
Durant notched a triple-double with 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Westbrook scored 41 points to go along with five rebounds and seven assists.
While together, the four Warriors had a few nice moments, including a slick Curry dribble move and find for a Durant dunk. Later, after Curry was dunked on by Giannis Antetokounmpo (East-high 30 points), Curry (21 points) provided one of the night's lighter moments, laying flat on the ground as Antetokounmpo drove and jammed in another dunk.
It was about equal to the rest of the defensive deterrence played on this night, as the teams combined for 374 points.
