Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, February 10, 1992 TAG: 9202100039
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: ORLANDO, FLA. LENGTH: Medium
THE MAGIC KINGDOM
At long last, it was Magic Johnson's day and the Western Conference's All-Star game.Johnson, after an emotional pregame welcome from NBA All-Stars on both teams, showed no rustiness Sunday from the three-month layoff following his announcement on Nov. 7 that he tested positive for the HIV virus, which causes AIDS.
In the West's 153-113 rout of the East, Johnson showed all the skill and verve he displayed in a 12-year career that resulted in five NBA championships for the Los Angeles Lakers.
"It's like I'm in a dream right now, and I don't want to wake up," Johnson said. "For one day, I got the NBA back in me and it was great."
He scored 25 points on 9-for-12 shooting, including three straight 3-pointers in the final 2:42 to seal his second Most Valuable Player award.
"We were up by 30, so I said, `Let me go ahead and get things going,' " Johnson said. "It was great. When you're away for three months, you need it. I needed it."
Before the 3-pointers, Johnson was scoreless in the second half. But he handed out all nine of his assists, as if to remind everyone he wasn't turning selfish, in that time.
Johnson was 6-for-7 from the field in the first half, then watched from the sidelines as a 17-0 run gave the West a 26-point lead. It was only the fourth win in the past 13 years by the West.
"I enjoyed every moment and every position," he said. "Just put me on the floor, even if I was the ball boy."
Johnson, named a starter in fan voting despite his retirement, also plans to play in next summer's Olympic Games and has left the door open to a comeback with the Lakers.
On Sunday, he was the last of the 25 All-Stars announced in pregame introductions. Close friend Isiah Thomas then led the East All-Stars across the court to welcome Johnson back as the sellout crowd at Orlando Arena cheered and gave him a standing ovation.
The West led 79-55 at halftime, shooting 63.5 percent to 45.5 for the East, which went scoreless for 5:40 after a jumper by Michael Adams made it 62-53 with 5:46 left in the second quarter.
John Stockton scored five points and Jeff Hornacek and James Worthy four each during the ensuing 17-0 spree that gave the West a 79-53 advantage.
The West extended the margin to 92-59 early in the third period and the West got no closer than 24 the rest of the way.
The West went on to match the scoring record for a regulation All-Star game, and its 65.3 percent shooting obliterated the previous mark of 58.3 percent by the East in 1985. The West won 153-131 in 1961 and two other teams scored 154 points in overtime games.
Johnson, who played 29 minutes, led eight West players in double figures, including Clyde Drexler with 22 points and David Robinson with 19. Michael Jordan scored 18 and Thomas 15 for the East.
"I was glad to be a part of history in the making," said Drexler, who got two votes to Johnson's nine in the MVP voting. "I was glad to have a ringside seat and to be on the same court with him."
"He's a special guy because special things happen to him," Thomas said. "It was a wonderful day for everyone and it was special for me to be a part of it."
Johnson, as was his custom in his previous 11 All-Star appearances, wasted no time putting on a show. He grabbed the opening tip, turned and made a half-court bounce pass that was intercepted.
Not much else went wrong for him in the first period as he scored eight points in the first five minutes, including a 10-foot sky hook from the baseline and a fake-pass-and-layup 22 seconds later.
A 3-pointer by Thomas gave the East a 21-19 lead with 6:36 left, but Drexler scored 10 points in a span of 1:24, keying an 18-2 spurt that gave the West a 37-23 advantage.
Although the East trailed 44-31 after one quarter, Bulls Jordan and Scottie Pippen traded ballet moves to the basket. Pippen had three dunks and a fast-break layup in the period and Jordan two reverse layups and a one-handed dunk off an inbounds pass.
But even with Olympians Jordan, Pippen, Robinson, Stockton, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone and Patrick Ewing on the court, it was unquestionably Magic's day.
"When you consider all the circumstances surrounding this game and what happened on the floor, it will be the highlight of my 2,500 games," West coach Don Nelson said. "It will go up there as No. 1 in my career." \
see microfilm for box score
Keywords:
BASKETBALL