West trounces East in NBA All-Star Game

TORONTO – Kobe Bryant exited the All-Star Game for the final time to watch Russell Westbrook and Stephen Curry wrap things up with three-pointers.

Bryant said his All-Star Game goodbye and the next generation of the West's best sent him off a winner, in a record-setting 196-173 victory over the East on Sunday night.

"It was fun," Bryant said. "I had a blast playing with those guys, laughing and joking with them on the bench."

The first All-Star Game outside the United States was the highest-scoring ever. Bryant didn't provide much of the offense — but many of the memories.

"To see him now, it's like the passing of a generation," West coach Gregg Popovich said. "He's been such an iconic figure for so long, and he passes it on to that other group of young guys that you saw out there tonight."

Bryant finished with 10 points and lost his career lead in All-Star scoring to LeBron James.

But Westbrook scored 31 points in his second consecutive All-Star MVP performance and Curry added 26 — the final three on a 42-footer in the closing seconds. Anthony Davis had 24 on 12-for-13 shooting and Kevin Durant chipped in with 23.

James finished with 13 points, just enough to move ahead of Bryant for most ever in the All-Star Game. James has 291, one more than Bryant, who is retiring after this season. Bryant checked out with 1:06 left to cheers and hugs from his fellow All-Stars who now put up points in bunches the way Bryant did for so long.

Bryant had seven assists and six rebounds, but he shot 4-for-11 in a game where there isn't really much defense and had never been less. The 369 combined points were 48 more than last year's record, and both clubs blew away the previous individual team record of 163.

But people just wanted to see Bryant play, not necessarily play well.

The pregame was a celebration first of Canada, then of Bryant, an 18-time All-Star who received two video tributes.

"I know it's been overwhelming for him over this year, but our fans across the world and here in the States and here in Toronto, as well, has just been paying so much respect," James said. "It's all well-deserved."

Curry and Durant launched shots from spots where only buzzer-beating heaves were once tried, and Westbrook put together another combination of speed and force that turned it into a rare All-Star blowout in the second half.

The West has won five of the past six even without longtime mainstay Bryant, who hadn't played since 2013 because of injuries.

At 37, Bryant has trouble keeping up with the youngsters — especially the real young ones. Chris Paul's son stole the ball from him as Bryant warmed up for the second half.

The West led 92-90 at the break, both teams surpassing the previous record of 89 points in a half.

The game goes back to the U.S. next year — to Charlotte, N.C. — but Bryant won't be playing. He made his All-Star debut in New York in 1998, a game also remembered for Michael Jordan's last with the Bulls.