2008 NBA All-Star Game

2008 NBA All-Star Game

1 2 3 4 Total East 34 40 32 28 134 West 28 37 28 35 128
Date	February 17, 2008
Arena	New Orleans Arena
City	New Orleans
MVP	LeBron James
National anthem	Deborah Cox (CAN) Branford Marsalis, Stephanie Jordan, and Jonathan Dubose (USA)
Halftime show	Harry Connick Jr., Branford Marsalis, Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, Davell Crawford, Art Neville, Ivan Neville, Jonathan Batiste, Ellis Marsalis Jr.
Attendance	17,271
Network	Turner Network Television
Announcers	Marv Albert, Doug Collins and Reggie Miller Kevin Harlan, Reggie Miller, Mike Fratello, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Magic Johnson (All-Star Saturday Night) Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith (Rookie Challenge)
NBA All-Star Game
< 2007 2009 >

The 2008 NBA All-Star Game was an exhibition basketball game that was played on February 17, 2008, during the National Basketball Association's (NBA) 2007–08 season. It was the 57th edition of the NBA All-Star Game, and was played at New Orleans Arena in New Orleans, home of the New Orleans Hornets. The Eastern Conference defeated the Western Conference, 134–128. LeBron James was named the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player, his second time winning the award.^[1] This was the first NBA All-Star Game that was hosted by New Orleans, and was the city's first major professional sporting event (outside of regular season games) since the area was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The city was awarded in an announcement by commissioner David Stern on May 22, 2006.^[2][3] The other reported contenders for the 2008 contest was Air Canada Centre at Toronto, who withdrew the bid early in 2005.^[4]

The East led early but blew a 16-point lead in the fourth quarter; ultimately, they pulled out the win due to the strength of Ray Allen and James. Allen scored 28 points in the game, 14 of them coming in the deciding quarter, and James finished with a near triple-double of 27 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds.^[5]

The inaugural NBA Development League Dream Factory Friday Night was modeled after the popular NBA All-Star Saturday Night. It included perennial NBA fan favorite events such as a Three-Point Shootout and Slam Dunk competition, while introducing H.O.R.S.E. and an interactive game of Hot-Shot with fans. Twelve D-League players, including an NBA-assigned player and five others with NBA experience, took to Center Court to showcase their skills throughout the evening's competitions.

All of the 2008 All-Star participants joined over 2,500 members of the NBA Family for the NBA Cares All-Star Day of Service. The volunteers participated in a variety of service projects at ten different sites throughout New Orleans.