As many fans probably expected, the first half of the 2012 NBA All-Star game was high on points and low on defensive effort. Behind a combined 38 points from Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, the Western Conference has jumped out to an 88-69 lead at the half.
The two representatives of the Chicago Bulls struggled to get anything going in the opening half. Derrick Rose, who saw 10 minutes of action, scored two points on 1/3 shooting and dished out two assists. In six minutes of action, Luol Deng missed both of his shot attempts and dished out one assist. Dwyane Wade led the way for the Eastern Conference with 14 points and seven assists.
Kevin Durant put his full offensive arsenal on display, scoring 21 points on 8/13 shooting in the opening half. His Oklahoma City teammate came off the bench to score 17 points and grab four rebounds. Kobe Bryant scored 14 points, while Blake Griffin added 13 points on five dunks and a three-pointer.
For updates on All-Star festivities, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage, head over to SB Nation's NBA news hub. For more on the Bulls, check out Blog a Bull.