The 2010 staging of the NBA All Star Game proved to be a real showcase of talent as both teams fought down to the wire. The Eastern Conference team boasting the likes of Dwight ‘Superman’ Howard, LeBron James and Dwayne Wade in the end reigned supreme against the Western Conference squad with Steve Nash, Pau Gasol and Carmelo Anthony in a 141-139 win. The game was highlighted by crowd-pleasing exhibition passes and dunks performed by the stars from the East. After a day’s work Dwayne Wade was voted MVP as a result of his 28 points and 11 assists.

T-Mac arrives in NY

Eastern Conference

After a season of virtually no playing time thus far, Tracy McGrady has made a shift in conference in a trade that sends him to the New York Knicks.

On his debut, T-Mac appeared to be firing on all cylinders but he missed two free throws with less than a minute to go in the game to allow the Oklahoma City Thunder to erase a six-point deficit. The Thunder eventually won 121-118 in overtime despite T-Mac’s 26 points. The Cleveland Cavaliers entered the week with an impressive run and managed to extend it to 13. However, they faltered towards to end of the week as they fell 118-116 to the Denver Nuggets in overtime then got steamrolled by the Charlotte Bobcats 110-93.

Though their performances of late have been of a better standard, history prevailed as the Dallas Mavericks recorded their 11th consecutive away victory over the Magic 95-85.

The Chicago Bulls have managed to maintain their impressive form of late, extending their winning run to four games after a 122-90 whipping of the Philadelphia 76ers. A little activity in the transfer market seems to have boosted the tempo of the Milwaukee Bucks as new acquisition John Salmons had led them to back to back wins including a 93-88 win over the playoff rivals the Bobcats.

The Boston Celtics are also on a commendable run with recent wins over the Lakers and the Portland Trailblazers helping them to power on to three straight wins. The Washington Wizards were also active in the transfer window but their new signing could not prevent the Toronto Raptors from extending their win streak to two after a 109-104 win.

Thunder clap

Western Conference

The Oklahoma City Thunder are creating turmoil in the ranks of the West as their superb form has elevated them to fifth in the conference. Boosted by the ever-improving Kevin Durant, the Thunder is on an eight-game winning streak with their most recent being a Knicks heartbreaker in overtime. The Utah Jazz is still in good form, rallying from their loss to the Los Angeles Lakers to win the next three. The Dallas Mavericks are also on a three-game winning streak and most accredit a lot of their recent success to new signing Caron Butler who has fitted into the fold of the team effortlessly.

Conference leaders the Lakers and the Denver Nuggets have both lost their most recent encounters, losing to the Celtics and Wizards respectively and on the other end of the playoff contenders list, the San Antonio Spurs and the Trailblazers are also on losing form.

With little over 20 games to go the New Orleans Hornets are hoping to seal a place with a 107-101 win over the Indiana Pacers doing well for their aspirations.

East All-Stars LeBron James (23) of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat, and Dwight Howard (12) of the Orlando Magic high-five their teammates after the East beat the West 141-139 in the NBA All-Star basketball game Sunday, Feb. 14, 2010, at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.