Bosh’s return to Dallas memorable

ARLINGTON, Texas – Playing about 20 miles west from where he was a high school star, Dallas native Chris Bosh looked right at home in the All-Star game Sunday night at Cowboys Stadium.

“It is a really good feeling to be an All-Star year in and year out,” said Bosh, who hit two free throws with 5 seconds left to give the East a 141-139 victory. “But to be an All-Star in my hometown, it’s been great for me.”

The Toronto star, a five-time All-Star selection, had 23 points and 10 rebounds.

Bosh finished things off with two of his more memorable free throws.

“First off, I just wanted to make them,” Bosh said. “We got a shot at the end. We all wanted to win the game, obviously.”

Bosh led Lincoln High School to a state championship his senior season.

Utah Jazz guard Deron Williams, who played in high school at The Colony in suburban Dallas, had 14 points in six assists in 28 minutes.

“It was one of the most memorable games I’ve ever played in my life,” Williams said.

No Shaq, Kobe

The All-Star game was played without both Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal for the first time since 1997.

Bryant was voted in as Western Conference starter by the fans, but he missed the game with a sore left ankle. This was only the second time in O’Neal’s 18-year career he wasn’t chosen to play in the All-Star game.

Kick back and relax

When the players weren’t in the game, they were lounging in plush recliners stitched with the All-Star logo that looked as if they belonged in someone’s media room instead of near a basketball court.

“We didn’t want to get up,” Orlando center Dwight Howard said. “They were so comfortable.”