Reporting from Toronto — DeAndre Jordan might have been getting a little jealous.
Clippers point guard Chris Paul found a new lob partner in the All-Star game Sunday at the Air Canada Centre, repeatedly connecting with New Orleans’ Anthony Davis during the West’s 196-173 victory over the East.
Seven of Paul’s game-high 16 assists involved Davis, including back-to-back lobs for dunks late in the first quarter.
“When you play with athletic guys like that,” Paul said, “it’s always fun.”
Paul overtook Isiah Thomas for second place on the all-time All-Star game assist list with 106, trailing only Magic Johnson’s 127. When Paul had nine assists by halftime, it looked as if he had a chance to break Johnson’s single-game record of 22 assists set in 1984.
“I know it’s in reach,” said Paul, who also had 14 points and four rebounds. “I plan on getting it at some point. But when you don’t start, you don’t get as many minutes.” Paul’s average of 13.3 assists per game is the highest in All-Star game history.
Drawing it up
San Antonio Coach Gregg Popovich ceded play-calling duties to his players from the West during timeout huddles, which didn’t go as poorly as one might think.
Popovich said Sacramento center DeMarcus Cousins designed a play that actually worked.
“We gave him the clipboard and he said, ‘Get out of my way, go flat on the baseline and I’m shooting it,’ and he made the three,” Popovich said. “That might be the only one that worked all night long.”
Local heroes
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Thunder guard Russell Westbrook is congratulated by teammate Kevin Durant after winning the All-Star game MVP award.
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Clippers guard Chris Paul collects a pass on a fastbreak before scoring between Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (3) and Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) in the second half.
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Warriors guard Stephen Curry of the West brings the ball up court against Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas during the second half.
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Bulls center Pau Gasol of the East gets tangled with Kings center DeMarcus Cousins during first-half action.
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Cavaliers forward LeBron James of the East is all smiles as he defends Lakers guard Kobe Bryant of the West during the first half.
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Timberwolves guard Zach LaVine attempts a reverse dunk during the contest Saturday in Toronto.
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Timberwolves guard Zach LaVine and Toronto native Drake check out the score after one of LaVine’s efforts in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest on Saturday.
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Minnesota guard Zach LaVine puts down a reverse dunk during the contest Saturday night in Toronto.
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Magic forward Aaron Gordon throws down a reverse windmill dunk after snatching the ball from the claw of the Magic mascot Saturday.
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Orlando forward Aaron Gordon reacts, along with the Magic’s mascot, after making a reverse windmill dunk on Saturday.
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Minnesota guard Zach LaVine is presented the Slam Dunk Contest winner’s trophy on Saturday in Toronto.
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Golden State guard Klay Thompson takes aim during the Foot Locker Three-Point Contest on Saturday night.
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Warriors point guard Stephen Curry takes a shot during the Three-Point Contest on Saturday. The defending champion would be beaten by teammate Klay Thompson.
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Golden State guard Klay Thompson is congratulated by teammate Stephen Curry after winning the Three-Point Contest on Saturday.
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Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson shares a laugh with Pelicans forward Anthony Davis and Timberwolves forward Karl-Anthony Towns during the Skills Challenge on Saturday.
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Minnesota forward Karl-Anthony Towns weaves his way through the Skills Challenge course on Saturday.
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Timberwolves forward Karl-Anthony Towns holds his Skills Challenge trophy while taking a photo with (from left) Warriors forward Draymond Green, Pelicans forward Anthony Davis and Kings center DeMarcus Cousins.
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Timberwolves teammates Zach LaVine of the U.S. and Andrew Wiggins of the World embrace after the NBA All-Star Rising Stars Challenge on Friday night in Toronto.
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Bucks forward Jabari Parker of the U.S. team after finishing off a dunk against the World team in the Rising Stars Challenge.
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Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell of the U.S. team drives around Nuggets guard Emmanuel Mudiay of the World team during the Rising Stars Challenge on Friday night in Toronto.
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Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson (6) and Timberwolves guard Zach LaVine (8) helped the U.S. team defeat the World team, 157-154, in the Rising Stars Challenge.
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Forward Kristaps Porzingis of the World team is congratulated by Knicks teammate Carmelo Anthony during the first half of the Rising Stars Challenge.
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76ers forward Jahlil Okafor of the U.S. team tries to block a shot by Timberwolves forward Andrew Wigging of the World team during the Rising Stars Challenge.
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Nuggets guard Emmanuel Mudiay (0) and Timberwolves forward Andrew Wiggins (22) celebrate after a score during the Rising Stars Challenge.
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Canada’s Stephan James tries to get a shot off between the United States’ Joel David Moore (22) and Nick Cannon (2) during the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game.
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Kobe Bryant listens to a question from a reporter during his media session Friday at NBA All-Star weekend.
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Lakers guard Kobe Bryant is engulfed by members of the media for his interview session Friday in Toronto.
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San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard fields a question during his NBA All-Star game media session on Friday.
(Larry W. Smith / EPA) Kobe Bryant, in his final All-Star game, wasn’t the only player to be treated like a hometown favorite.
Toronto’s Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan also received hearty applause while playing in their own building in the first All-Star game held outside the U.S.
It was the first time a host city had two All-Star guards since the Lakers’ Gail Goodrich and Jerry West in 1972. Lowry finished with 14 points, 10 assists and five rebounds and DeRozan had 18 points on nine-for-15 shooting.
“I think everybody got the feel of the energy that we witness every single night when we play as Raptors players,” said DeRozan, a Compton native who starred at USC. “I think all the guys really got insight on how in tune the city of Toronto and all of Canada is to basketball.”
Etc.
Bryant recorded one steal to break a first-place tie with Michael Jordan for most steals in All-Star game history. Bryant has 38 steals to Jordan’s 37. … The dunk contest showdown that resulted in Minnesota’s Zach LaVine edging Orlando’s Aaron Gordon on Saturday peaked with an average of 7 million viewers, according to TNT officials, allowing it to make the broadcast a winner in its time slot across all of cable television.
ben.bolch@latimes.com
Twitter: @latbbolch
