NBA Talent Shows Off in 1-Game Visit to City : Levingston’s Team Wins 161-153 Shootout Before 8,123 Fans at the Sports Arena

With players arriving at the Sports Arena in white stretch limousines, the NBA returned to San Diego Friday after a four-year hiatus for the Seagram’s Coolers All-Star Basketball game.

The Atlanta Hawks’ Cliff Levingston, who starred at Morse High School in the late 1970s, scored a game-high 35 points, and ran off with the most valuable player award.

For the record, the Morse’s White team defeated the Red, 161-153. But few of the 8,123 fans cared who won. They came for the show--the first glimpse of NBA talent in San Diego since the Clippers’ departure.

Good thing. The game itself was ho-hum from a team standpoint. Aside from the high scoring that is customary for NBA-sanctioned all-star affairs--both teams topped 200 points in a game in Los Angeles Sunday--the game offered little suspense.

What it did offer was glitter, and plenty of it.

From the limo ride to the slam-dunk contest following the game, this was an attraction.

The game was scheduled to begin at 7:30, but after all the players were welcomed to the floor by announcer Jerry Gross, tipoff was at 8:20.

The biggest applause went to the smallest player, 5-foot 7-inch Spud Webb of the Hawks. Webb remained a crowd favorite throughout and did little to damage his appeal by winning the three-point shooting contest at halftime.

Michael Cage, a former San Diego State star now with the Seattle Supersonics, helped organize the charity event to benefit Multiple Sclerosis and the Aztec Athletic Foundation.

Cage, the NBA’s leading rebounder last season, coached the Red team along with a trio of honorary captains from local media outlets and businesses. Levingston coached the Whites with similar help.

The real highlights came in the halftime and post-game contests.

Again stealing the show were Levingston and Webb.

“You try to win, but it’s also for sportsmanship,” Levingston said before the game. “You play to the crowd. It’s a spectators game.

“There are a lot of basketball fans here that want the NBA in San Diego. A lot of the players in the league wish San Diego had a team. It was a treat for them to come here. This is a beautiful city.”

Added Webb: “This is my first time I’ve ever been here. The other players say they want to play here.”

Don’t fault Cliff and Spud for hyping the city. This was the first official function of America’s Finest City week.

After just two minutes the teams had combined for 22 points. The first quarter score was Levingston’s White 44, Cage’s Red 36. And at the half it was 83-81 in favor of the White.

This was run-and-gun ball--no plays, no half-court offense. Just shoot.

And they did. A total of 148 shots were taken in the first half. After some early and often spectacular misses--they’re rusty, remember, in August--players started finding the groove.

The first to do so was Levingston. He took charge in the second quarter and at the half led all scorers with 20 points. Cage had 16.

In addition to scoring, Levingston led everybody in big plays--most of which were thunderous dunks while driving the lane. An alley-oop pass from Kevin Johnson to Damone Webster, who finished the play with a dunk, brought a rousing ovation, as did Darnell Valentine’s nifty 360-degree turning jump shot from 8 feet out.