NEW ORLEANS — As Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant came to the sideline smiling, the Western Conference bench was in hysterics.
The former Oklahoma City Thunder teammates stood a few feet apart after teaming up for a give-and-go that finished with a Westbrook dunk. It took the breath out of the Smoothie King Center and all the tension out of the 66th NBA All-Star Game.
Water flew out of a Gatorade cup and splashed between them. Teammates jumped up and down, fists pumping in the air, hands clapping in celebration. It was the beautiful basketball Durant mentioned last season when he and Westbrook were the NBA's most lethal duo.