Kobe Bryant thrilled the hometown crowd with 37 points and 14 rebounds as the Western Conference held on for a 148-143 win over the East in the 60th NBA All-Star Game on Sunday night in Los Angeles.

Bryant was as active as he had been all season, shooting 14 of 26 while snagging 10 offensive rebounds to lead the West to its second All-Star triumph in the past three years. He took home his fourth MVP award, joining Hall of Famer Bob Pettit as the only players to accomplish the feat.

Oklahoma City phenom Kevin Durant had 14 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter to pace the West while Bryant teammate Pau Gasol added 17 points and seven assists.

Miami's LeBron James was sensational for the East, posting 29 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists while almost single-handedly leading his team back from a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter. James joined Michael Jordan as the only players to record a triple-double in the annual mid-season showcase.

New York forward Amar'e Stoudemire added 29 points – 15 of those coming in the final quarter – while Heat teammates Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh added 14 apiece.

The West burst out to a double-digit lead early and stayed in front throughout the first half, with a Bryant two-handed slam and a Durant alley-oop dunk on the next possession extending the West's lead to 14 late in the second quarter. Bryant added a pair of shots from in close in the final minute to hit the 20-point mark, finishing with 21 at the half – three shy of the All-Star Game record – as the West enjoyed a 76-64 advantage at the break.

Bryant continued his assault in the third quarter, pouring in 13 points – capped by a thunderous dunk on a prone James to the delight of the Staples Center crowd – as the West carried a 117-100 lead into the fourth.

James and Stoudemire took over in the fourth, bringing the East all the way back. Shortly after recording his 10th assist to secure the triple-double, James hit a pair of free throws – his 11th and 12th points of the quarter – to draw the East to within two.

Durant responded with a long jumper and a wide-open 3-pointer to make it 142-135 with 1:46 left, but the East scored the next five points to make it a two-point game once more. Gasol's layup gave the West a four-point edge and Bosh missed a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession to clinch the outcome.

Heat fans received a scare midway through the third when Wade went down with a sprained ankle. Wade, who originally suffered the injury last week, aggravated it when he became tangled up with Utah Jazz guard Deron Williams and did not return to the game.