As the bass bumped, the lights flashed and the records fell, Kevin Love remained relatively stoic.
All things considered, the Timberwolves power forward didn't make a whole lot of noise during his third trip to the NBA's All-Star Weekend. Not Saturday night, when he became the first player eliminated from the event's annual 3-point contest. He was marginally more noticeable during the game itself Sunday, scoring 13 points and pulling down nine rebounds.
But this came on a night in New Orleans when Kyrie Irving, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant and Blake Griffin stole the show in the 2014 NBA All-Star Game.
Love's grit in the paint and pair of 3-pointers became mostly an afterthought in the wake of the Eastern Conference's 163-155 victory inside the Smoothie King Center. It was the highest-scoring All-Star Game in league history and saw Griffin break the game's record for made field goals, Anthony hit the most 3s in All-Star history and Irving take home MVP honors with 31 points and 14 assists.
Thanks to a generous, late push in fan voting, Love played in his third All-Star Game and made his first start. His best stretch came in the third quarter when he hit a pair of 3s and found Griffin with a trademark, floor-length outlet pass the Clippers power forward slammed home in transition.
That helped the West lead by as many as 18 before the East closed the frame on an 18-3 run. Irving went off for 15 points in the final period, and the Eastern Conference All-Stars outscored those of the West 40-29.
Durant and Griffin -- who made an unprecedented 19 of 23 field-goal attempts -- scored 38 points apiece for the Western Conference. James had 30 for the East, and Anthony made 8 of 13 3s en route to 22 points.
Save for striking a pose after his name was called during starting lineups -- a ritual infused with a 40-minute concert featuring Pharrell, Busta Rhymes, Snoop Dogg, Nelly and several other hip-hop artisits -- Love didn't draw as much attention to himself. He went 5 for 11 from the floor, 2 for 7 from 3-point range 1 for 4 from the free-throw line and added two assists and a steal.
He didn't shoot much better Saturday night, hoping to reclaim the 3-point crown after winning it in 2012. In that year's All-Star Game, he scored 17 points and pulled down seven rebounds.
Love played in the 2011 game, too, and likely would've been in consideration for last year's midseason extravaganza if not for missing most of the season with a hand injury.
He and the rest of the Timberwolves will reconvene in the Twin Cities on Tuesday for practice ahead of their Wednesday home game against Indiana.
