Ray Allen scored 28 points and LeBron James added 27 as the East, widely considered the National Basketball Association's weaker half, beat the Western Conference 134-128 in the All-Star game.

Last year, the West humiliated the East 153-132 in Las Vegas as Kobe Bryant and Co rewrote the event's record books.

This time, led by Allen's 14 fourth-quarter points and a stunning dunk by James with 55 seconds left, the East salvaged some pride.

They can now return to the season's second half with bragging rights.

James, who added nine assists and eight rebounds, was the Most Valuable Player for the second time. He also won the honour in 2006.

'We didn't want to come out here and get beaten again,'' James said.

Amare Stoudemire, Brandon Roy and Carmelo Anthony scored 18 points apiece for the West.

The West, who trailed by 13 entering the fourth quarter, rallied behind New Orleans' Chris Paul.

The guard's seventh assist of the final period set up Roy's lay-up to give the West a 122-119 lead.

But Boston's Allen, the final player added to either roster, knocked down his second three-pointer in 48 seconds to tie it.

Paul then answered with a three of his own, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

The weekend in New Orleans was about much more than spectacular dunks, a game featuring marginal defence or collecting strings of beads while strolling down boozy Bourbon Street.

The NBA came to the Big Easy hoping to help the city continue its recovery from Hurricane Katrina, whose effects are still being felt 21/2 years later.

On Friday, the world's biggest basketball names and hundreds of volunteers helped refurbish playgrounds and paint houses.

Many of the players were moved by the experience and came away with a greater sense of what the area has gone through and the monumental work that lies ahead.

'I hope every All-Star from the East and West was able to put smiles on kids and on families' faces,'' James said.

'I think we all know what happened, the devastation down here. To bring the NBA All-Star game here, I think, it really uplifted the families.''

Bryant, who won the MVP honours last year, played less than three minutes so he could rest his injured little finger.

The 10-time All-Star dislocated his finger earlier this month, and doctors have advised him to have surgery.

The player, though, energised by the club's addition of centre Pau Gasol in a trade, wants to delay any operation until late summer.

Players were grooving even before they hit the floor.

Introduced under a balcony resembling one in the city's historic French Quarter, several of the All-Stars danced as a brass band filled New Orleans Arena with the sounds that exemplify the area's laid-back, fun-loving ethos: Let The Good Times Roll.

The game was missing one of its biggest stars - Shaquille O'Neal was not selected, snapping his record-tying 14-year run.

Without him, there were no comedic moments, like when he pulled out a giant sneaker phone or mimicked a point guard and dribbled his way up the court.

ASSOCIATED PRESS