1972 NBA ALL-STAR GAME - FINAL
WEST 112 - EAST 110
Jerry West hits the winning jumper with one second remaining
1972 NBA All-Star Game Recap
The 22nd NBA All-Star Game was played on January 18, 1972, at The Forum in Inglewood, California. In front of 17,214 fans, the Western Conference defeated the Eastern Conference 112-110 on a dramatic last-second jump shot by hometown Los Angeles Lakers guard Jerry West.
The East controlled much of the first half, taking a 33-27 lead after the first quarter and a 64-54 advantage at halftime. The West surged back with a 33-20 third quarter to lead 87-84 entering the final period. The East rallied again, tying the score at 110 before West connected on a jumper from the top of the key with one second left.
West finished with 13 points, six rebounds and five assists and was named the game's Most Valuable Player. His winning basket was especially memorable because it came on the Lakers' home floor, during a season in which Los Angeles was on its way to winning the 1972 NBA championship.
Boston Celtics center Dave Cowens made his All-Star debut with 14 points and a game-high 20 rebounds, while Philadelphia's Billy Cunningham posted 14 points and 10 rebounds. Walt Frazier and John Havlicek each scored 15 points for the East. The West also received 13 points from Connie Hawkins, 12 from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and 11 each from Spencer Haywood and Oscar Robertson.
Game Information
Date: January 18, 1972
Arena: The Forum
Location: Inglewood, California
Attendance: 17,214
MVP: Jerry West, Los Angeles Lakers
Eastern Conference Coach: Tom Heinsohn, Boston Celtics
Western Conference Coach: Bill Sharman, Los Angeles Lakers
Referees: Darell Garretson and Manny Sokol
Score by Quarter
| Conference | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final |
|---|
| Eastern Conference | 33 | 31 | 20 | 26 | 110 |
| Western Conference | 27 | 27 | 33 | 25 | 112 |
Eastern Conference All-Stars - 110 Points
Head Coach: Tom Heinsohn, Boston Celtics
| Player | Team | MIN | FGM | FGA | FTM | FTA | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|
| John Havlicek | Boston Celtics | 24 | 5 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 15 |
| Billy Cunningham | Philadelphia 76ers | 24 | 4 | 13 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 3 | 14 |
| Dave Cowens | Boston Celtics | 32 | 5 | 12 | 4 | 5 | 20 | 1 | 14 |
| Lou Hudson | Atlanta Hawks | 18 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Walt Frazier | New York Knicks | 25 | 7 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 15 |
| John Johnson | Cleveland Cavaliers | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Kauffman | Buffalo Braves | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Jack Marin | Baltimore Bullets | 15 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 11 |
| Wes Unseld | Baltimore Bullets | 16 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 2 |
| Tom Van Arsdale | Cincinnati Royals | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jo Jo White | Boston Celtics | 18 | 6 | 15 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 12 |
| Butch Beard | Cleveland Cavaliers | 7 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Archie Clark | Baltimore Bullets | 21 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 8 |
| Dave DeBusschere | New York Knicks | 26 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 8 |
| TEAM TOTALS | | 240 | 43 | 105 | 24 | 30 | 66 | 26 | 110 |
Western Conference All-Stars - 112 Points
Head Coach: Bill Sharman, Los Angeles Lakers
| Player | Team | MIN | FGM | FGA | FTM | FTA | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|
| Bob Love | Chicago Bulls | 16 | 4 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 8 |
| Spencer Haywood | Seattle SuperSonics | 25 | 4 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 11 |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | Milwaukee Bucks | 19 | 5 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 12 |
| Gail Goodrich | Los Angeles Lakers | 14 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Jerry West (MVP) | Los Angeles Lakers | 27 | 6 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 13 |
| Oscar Robertson | Milwaukee Bucks | 24 | 3 | 9 | 5 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 11 |
| Cazzie Russell | Golden State Warriors | 20 | 4 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 10 |
| Paul Silas | Phoenix Suns | 15 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 2 |
| Jimmy Walker | Detroit Pistons | 16 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 10 |
| Connie Hawkins | Phoenix Suns | 14 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 13 |
| Elvin Hayes | Houston Rockets | 11 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| Wilt Chamberlain | Los Angeles Lakers | 24 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 3 | 8 |
| Bob Lanier | Detroit Pistons | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Sidney Wicks | Portland Trail Blazers | 10 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| TEAM TOTALS | | 240 | 43 | 107 | 26 | 47 | 63 | 18 | 112 |
MIN = Minutes; FGM = Field Goals Made; FGA = Field Goals Attempted; FTM = Free Throws Made; FTA = Free Throws Attempted; REB = Rebounds; AST = Assists; PTS = Points. The NBA did not introduce the three-point line until the 1979-80 season.
1972 NBA All-Star Game Historical Notes
Jerry West's Game-Winning Shot
West's jumper broke a 110-110 tie with one second remaining and gave the Western Conference its second consecutive All-Star victory. Although he scored only 13 points, the decisive basket earned him MVP honors.
Dave Cowens' Remarkable Debut
In his first All-Star Game, Dave Cowens grabbed 20 rebounds and scored 14 points. He would go on to win the NBA's regular-season MVP award in 1972-73 and All-Star Game MVP honors in 1973.
Bob Lanier's First Appearance
Detroit Pistons center Bob Lanier also made his All-Star debut. He played five minutes, recording two points and three rebounds, and would become one of the NBA's leading centers of the 1970s.
A Special Season for the Lakers
The game took place during the Lakers' historic 1971-72 campaign, which included a record 33-game winning streak and the franchise's first championship in Los Angeles. Lakers coach Bill Sharman led the Western Conference team.
1972 NBA All-Star Game FAQ
Who won the 1972 NBA All-Star Game?
The Western Conference defeated the Eastern Conference 112-110.
Who was the 1972 NBA All-Star Game MVP?
Jerry West of the Los Angeles Lakers won MVP after scoring 13 points and making the game-winning jumper with one second left.
Where was the 1972 NBA All-Star Game played?
The game took place at The Forum in Inglewood, California, on January 18, 1972.
How many people attended the 1972 NBA All-Star Game?
Attendance was 17,214.
Who had the most rebounds in the 1972 NBA All-Star Game?
Dave Cowens of the Boston Celtics led all players with 20 rebounds.
Who coached the 1972 NBA All-Star teams?
Tom Heinsohn coached the Eastern Conference and Bill Sharman coached the Western Conference.
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