NBA ALL-STAR GAME O'Neal gains 2 wins in his home arena

His Western Conference All-Stars won, and he won the MVP award with 24 points, 11 rebounds and nine dunks.
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Shaquille O'Neal made a tricky layup and then primped for the camera -- the one he was pointing at himself. Later, he roared away on a coast-to-coast drive, making a crossover dribble and dunking with brute style.
The NBA All-Star game is a respite from the pounding Shaq takes every other night, and the Big Host gave his guests a look at what he might do without a posse of defenders impeding his every move.
What a frightening, fascinating thought.
O'Neal earned two victories in his home arena Sunday night: The Western Conference All-Stars got a 136-132 victory over the East, and he won the MVP award with 24 points, 11 rebounds, nine dunks and as much showmanship as the league's dominant center could muster.
"Now you see why you've got to foul him when the games count," West coach Flip Saunders said. "That guy is an unbelievable athlete, and his size makes him almost unstoppable. He could be some kind of dancer in another life. It was really a special sight to see."
Celebrities
The court was ringed with celebrities at the 53rd edition of the NBA's mid-season showcase, and O'Neal did more than anyone to keep them entertained. He loves the spotlight, even when it's focused on the Lakers' dysfunctions -- but this game was nothing but fun.
"Can you dig it? Can you dig it?" O'Neal shouted to his fans after accepting the MVP trophy from David Stern.
In addition to his impromptu photo session with a courtside camera, Shaq tumbled into the front row and got tangled with massive singer Ruben Studdard -- one of the few people in attendance big enough to put a body on Shaq.
Though the somewhat ragtag game stubbornly refused to conform to Hollywood standards of excitement and drama, Ray Allen and Tim Duncan made three free throws in the closing seconds to clinch the victory. Kobe Bryant, O'Neal's teammate with the Los Angeles Lakers, scored 20 points on 9-of-12 shooting.
"He had an incredible game today, running the floor, getting second-chance opportunities, taking pictures of himself," Bryant said. "It was showtime, man."
The 12th player
In his eighth All-Star game appearance, Shaq became the 12th player to win the MVP award in his own arena. He scored 10 points in the third quarter to put the West ahead, and his dunk on a pass from Bryant with 1:56 remaining was a key basket.
"I'm not really one known to be taking over an All-Star game," said O'Neal, who shared the MVP award with Duncan four years ago. "This is a couple of days you get to spend with the best players in this league, so I just wanted to come out and have a good time.
"I said to myself, 'If it's going good, nobody is really shining, I'm going to go ahead and go for it.' "
The teams traded the lead in the fourth quarter, when most All-Star games become more than a glorified exhibition. The East had a chance to tie it in the final seconds, but Milwaukee's Michael Redd missed a tough 3-pointer.
44 dunks
The rest of the night was a laid-back affair featuring an amazing 44 dunks. Highlight-reel plays were the norm, with several players hanging on the rim and others throwing creative passes, such as Allen Iverson's off-the-backboard lob to Tracy McGrady.
"I was the only one that was playing any defense tonight, and that's why I didn't score a lot," laughed Sacramento's Peja Stojakovic, who had five points in his third All-Star game.
New Orleans' Jamaal Magloire, a surprise first-time selection to the East team, had 19 points and eight rebounds. Seven East players finished in double figures, including Kenyon Martin's 17 points and Jermaine O'Neal's 16.2