1965 NBA All-Star recap

EAST 124, WEST 123, at St. Louis Arena

ATTENDANCE: 16,713

MVP: Jerry Lucas, Cincinnati Royals

Box score

After trailing all night, the West made a furious push in the fourth quarter to try and win the 1965 All-Star Game. It proved to be too little, too late, though, as the East held on for a 124-123 win at St. Louis Arena. Royals guard Jerry Lucas shot 12-for-19 and finished with 25 points and 10 rebounds en route to winning the All-Star Game MVP award.

Oscar Robertson (28 points, six rebounds, eight assists) and Bill Russell (17 points, 13 rebounds) helped carry the load for the East. Bob Pettit (13 points, 12 rebounds), Wilt Chamberlain (20 points, 16 rebounds) and Gus Johnson (25 points) did the heavy lifting for the West. Future Hall of Famers Willis Reed (the 1965 Rookie of the Year), Johnson and Nate Thurmond all made their All-Star debuts in this game.

Bob Pettit, a four time All-Star Game MVP and two-time NBA MVP, wrapped up his All-Star career at this game. Pettit finished with the third-most field goals (193), free throws made (62) and the second-most rebounds (178) in All-Star Game history. His 27 rebounds in the 1962 All-Star Game stands as the all-time single-game record in that category.

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All-Star Game rosters

Eastern Conference

Jerry Lucas (Cincinnati Royals)

Oscar Robertson (Cincinnati Royals)

Bill Russell (Boston Celtics)

Sam Jones (Boston Celtics)

Luke Jackson (Philadelphia 76ers)

Willis Reed (New York Knicks)

Johnny Green (New York Knicks)

Hal Greer (Philadelphia 76ers)

Wayne Embry (Cincinnati Royals)

Larry Costello (Philadelphia 76ers)

Tom Heinsohn (Boston Celtics) *

Coach: Red Auerbach (Boston Celtics)

Western Conference

Jerry West (L.A. Lakers)

Lenny Wilkens (St. Louis Hawks)

Wilt Chamberlain (San Francisco Warriors)

Elgin Baylor (L.A. Lakers)

Bob Pettit (St. Louis Hawks)

Walt Bellamy (Baltimore Bullets)

Gus Johnson (Baltimore Bullets)

Don Ohl (Baltimore Bullets)

Terry Dischinger (Detroit Pistons)

Nate Thurmond (San Francisco Warriors)

Coach: Alex Hannum (San Francisco Warriors)

NOTE: * = missed game due to injury; ** = injury replacement