SEATTLE — Maya Moore provided the example, reigning league WNBA Most Valuable Player Nneka Ogwumike gladly followed along, and Sue Bird received the attention and recognition she deserved.

Those veterans on the West roster knew exactly how to turn the WNBA All-Star Game into a showcase. "I thought it was a great game, a great pace. You don't want anybody to get hurt, but you also want to play with a certain intensity to show off your athleticism and I thought we were able to do that," Moore said.

Moore scored 23 points and Ogwumike added 22 points as the West outlasted the East 130-121 in the WNBA All-Star Game. Most of the focus, however, was on Bird, Seattle's 10-time All-Star playing in front of her home crowd. She received the loudest ovations as she was introduced, drowning out those that went to former WNBA Most Valuable Player Diana Taurasi, Seattle teammate Breanna Stewart and others.

"I know when she always talks about Seattle, she always gloats and she always gets a smile on her face. So it was nice to see that love back to her and you can tell it's a mutual love," Taurasi said.

The 36-year-old Bird seemed more interested in involving others than trying to take control of the game. She regularly bypassed her own shots to provide layup chances for Moore, Ogwumike and Candace Parker, and finished with a game-record 11 assists and eight points.

The veteran West squad, with 55 total All-Star Game selections on its roster, pulled away after a close first half. Moore made 9 of 17 shots, including five 3-pointers, while Ogwumike made 11 of 15 attempts off the bench. Moore was named the game's Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive All-Star Game.

The competiveness started to emerge late as the East tried to rally from a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit, but Bird's wide open 3-pointer with 4:05 left to push the West's lead back to 11. She threw her hands in the air after the make, following an underwhelming performance in the 3-point contest.

"I've got no complaints," Bird said. "Except the 3-point contest. I can complain about that. I was terrible."

The youthful East was led by Jonquel Jones with a game-high 24 points, including a dunk in the final minute. There were eight first-time selections on the East roster, but Jones clearly came away as the most impressive individual performer.

"She's an amazing young talent for this league," East coach Curt Miller said. "She's only going to get better." Layshia Clarendon, Candice Dupree and 3-point contest winner Allie Quigley all had 14 points off the bench for the East.

The event also saw the return of the 3-point contest for the first time in eight years, conducted at halftime. Quigley — second in the WNBA in 3-pointers made per game — was nearly flawless in the finals, making 19 of 25 total shots to finish with 27 points.

Bird was the sentimental favorite, but finished last in the first round with just seven points.

The event brought out the royalty of Seattle basketball including Hall of Famers Bill Russell and Lenny Wilkens, former Seattle SuperSonics Gus Williams, Fred Brown and Slick Watts and current All-Star Isaiah Thomas of the Boston Celtics, who is from nearby Tacoma. The attendees also included former WNBA All-Star Penny Taylor and US women's soccer team star Megan Rapinoe.

Clarendon set the record for assists in an All-Star debut with 10. The 130 points by the West were tied for the most ever in a game. The teams combined for a record 251 points, eclipsing the mark of 248 set in 2009.

The league resumes play after the All-Star break on Tuesday with all 12 teams in action.

Hall of Famer John

Kundla dies at 101

John Kundla, the Hall of Fame coach who led the Minneapolis Lakers to five NBA championships, died Sunday. He was 101. Son Jim Kundla said his father died at an assisted living facility in Northeast Minneapolis that he has called home for years.

Kundla coached George Mikan and the Lakers in the 1940s and 1950s, helping them become the NBA's first dynasty. He went 423-302 before retiring at the age of 42 and went on to coach his alma mater, the University of Minnesota.

Kundla was the oldest living Hall of Famer in any of the four major pro sports in America. Kundla was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1995. A year later, he was named one of the league's 10 greatest coaches as part of the league's "NBA at 50" celebration. — AP