Eric Gay / AP

East All-Star LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers dunks over West All-Star Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks during the fourth quarter of the NBA All-Star game. James was named the game's MVP as the East won 134-128.

Bryant, though, energized by the club’s addition of center Pau Gasol in a trade, wants to delay any operation until late summer. As soon as he took on the West’s bench, a trainer wrapped a large ice pack around his entire hand, rendering arguably the league’s top player to spectator status.

The West could have used him.

“There’s one player we really, really missed, and that was Kobe,” West coach Byron Scott of New Orleans said. “Obviously, Kobe would have loved to play.”

New Jersey’s Jason Kidd spent the weekend wondering whether he would be going back to the Nets or changing into a Dallas jersey. A complex trade, snagged when Mavericks guard Devean George blocked the deal, may have new life.

The clubs still hope to get a deal done before Thursday’s deadline.

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 local brass band filled New Orleans Arena with the sounds that exemplify the area’s laid-back, fun-loving ethos: Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez — Let The Good Times Roll.

The East came out flying, getting seven dunks and a layup in the first 5 minutes to take an early 11-point lead before the West awakened. Paul and Hornets teammate David West sparked the West, which cut it to two before James, Kidd and Dwight Howard, whose Superman routine won him Saturday’s dunk contest, put on passing display like they were playing pickup ball in the schoolyard.

On one possession, Kidd threw a lob pass to James, who then bounced it off the glass for a charging Howard, who slammed it in. Both teams were scoring so quickly in the second quarter that the p.a. announcer was having a hard time keeping up.

“Rasheed Wallace,” he said before catching a breath to say, “Carmelo Anthony.”

The game was missing one of its biggest stars as Shaquille O’Neal was not selected, snapping his record-tying 14-year run. Without O’Neal, there were no comedic moments like when Shaq pulled out a giant sneaker phone or made like a point guard and dribbled his way up the court.

Notes: Phoenix will host next year’s All-Star game. The event was last held there in 1995, when the West won 139-112 and Sacramento’s Mitch Richmond was named MVP. ... Celtics C Kevin Garnett, the leading vote getter who missed the game because of an abdominal strain, worked out for coach Doc Rivers on Sunday. He’s expected to practice with the club in Denver on Monday and could return to action on Tuesday. “I’m back to my old self again,” he said. ... The East attempted 36 3-pointers, breaking the record of 30 set by the West in 2002. ... Paul’s 14 assists are the most since Kidd had 14 in 2000. ... James is the 11th multiple MVP winner.

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