With both superstars at the height of their powers and eager to prove their superiority, it seemed reasonable to expect almost anything. And then, because the NBA gods have a sense of humor, it turned out to be Kendrick Perkins who made the biggest impact in the contest.
Don't worry; I'll explain later.
Elsewhere in the Association, Kyle Lowry continued to make things easy for the Toronto Raptors, the Minnesota Timberwolves reached a turning point and Dirk Nowitzki continued to act like he is living in 2006.
Plus, Marc Gasol kept things simple for the Memphis Grizzlies, and Goran Dragic made one final push toward his first All-Star berth.
It was a busy evening around the league, and much of what happened will have major repercussions throughout the rest of the season.
Enough preamble! I'm sure you can't wait another second to learn how on Earth someone like Kendrick Perkins managed to actually matter in a high-stakes showdown. Although, if you think about it for a second, you might be able to guess...