East Coach K. C. Jones deployed Isiah Thomas in a one-guard offense late in the game, and the Detroit star became a one-man show. Thomas scored 30 points and contributed 10 assists in leading the East to a 139-132 victory over the West in Dallas as he captured MVP honors for the second time in three years.

With the West ahead, 128-121, and 3:50 left to play, the East adopted its unusual alignment, teaming Thomas with frontcourtmen Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Buck Williams, and Moses Malone. Thomas sparked an 18-4 spurt.

Bird, who won the first of three consecutive NBA Long Distance Shootouts on All-Star Saturday, had 23 points for the East, while the West was led by three of Riley's Lakers-Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, with 21 points; James Worthy, with 20 points; and Magic Johnson, with 15 assists.