Midway through the first quarter, Michael Jordan leaned in for a dunk over Tim Duncan. The play was a blast from the past and brought thoughts that the 38-year-old star may be headed for yet another brilliant All-Star Game.

But just two minutes later, Jordan was by himself with no one in sight for a dunk. All-Star teammate Dikembe Mutombo rose and raised his hands in anticipation of a Jordan slam. But the excitement in the air disappeared when Jordan's attempt hit the back of the rim and bounced out of bounds.

Disbelief.

Mutombo kept his hands up. And Jordan trotted back on defense with an embarrassed laugh.

Jordan played 23 minutes in his 13th All-Star Game and finished with eight points on 4-of-13 shooting as his East team lost 135-120.

"I laughed at myself," said Jordan, who entered the game with an average of 21.3 points in All-Star Games, the best in NBA history. "If I can't laugh at myself, I can't laugh at anybody."

No getting around security

In the aftermath of Sept. 11, the NBA allocated more money to security for the All-Star event than any time in league history.

The league was so strict about security that even players had problems getting clearance.

Dikembe Mutombo, who started for the East, initially wasn't allowed in his hotel room after checking in Friday. The 76ers center didn't have a red ID ? which was specially made for players ? or another acceptable form of ID.

"She said, 'You're not going through here,' " Mutombo recalled, referring to a security guard. "I said, 'I'm one of the players ? what do you mean?' She said, "You have to have ID.' And I said, 'Excuse me?'

"But we have to understand all the security precautions that have been taken for we as players to be safe, and to be able to enjoy ourselves."

Famous faces in the crowd

Only in America ? or Philadelphia.

The All-Star weekend was replete with star-studded parties and celebrity sightings. Perhaps the most bizarre scene occurred when O.J. Simpson drove down South Street in a tan convertible. Pedestrians gawked and shouted greetings while surrounding the car, which had the top down.

Then several people took out dollar bills, and asked Simpson to sign them. The former football star ? who had a chauffeur ? obliged with a grin. And police officers nearby tried to disburse the crowd.

The best place to spot celebrities was the game: Muhammed Ali sat next to one-time nemesis Joe Frazier on courtside in a row that included Magic Johnson and rap impresario P. Diddy.


Other celebrities in town for the game included Jay-Z, Jamie Foxx, Matthew Modine, Britney Spears, Will Smith and Tyra Banks, who was with Chris Webber.

Rookie orientation

The NBA's rookie orientation ? canceled because of Sept. 11 ? was conducted here during the All-Star weekend. The program normally takes place before training camp to help rookies adapt to the NBA. Sonics Predrag Drobnjak, Vladimir Radmanovic and Earl Watson took part in the rookie orientation, which took two days instead of the usual week.

Glove and Garnett can dream

Last night, Gary Payton and Kevin Garnett showed a synchronicity that was uncanny for two players not on the same team. Payton connected with Garnett for one of the best alley-oops of the night.

Payton was almost traded from Seattle last summer, and one of the most likeliest possibilities was being sent to Minnesota for Wally Szczerbiak and Terrell Brandon. Payton wants to finish his career in Seattle but wouldn't mind playing with Garnett.

"He's like my brother," said Payton, who tied his All-Star high with 18 points. "And we act crazy together and stuff. We keep in touch. We just have the vibe together."

Imagine the two players on the same team.

Notes

? Dallas owner Mark Cuban outbid everyone in an auction for a 2003 H2 Hummer sports utility truck, with the money benefiting the Inner-City Games. Cuban paid $125,000, and casually yapped with actor Chris Tucker as the price rose.

? Allen Iverson wore No. 6, instead of his usual No. 3, as a tribute to former Sixers star Julius Erving.

? Seattle's Mike Shimensky served as the trainer for the Western Conference All-Stars.