East vs. West
The Big Easy provides the backdrop for what should be an explosive affair as the Eastern and Western Conferences do battle in the 63rd annual NBA All-Star Game on Sunday. The West has been the superior team in each of the previous three mid-season showdowns - and if the standings are any indication, it may be more of the same in 2014. But the East will be no pushover in New Orleans, boasting elite talent in Miami’s LeBron James, Indiana’s Paul George, Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving and New York’s Carmelo Anthony.
The dynamic on the Eastern Conference All-Star Team will be something to watch, with five players (James, George, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh of Miami and Roy Hibbert of Indiana) representing the Heat and Pacers - the top two teams in the conference and emerging rivals. They'll need to be at their best to handle a West team that features plenty of firepower itself. Leading the way is Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant, who looks to secure a second All-Star Game MVP award.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, TNT, TSN
ABOUT THE EASTERN CONFERENCE: James is a two-time All-Star MVP, and took home the honor the last time New Orleans hosted the contest - racking up 27 points, eight rebounds and nine assists in a 134-128 East victory. He'll be joined by fellow starters Anthony, George, Irving and Wade; the five combine to average 116.2 points per game. The bench features defensive stalwarts Hibbert and Chicago’s Joakim Noah, as well as first-time All-Star participants DeMar DeRozan of Toronto, Paul Millsap of Atlanta and John Wall of Washington.
ABOUT THE WESTERN CONFERENCE: With the national stage all to himself, Durant got in a fitting warm-up to the All-Star festivities with 43 points in the Thunder's come-from-behind win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday. It was the eighth 40-point outing of the season for Durant, who is joined in the starting rotation by the Clippers' Blake Griffin, Minnesota's Kevin Love and Golden State's Stephen Curry. That quartet averages better than 106 points per game; Kobe Bryant was voted in as the other West starter, but won't be playing due to injury.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The West has yet to announce a replacement for Bryant in the starting five; coach Scott Brooks (Oklahoma City) will decide who takes his place.
2. Three players on the West are making their first All-Star appearance: Curry, New Orleans F/C Anthony Davis and Portland PG Damian Lillard.
3. The winning team has scored at least 134 points in seven straight All-Star Games.