Western at Eastern
The NBA All-Star Game comes to Brooklyn for the first time Sunday as the Barclays Center hosts the 64th meeting between the Eastern and Western Conferences. The hometown Nets are not represented and the lone member of the cross-town Knicks, Carmelo Anthony, will play just a few minutes due to knee issues. Anthony is among several injured stars; East teammate Dwyane Wade will not play for the first time since he was a rookie while Kobe Bryant, Blake Griffin and Anthony Davis are out for the West.
The injuries will cast a spotlight on newcomers such as Toronto's Kyle Lowry, who was voted in as a starter alongside holdovers such as Anthony and LeBron James, a two-time MVP of the event who is making his 11th straight start since entering the league. Two members of West-leading Golden State will be in the starting five for Warriors first-year head coach Steve Kerr, as Stephen Curry makes his second straight appearance while Klay Thompson makes his debut in the event. The East snapped a three-game losing streak with a record-setting 163-155 win in New Orleans last season.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, TNT
ABOUT THE WESTERN CONFERENCE: The rash of injuries to the West's starting lineup also opened a spot in the first five for Houston's James Harden, the league's leading scorer (27.4). Dallas superstar Dirk Nowitzki was tabbed to replace Davis on the roster and will make his 13th All-Star Game appearance, just the ninth player all-time to reach that mark. Bryant is one of those nine, as is San Antonio forward Tim Duncan, who will come off the West bench in his 15th appearance, needing just nine rebounds to pass Boston legend Bill Russell for fourth on the all-time list.
ABOUT THE EASTERN CONFERENCE: When head coach Mike Budenholzer turns to his bench he will see several familiar faces, as four of his Atlanta Hawks are reserves for the East, including first-timers Jeff Teague and Kyle Korver, who was added to replace Wade. The 33-year-old Korver leads the NBA in 3-point percentage (52.3) while shooting 51.2 percent overall and 91.1 percent from the line for the East-leading Hawks, aiming to join Kerr as the only players in league history to post 50/50/90 shooting splits. Chicago Bulls swingman Jimmy Butler missed the final game before the break with a shoulder strain and is questionable to participate in his first All-Star Game.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. James is averaging 24.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 6.1 assists through his first 10 All-Star Games.
2. Sacramento C DeMarcus Cousins, whose 33 double-doubles ranks second to Bulls C Pau Gasol, is making his first appearance.
3. Cavaliers PG Kyrie Irving was the game's MVP last season with 31 points and 14 assists.