NBA All-Star game: live coverage

Pregame


Kobe Bryant will look to add to his legacy while Dwight Howard will hope to merely keep his shoulder intact during the NBA’s All-Star Game, which is about to tip off at Toyota Center here in Houston.
Bryant is already the all-time leading All-Star game scorer with 271 points in 14 previous appearances.
Howard wants to merely make it through his seventh appearance without aggravating the torn labrum in his shoulder. He said he doesn’t fear worsening his injury because players don’t typically intentionally foul anyone in All-Star games.

Heck, they barely play defense at all.

But Bryant probably shouldn’t remind his teammate that he sustained a broken nose in last year’s game after being hit by Miami’s Dwyane Wade.
Other story lines to watch include Boston’s Kevin Garnett and New York’s Carmelo Anthony as teammates only a month removed from a brouhaha in which Garnett infuriated Anthony by allegedly making salacious comments about his wife.

There’s also Miami’s LeBron James, who is coming off a recent stretch of dominance unparalleled in NBA history in which he scored at least 30 points and made more than 60% of his shots in six consecutive games.

And it’s always fun to see Lakers and Clipipers working together.
Bryant and Howard will be joined in the West starting lineup by Clippers stars Chris Paul and Blake Griffin.

Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant will try to win a second consecutive most valuable player award in the game after scoring 36 points last year in the West’s 152-149 victory.

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NBA All-Star Game

The NBA All-Star Game tips off tonight at about 8 p.m. ET on TNT, in what half the world seems to think is a mere formality in the celebration of Michael Jordan's 50th birthday.
But there's a game to be played, and if you believe some of the people involved, that game does matter. With that in mind, we break down five things to watch:

1. LeBron James vs. Kobe Bryant.

  The scrutiny declined on the game's 2 preferred — and, perhaps, polarizing — players once archangel Jordan aforesaid he would rather have Bryant than James. Neither player place a lot of stock in those comments, with Bryant voice communication he perceive the purpose regarding his 5 championships to James' one and James voice communication he thinks the argument is shallow. James can begin at purpose guard for associate degree outsized japanese Conference lineup, and Bryant appears presumably to draw his assignment.

2. Kyrie Irving vs. Chris Paul.

He's the best ball-handler in the NBA and an incredible natural scorer. Paul is the crafty veteran now, an amazing passer who thrives in these situations and can embarrass opponents with his quick hands on defense. Irving seems ready to become the best point guard in the NBA, but Paul doesn't seem willing to give up his spot.


3. Kevin Garnett vs. Carmelo Anthony.

The East starters say their feud from earlier this season is a thing of the past, but that will be tested when they play together. Anthony isn't one to pass often anyway, but will he and Garnett have any chemistry? They were joking around a bit Saturday in practice, messing with colorful TNT and NBATV reporter Craig Sager. Keep in mind, if the season were to end today, Anthony's New York Knicks would face Garnett's Boston Celtics in the first round. We're not expecting any trouble, but keep an eye out for it.

4. Russell Westbrook vs. passing.

Westbrook is the most explosive point guard in the NBA, a true rival for Irving, Paul and Tony Parker at the top of the best point guards list. But he already is criticized often for taking too many shots — and not finding Kevin Durant enough — with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Westbrook is a brilliant young player with charisma and savvy, and he should know this game could give him a chance to shake his reputation by playing pass-first basketball all night. Or it could give him a chance to try to silence the critics with a big scoring showcase.

5. East centers vs. new positions.

The East roster features five players who start for their teams at center. That doesn't work here. Expect Garnett, Chris Bosh, Brook Lopez, Tyson Chandler and Joakim Noah to be asked to show their versatility against a smaller Western Conference lineup. We can only hope East coach Erik Spoelstra opens things up enough to let Noah showcase his point-center skills, which he takes great pride in and helped him earn a spot on the All-Star team.

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