Dirk Nowitzki to replace injured Anthony Davis at NBA All-Star Game
New Orleans Pelicans power forward Anthony Davis announced on Wednesday that he will skip Sunday's NBA All-Star Game as he recovers from a right shoulder sprain. Dallas Mavericks' star Dirk Nowitzki was named the replacement shortly after by NBA commissioner Adam Silver. This will be Nowitzki's 13th All-Star Game appearance.
"After careful thought and consideration, I've decided I will not be participating in this year's NBA All-Star competitions," Davis said in a release. "I want to thank the fans for voting me into the All-Star game and I am sorry I will not be able to play.
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"While I'm disappointed that I won't be able to compete this weekend, I'm still very excited about the opportunity to be a part of the All-Star events in New York and celebrate our game with some of the NBA's greatest figures.
"More than anything, I am anxious to get healthy and back on the court with my teammates after the All-Star break."
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Davis missed his second straight game on Wednesday due to the injury. The Pelicans lost both games Davis missed, falling to the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday and the Utah Jazz on Monday. At 27-26, the Pelicans enter Thursday 10th in the Western Conference and 1.5 games out of the postseason picture.
Davis, in his third NBA season, was voted an All-Star for the second time. He was voted in as a starter this year, alongside Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin, Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry.
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Bryant and Griffin are injured, and will be replaced by Houston Rockets guard James Harden and Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson in the starting lineup.
The All-Star game will tip off Sunday at 8:30 p.m. ET on TNT.
- Mike Fiammetta
