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The 2012 NBA All-Star Game is held in Orlando this weekend, but the game will have a decided Los Angeles flair, as the Lakers and Clippers each have two starters in Sunday's contest. But the events of the weekend get started on Friday night. Here is an overview of NBA All-Star weekend:
Friday, February 24
4 p.m. - Sprint NBA All-Star Celebrity Game (ESPN): Dwight Howard and Kevin Durant will serve as coaches for the celebrity game, which will also feature former Magic players Tim Hardaway and Nick Anderson.
6 p.m. - BBVA NBA Rising Stars Challenge (TNT): Shaquille O`Neal and Charles Barkley picked teams from a group of first and second-year players. Blake Griffin was the first pick, on Team Shaq, and is teamed with Jeremy Lin and Ricky Rubio so expect a ton of easy dunks for the Blake Show.
Saturday, February 25
Coverage begins on TNT at 5:30 p.m. PST. Here is the order of events:
Haier Shooting Stars: The annual shooting competition features a three-member team of one current NBA player, one former NBA star, and a WNBA player. Los Angeles doesn't have a team, but host Team Orlando includes Jameer Nelson, Dennis Scott, and Marie Ferdinand-Harris.
Taco Bell Skills Challenge: Stephen Curry last year won the event, which is geared toward point guards, but a right foot injury will keep him out of this year's proceedings. Kyrie Irving, Tony Parker, John Wall, Russell Westbrook, and Deron Williams are all scheduled to complete.
Foot Locker Three-Point Contest: Former UCLA Bruin Kevin Love will compete in this event, competing against defending champion James Jones as well as Ryan Anderson, Anthony Morrow, Mario Chalmers, and Kevin Durant
Sprite Slam Dunk Contest: Griffin will not defend his title in a rather uninspiring field of four dunkers, Chase Budinger, Paul George, Jeremy Evans, and Derrick Williams.
Sunday, February 26
NBA All-Star Game: Coverage starts at 3 p.m. PST on TNT, but the game begins at 4:30. The Western Conference has four starters from Los Angeles, with Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum representing the Lakers and Chris Paul and Blake Griffin representing the Clippers.