Thompson, Harden will start for West in All-Star game

Posted February 11, 2015 10:00 pm

The Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson and Houston Rockets guard James Harden have been named starters for the Western Conference All-Star team.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who will coach the team on Sunday in New York, made the announcement on Wednesday night.

Thompson and Harden will replace the injured Kobe Bryant and Blake Griffin, who were voted in as starters by the fans.

Thompson is averaging 22.1 points and shooting 44 percent from 3-point range for the Warriors, who have the league's best record at 42-9. He will start alongside fellow Splash Brother Stephen Curry.

Harden is leading the league in scoring at 27.7 points per game.

The West also had one more open spot in the starting lineup after Pelicans forward Anthony Davis pulled out with a strained right shoulder.

Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki was named to replace him on the team and Kerr will set the starting lineup.

The 36-year-old Nowitzki is averaging 18.3 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. He went to 11 straight All-Star games before missing in 2013. He went again last year.

Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) defends against Utah Jazz guard Dante Exum (11) as Mavericks Chandler Parsons (25) and Jazz Gordon Hayward (20) look on during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2015, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero) The Associated Press

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