Houston Rockets guard James Harden and Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson will start for the Western Conference squad in the 2015 NBA All-Star Game on Sunday at Madison Square Garden in New York, the San Francisco Chronicles reported.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant and LA Clippers forward Blake Griffin were named starters for the annual spectacle, but both players will not be available on Sunday due to injuries.
Bryant was ruled out for the rest of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery, while Griffin is on the sidelines after undergoing operation on his ailing elbow.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who will coach the Western Conference All-Stars, opted name Harden and Thompson to play a three-guard lineup along with Stephen Curry instead of picking another forward to replace Griffin on the starting lineup.
By picking three guards, the Western Conference was supposed to start with New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis and Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol, but Davis was also ruled out for the game.
Davis, who is averaging 24.5 points to go along with 10.3 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game this season, announced on Wednesday night that he decided to skip the All-Star Game due to an ailing shoulder he sustained following a hard fall in their 107-72 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Saturday.
"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 statement. "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. 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."
With Davis out of the starting lineup, reports indicated that NBA commissioner Adam Silver picked Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki to take the vacant roster spot. Kerr will name who will take Davis' spot on the starting lineup of the Western Conference All-Stars.
Nowitzki, who is averaging 18.3 points to go along with 5.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game this season, will be making his third appearance in the All-Star Game.
On Tuesday, Atlanta Hawks shooting guard Kyle Korver was also named to the Eastern Conference All-Star team after Miami Heat superstar Dwyane Wade announced that he will not play because he is still recovering from a right hamstring injury.
Korver, who will be playing in his first All-Star Game, joined Hawks teammate Paul Millsap, Jeff Teague and Al Horford along with coach Mike Budenholzer on the Eastern Conference squad.
