LeBron: Put All-Star draft on TV
Davis shines as Pelicans beat Bulls to end skid
LOS ANGELES — Last season the NBA All-Star Game was switched from its East vs. West format to captains LeBron James and Stephen Curry drafting teams out of a pool of All-Stars.
To avoid awkwardness for the players, the NBA attempted to keep the draft secret, though it didn’t remain so for long. Eventually ESPN reported Al Horford and LaMarcus Aldridge were the final picks by Curry and James.
This year, the drafts will be televised, according to a report by the New York Times. James and Curry were the captains in 2018 because they drew the most votes in each conference.
“It all depends who’s the captains,” James said. “I think obviously there are certain personalities that can add to it. But it all depends how much the captains are going to get into it as far as their draft boards. We’ll see. I did it last year so I’m glad I didn’t have to do it again.”
After last year’s All-Star draft, James posted a message on Twitter saying it “definitely should’ve been televised.”
He doesn’t buy the potential for awkwardness.
“It’s All-Star weekend,” James said. “You got 24 of the best players in the world that’s going to make the team. It doesn’t matter if you’re first or last, you’re 24 of the best in the world at that point in time. I don’t think it’ll be bad. We’ll see.”
Wednesday
PELICANS 107, BULLS 98: In New Orleans, Anthony Davis had 32 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks in his best game since spraining his right elbow nearly two weeks ago, and New Orleans ended a six-game skid with a victory over Chicago.
After missing four of his first five shots, Davis hit his next eight, including two 3s and a two-handed reverse alleyoop jam, while on his way to his first 30-plus point game since New Orleans beat the Los Angeles Clippers on Oct. 23.
Jrue Holiday had 17 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists while being guarded primarily by brother Justin. Julius Randle and Wesley Johnson each scored 12 points for New Orleans.
THUNDERS 95, CAVALIERS 86: In Cleveland, Dennis Schroder scored a season-high 28 points in replacing injured star Russell Westbrook and Oklahoma City beat Cleveland.
Westbrook sprained his left ankle Monday, but the Thunder withstood Cleveland’s fourth-quarter run without the two-time MVP to win its sixth straight game after starting the season 0-4.
HEAT 95, SPURS 88: In Miami, Hassan Whiteside had 29 points, 20 rebounds and an NBA season-high nine blocked shots, and Miami snapped a four-year drought against San Antonio.
Wayne Ellington scored 20 points, and Justise Winslow added 16. Miami was down to an eight-man rotation for the second half because of injuries and Dwyane Wade missing the game for personal reasons.
PISTONS 103, MAGIC 96: In Orlando, Fla., Andre Drummond had 23 points and 19 rebounds and Detroit beat Orlando to snap a five-game losing streak.
RAPTORS 114, KINGS 105: In Sacramento, Calif., Kawhi Leonard had 25
points and 11 rebounds in his return from an ankle injury, and Toronto beat Sacramento to improve the NBA’s best record to 11-1.
LAKERS 114, TIMBERWOLVES 110: In Los Angeles, LeBron James scored 24 points and was an assist shy of a tripledouble as Los Angeles beat Minnesota.
76ERS 100, PACERS 94: In Indianapolis, Joel Embiid scored 20 points and Ben Simmons nearly had a triple double to lead Philadelphia past Indiana for its first road victory of the season.
Simmons had 16 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists to help Philadelphia end a five-game losing streak on the road.
JAZZ 117, MAVERICKS 102: In Salt Lake City, Donovan Mitchell scored 23 points in his return from an ankle injury and Utah beat Dallas.
KNICKS 112, HAWKS 107: In Atlanta, Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 27 of his 34 points in the second half, reserve Enes Kanter added 17 points and 11 rebounds, and New York beat Atlanta. GRIZZLIES 89, NUGGETS 87: In Memphis, Tenn., Marc Gasol scored 20 points, including the go-ahead free throws with 4.6 seconds remaining, to lead Memphis past Denver.