League finalizing details to have All-Star Game

The NBA told its teams on Thursday night that it expects to finalize plans in the coming week to have an AllStar Game in Atlanta.

The game and skills competitions will be held on March 7, the NBA told clubs in the memo, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press. It remains unclear when players would have to report to Atlanta and how testing will work there, or if fans will be part of the game.

The first-half schedule ends March 4, with the second half set to begin on March 11. The league said it expects to agree to terms with the National Basketball Players Association on testing protocols that will apply to all players during the break, how testing will work for the All-Star event, and when players will have to report back to their home markets to begin preparations for the second-half schedule.

All players will likely have to be back in home markets within two days of their teams resuming play, the NBA said.

Talks between the league and the NBPA have gone on for weeks about if and how to salvage the All-Star Game, which was originally scheduled to be played in Indianapolis this season — before the pandemic called off those plans. Among the ideas the league and the union are discussing: how the game can benefit both COVID-19 relief and historically Black colleges and universities.

Sacramento guard De’Aaron Fox said Wednesday night he thought the notion of an All-Star Game was “stupid” during a pandemic. Players have been told to wear masks on their benches, coaches must wear them at all times during games and the league and NBPA have installed strict protocols to try to get through the season safely.

“If I’m going to be brutally honest, I think it’s stupid,” Fox said. “If we have to wear masks and do all this for a regular game, then what’s the point of bringing an All-Star Game back? But obviously, money makes the world go ’round, so it is what it is.”

JAZZ 112, HAWKS 91 >> Jordan Clarkson sank five 3-pointers while scoring 23 points and Utah protected the NBA’s best record with a runaway win at Atlanta.

Bojan Bogdanovic had 21 points and Donovan Mitchell added 18 for Utah (17-5).

Atlanta point guard Trae Young was held out with a bruised right calf. Rajon Rondo made his second start of the season and did not score. Another starter, forward De’Andre Hunter (right knee), missed his third consecutive game.

John Collins led Atlanta with 17 points. The Hawks suffered their third consecutive loss.

Without Young, their leading scorer, the Hawks’ offense struggled.

TRAIL BLAZERS 121, 76ERS 105 >> Gary Trent Jr. scored 24 points and Enes Kanter had 17 points and 18 rebounds to lead undermanned Portland to victory at Philadelphia.

Carmelo Anthony had 22 points for the Trail Blazers.

Joel Embiid scored 37 points for the Sixers.