NBA changing format of its All-Star game

The NBA is scrapping the East versus West format for its All-Star game and will have captains pick teams this season.

The league said that the leading vote-getter from each conference will choose teams from the pool of players who were voted as starters and reserves.

The change will begin with this season’s game at Staples Center on Feb. 18.

Laurene Powell Jobs has agreed to buy a 20% stake in Ted Leonsis’ Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which owns the NBA’s Washington Wizards and NHL’s Washington Capitals. A spokeswoman for Monumental confirmed to the Associated Press there is an agreement in place with Powell Jobs pending league approval. Powell Jobs is a billionaire entrepreneur and the widow of Apple co-founder and former chief executive Steve Jobs.

A Phoenix jury acquitted NBA players Marcus and Markieff Morris in their aggravated assault trial.

The twin brothers were accused of helping three other people beat 36year-old Erik Hood in January 2015 outside a high school basketball game in Phoenix.

The Buffalo Sabres have reached an agreement to sign their franchise player, Jack Eichel, to an NHL-maximum eight-year, $80-million contract. ... The NHL has suspended Washington Capitals right winger Tom Wilson for four games for boarding St. Louis Blues forward Sammy Blais . ... The Colorado Avalanche reinforced their defense by claiming Patrik Nemeth on waivers from Dallas.