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Daily Gossip, Thursday 12/2/15

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The All-Star Game has changed again. As Anthony Davis’ sudden exclusion is the call for the league’s leading European scorer to take over.

DIRK TO TAKE DAVIS’ PLACE

Dallas Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki will replace New Orleans Pelicans’ Anthony Davis [sore shoulder] at the NBA All-Star Game this coming Sunday in New York.

This coming a little less than an hour after coach Rick Carlisle mentioned that not being selected as an All-Star was a “blessing” for Nowitzki, the Mavs got word that the face of their franchise was picked by commissioner Adam Silver to replace Davis.

Via NBA official release:

Nowitzki, who has posted averages of 18.3 points and 6.0 rebounds in his 17th NBA season, will be making his 13th All-Star appearance.  The highest-scoring player born outside the United States in NBA history, Nowitzki surpassed Moses Malone for seventh place on the league’s all-time scoring list last month.  

Golden State head coach Steve Kerr, who earned the right to coach the West squad because the Warriors clinched the best record in the conference through games played Feb. 1, will determine Davis’ replacement in the starting lineup. 

Davis was also in the field for the Degree® Shooting Stars during State Farm® All-Star Saturday Night at Barclays Center. His replacement will be named at a later time. 

KLAY AND HARDEN IN THE STARTING FIVE

Via ESPN:

Thompson and Harden will replace the injured Kobe Bryantand 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.

MELO IN SHUT DOWN MODE AFTER ALL-STAR GAME

If the NBA All-Star Game wasn’t taking place in New York this week, Knicks superstar forward Carmelo Anthony wouldn’t be playing basketball anymore this season.

As of next week, Melo expects to go into shutdown mode.

Anthony will likely have surgery to repair a chronically sore left knee.

Via ESPN:

New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony said Thursday that it’s “very likely” he will shut down playing after the All-Star Game.Anthony maintained that he plans to play in Sunday’s game at Madison Square Garden “even if it’s just a few minutes” — but could be done after that.

The Knicks’ leading scorer and franchise player has been dealing with soreness in his left knee for months. Anthony aggravated the injury in Monday’s loss to the Miami Heat and sat out Wednesday’s loss to the Orlando Magic. […] The Knicks have been cautious with Anthony by reducing his minutes and requiring the 12-year veteran to sit out some games during loaded stretches in the schedule, such as skipping the second night of a back-to-back set of games.

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