Domantas Sabonis #11 of the Indiana Pacers shoots the ball against the New Orleans Pelicans at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on February 05, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Andy Lyons/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by ANDY LYONS / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)
Indiana Pacers forward Domantas Sabonis was named to play in the All-Star Game to replace injured Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets, the NBA announced Friday.
Durant will miss the March 7 contest due to a left hamstring injury that suffered Feb. 13.
This will mark the second straight All-Star Game appearance for Sabonis, who is averaging a career-high 21.5 points per game entering Friday’s contest against the Boston Celtics. He also ranks fifth in the NBA in rebounding (11.7) and is averaging a career-high 5.7 assists in 30 games.
The NBA announced Domantas Sabonis will replace injured Kevin Durant in the 2021 #NBAAllStar Game. pic.twitter.com/ZoJkoc76Vs
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 26, 2021
Sabonis, 24, has 24 double-doubles, second in the NBA behind Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic (28). Sabonis has recorded three triple-doubles this season.
Boston’s Jayson Tatum will replace Durant as a starter.