Duncan, Bosh head All-Star reserves
Chris Bosh and Tim Duncan. AP
NEW YORK–San Antonio’s Tim Duncan and the Miami Heat’s Chris Bosh headline the 14 players selected by NBA coaches as reserves for the 2013 All-Star Game next month.
Duncan was selected to his 14th All-Star Game and he’ll be joined by Spurs teammate Tony Parker, who was also named a reserve on Thursday.
The Chicago Bulls, keeping themselves in the playoff hunt in the Eastern Conference despite the prolonged injury absence of Derrick Rose, also had two players named as reserves in Joakim Noah and Luol Deng.
Noah is among five first-time All-Stars among the Eastern Conference reserves along with Tyson Chandler of the New York Knicks, Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving, Philadelphia’s Jrue Holiday and Indiana’s Paul George. Bosh was named to his eighth All-Star team.
Joining Duncan and Parker as reserves in the West are Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge, Houston’s James Harden, David Lee of Golden State, Zach Randolph of Memphis and Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook.
The mid-season exhibition will be played in Houston on Sunday, February 17.
The starters, selected by fan voting, were named last week with Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant leading all players in votes in earning a record 15th successive All-Star selection.
Bryant is joined in the West starting lineup by the Los Angeles Clippers’ Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, Lakers teammate Dwight Howard and Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant.
Miami’s LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, New York’s Carmelo Anthony and Boston’s Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo will start for the East.
The East and West All-Star coaches will be determined by the best record in the conferences through February 3.
