NEW YORK -- The NBA is scrapping the East vs. West format for its All-Star Game and will have captains pick teams this season.
The league said Tuesday the two starters with the highest fan vote totals 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 in Los Angeles on Feb. 18.
Players and league officials have been eager to inject new interest in the often defense-absent game, and they decided to act after another dull affair last February in New Orleans.
"I'm thrilled with what the players and the league have done to improve the All-Star Game, which has been a priority for all of us," National Basketball Players Association president Chris Paul of the Houston Rockets said in a statement. "We're looking forward to putting on an entertaining show in LA" (see full story).
Lakers: Ball misses practice with sprained ankle
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Los Angeles Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball has missed practice after mildly spraining his left ankle in a preseason game.
Ball sat out of Tuesday's workout along with Brandon Ingram, who bumped his head during the same preseason game Monday against Denver.
Philadelphia 76ers
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Coach Luke Walton said Ball will be re-evaluated Wednesday before the Lakers determine whether the No. 2 overall pick will play against the Nuggets in Ontario, California, that night.
Ingram is meeting with a doctor Tuesday to determine the extent of his injury.
Ball and Ingram played 21 minutes apiece Monday in a 113-107 loss to Denver.
Larry Nance Jr. also didn't practice due to a sprained index finger, but the forward did conditioning work.
Center Brook Lopez participated in full-court drills during his steady return from back spasms.
Bucks: New arena is also avenue to sell Milwaukee
MILWAUKEE -- Construction vehicles and dusty streets surround the Milwaukee Bucks' new downtown arena that is less than a year away from completion.
The state-of-the-art facility will be the Bucks' home starting in 2018. But in many respects the massive project is more than just about basketball.
Team and arena executives want to get major entertainment acts to stop in Milwaukee. They want the arena to be a driver for ambitious downtown redevelopment.
And to do that, they have to go out to market and sell Milwaukee.
"We want to create an international destination with talent. We want to compete with every major city, we want to be on every tour stop," team president Peter Feigin said. "We have this one window of time to tell our story and our narrative around the world" (see full story).
