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Damian Lillard went from All-Star snub to All-Star sub on Sunday.
The former Weber State star was named by NBA commissioner Adam Silver as a replacement for injured Clippers forward Blake Griffin. Lillard, who will appear in his second straight All-Star game later this month, ranks 13th in the league in scoring (21.6 points per game) and 15th in assists (6.3 per game), helping lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a 34-17 record.
Fans voted Griffin into the game's starting lineup. But on Sunday the Clippers announced that the forward would undergo surgery to remove a staph infection from his elbow, which will keep him out of action through the all-star break. Warriors coach Steve Kerr will decide which players will replace Griffin and injured Lakers guard Kobe Bryant in the West's starting five.
This year's all-star game will be played Feb. 15 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
— Aaron Falk