Sunday 18th February 2018

Our event of the day is the NBA All-Star Game between Team Stephen and Team LeBron at the Staples Center in Los Angleles. The culmination of the All-Star weekend sees the historic main event appear in a different format than the traditional duel of the Western and Eastern Conferences. The teams’ starters were selected based on votes from the fans, media and current NBA players; NBA coaches then picked the remaining players, who will act as reserves for the game. Point guard Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors and small forward LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers received the highest number of votes from the West and the East respectively, thus were designated captains who chose their teammates in a draft-style, regardless of their conference affiliation. 
The 67th All-Star Game is the sixth to be hosted by Los Angeles, and the first since 2011. The annual exhibition match of the leading NBA stars is to be followed in more than 200 countries around the world. LeBron James will make his 14th All-Star appearance as starter to equal Dirk Nowitzki’s record among active players. The starting five of his team includes former teammate point guard Kyrie Irving, power forward Anthony Davis and small forwards Kevin Durant and Paul George, who will replace the injured DeMarcus Cousins. Stephen Curry will face them alongside shooting guards James Harden and DeMar DeRozan, forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and center Joel Embiid in his All-Star debut. Reserves on both sides, guards Bradley Beal, Goran Dragić and Victor Oladipo in Team LeBron and center Karl-Anthony Towns on Team Stephen will make their first appearances at the All-Star game as well. The teams will be coached by Mike D’Antoni of the Houston Rockets and Dwane Casey of the Toronto Raptors. The stage is set for a highly entertaining All-Star Game at the Staples Center.

 

Honourable mentions around the globe go to the Twenty20 match of the Trans-Tasman Tri-Series between New Zealand and England at the Seddon Park in Hamilton. Australia have already qualified for the final of the series by winning all four of their matches. New Zealand have two points, but England with zero points could still reach the final with a win today, if they surpass the hosts on net run rate. Elsewhere in cricket, South Africa come up against India in their 1st Twenty20 at the New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. It’s Day 4 of the PGA Tour golf tournament Genesis Open at the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles; and Day 4 of the NBO Oman Open at the Al Mouj Golf in Muscat. It’s the final day of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament at the Ahoy Rotterdam in Rotterdam; and the final day of the Qatar Total Open in Doha. At the 2018 Winter Olympics, there’s the Men’s Giant Slalom; Men’s 15km Mass Start in biathlon; Women’s 500m in speed skating; Men’s Ski Slopestyle and Men’s 4 x 10km Relay in cross-country skiing.

 

Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!

 

Fixture

 

Photos by NBA