The first half of the NBA season has come and gone as the Los Angeles Lakers played their last game before the All-Star break Wednesday night when they lost to the Phoenix Suns.
The loss dropped the Lakers to 19-39 on the season, which is just a half game ahead of the Suns for last in the Western Conference. The 19 wins is already greater than their 17 wins all of last season though, so it is hard to look at the first half as a complete failure.
With All-Star weekend just a day away in New Orleans, not every Lakers player is taking a vacation as there are three Lakers participating in All-Star weekend events.
Two of the team’s young players, rookie forward Brandon Ingram and sophomore point guard D’Angelo Russell will both be competing for the USA team in the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge Friday night, which features some of the best young players in the NBA.
Then on Saturday night veteran shooting guard Nick Young will be competing in the JBL Three-Point Contest. Young heads into the contest with 8/1 odds to win it, as he is facing some of the best shooters in the NBA.
With such an action-filled weekend it is often tough to keep up with when all the events are happening, so here is a complete list of the event dates and times that the weekend has to offer:
Friday, Feb. 17
All times Pacific (PST)
7:30 a.m. – BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge Practice (NBA TV)
9 a.m. – All-Star media availability (NBA TV)
4 p.m. – NBA All-Star Celebrity Game (ESPN)
4 p.m. – BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge (TNT)
Saturday, Feb. 18
All times Pacific (PST)
8 a.m. – Hall of Fame Announcement
9 a.m. – NBA All-Star Practice (NBA TV)
11:30 a.m. – NBA D-League All-Star Game presented by Kumho Tire (NBA TV)
4 p.m. – Commissioner Adam Silver media availability (NBA TV)
5 p.m. – State Farm All-Star Saturday Night (TNT)
– Taco Bell Skills Challenge (first event)
– JBL Three-Point Contest (second event)
– Verizon Slam Dunk (third event)
Sunday, Feb. 19
All times Pacific (PST)
8 a.m. – NBA Legends Brunch (NBA TV) coverage begins at 10 a.m. PST
5 p.m. – 66th NBA All-Star Game (TNT)
Los Angeles Lakers(96) - Minnesota Timberwolves(103)