Top vote-getter Kobe Bryant is an All-Star for the 13th time

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant topped the overall fan voting and will start for the Western Conference in the NBA All-Star game, while Orlando center Dwight Howard led the voting for the Eastern Conference team, according to final results released Thursday.

Bryant, a 13-time All-Star, received about 2.4 million votes, compared to 2.1 million for Howard. The All-Star game is to be played at Staples Center on Feb. 20.

Other starters voted to the West squad are: New Orleans guard Chris Paul, and forwards Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City) and Carmelo Anthony (Denver). Houston’s Yao Ming (Houston) led the voting at center, but he is sidelined for the rest of the season because of an ankle injury; his replacement will be picked by Commissioner David Stern.

The other starters on the East team are: forwards LeBron James (Miami) and Amare Stoudemire (New York), and guards Derrick Rose (Chicago) and Dwyane Wade (Miami). Miami teammates James and Wade each made the All-Star team for the seventh time.

Starters for the All-Star game were selected by fan vote. Coaches in each conference will pick the reserves. The reserve players will be announced Thursday.

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