The NBA is considering going to a tournament-style event for the All-Star Game, similar to what has been used in the Rising Stars competition in recent years, two people with knowledge of the plan said Friday.
The changes would take effect starting with this season’s All-Star weekend in San Francisco in February.
The idea centers around the 24 All-Star selections being split into three teams of eight players, with the fourth team likely to be the winner of the Rising Stars competition that will be held earlier that weekend.
It remains unclear how the voting process would change. Fans, players and media have been part of a weighted system to choose starters, while coaches have selected reserves. Under the proposed format, there would not be any reserves.
Women’s basketball
Auriemma ties tara’s all-time record >> UConn coach Geno Auriemma tied the NCAA Division I record for men’s or women’s basketball with his 1,216th career victory as his No. 2 Huskies beat No. 14 North Carolina 69-58 at home.
The 70-year-old Auriemma, in his 40th season at UConn, matched Stanford’s Tara VanDerveer, who retired after after last season.
Auriemma can break the record Wednesday, when UConn hosts Fairleigh Dickinson.
Watkins leads USC past Santa Clara >> JuJu Watkins reached 1,000 career points in the second-fewest games (38) in NCAA Division I history, scoring 20 points as No. 3 Southern California rolled to an 81-50 victory over Santa Clara in Los Angeles.
Former Stanford star Kiki Iriafen added 20 points for the Trojans (4-0).
LSU’s Maree Jackson (1976-78) and two others reached the mark in 37 games.
Kaya Ingram led Santa Clara (2-1) with 13 points.
Men’s basketball
No. 13 Purdue beats No. 2 Alabama 87-78 >> Trey Kaufman-Renn scored a career-high 26 points and grabbed eight rebounds to help No. 13 Purdue get past No. 2 Alabama 87-78.
Golf
Hull takes 2-shot lead over Korda >> Charley Hull shot a 4-under 66 that gave her a two-shot lead over Nelly Korda at The Annika in Belleair, Fla.
Lower keeps PGA lead >> Justin Lower had another 6-under 65, giving him a two-shot lead going into the weekend at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship.
Tennis
Alcaraz out of ATP Finals >> Carlos Alcaraz was the big name missing when the last two semifinal spots were filled at the ATP Finals in Italy.
Alcaraz’s 7-6 (5), 6-4 loss to Alexander Zverev eliminated him from the elite, eight-man tournament.
In today’s semifinals, Zverev will meet Taylor Fritz and top-ranked Jannik Sinner will play Casper Ruud.