Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Stephen Curry were voted as the backcourt representatives in the Western Conference.

Kyrie Irving scored 25 points, Spencer Dinwiddie and P.J. Washington Jr. added 16 apiece and the Dallas Mavericks beat Oklahoma City 106-98 as Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander missed his first game of the season.

Irving is listed on the injury report as he continues to deal with a lumbar back sprain. Meanwhile, Dereck Lively II (right ankle sprain), Luka Doncic (left calf strain) and Dante Exum (right wrist surgery) are all out for Friday's game. It is worth noting that Mavs head coach Jason Kidd previously said he expects Irving to play on Friday.

Kyrie Irving — an expert in rivalries — agreed that the Thunder and Mavericks have become arch-nemesis. “It’s personal. I think it’s the start of a healthy rivalry," Irving said. "... We’re gonna be seeing them a lot over the next few years so it’s good that you set the precedent now what it’s gonna be like.

This season included a few obvious choices, but several difficult calls for the Feb. 16 game in San Francisco.

On Thursday night the 2024-25 NBA All-Star Game starters were announced. Both of the Dallas Mavericks ' superstar backcourt players Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving were notably omitted from being selected. Both have missed a number of games this year with injuries.

Oklahoma City plays the Dallas Mavericks after Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 54 points in the Oklahoma City Thunder's 123-114 victory against the Utah Jazz.

DALLAS (AP) — Kyrie Irving scored 25 points ... beat Oklahoma City 106-98 Friday night as Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander missed his first game of the season. Gilgeous-Alexander ...

Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA’s leading scorer with ... challenged to win possession trailing 98-93 with 1:20 left, Kyrie Irving rebounded Williams’ missed floater and Dinwiddie hit his second ...

Kyrie Irving got brutally honest on the Mavericks' brewing rivalry with the Thunder after Friday night's game.

It was a virtuoso display from a player that many consider as the front-runner for this season’s Most Valuable Player award Read more at straitstimes.com.