DeMarcus Cousins is going to the All-Star game, after all.NBA Commissioner Adam Silver selected the Sacramento Kings centre to replace injured Lakers star Kobe Bryant on the Western Conference All-Star team Friday.Silvers choice leaves Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard as the games biggest snub. Lillard could still be picked if another player drops out before the Feb. 15 game at New Yorks Madison Square Garden.Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who is leading the West, will decide who replaces Bryant in the starting lineup. Kerr will choose from a roster that includes Houstons James Harden and Golden States Klay Thompson.Cousins is headed to the All-Star game for the first time in his five-year career. He becomes Sacramentos first All-Star since Brad Miller and Peja Stojakovic in 2004.Im extremely excited to play in my first All-Star game, Cousins said. I appreciate the recognition and want to also thank my teammates and the fans for their support throughout the season. Representing the Kings and the city of Sacramento is a great honour.Last season, Cousins was passed over as an injury replacement — also for Bryant. New Orleans Pelicans big man Anthony Davis was chosen instead. Cousins had better traditional statistics, while Davis defensive numbers and efficiency ratings ranked higher. It also didnt hurt that New Orleans hosted the event.Portland already had an All-Star this time in forward LaMarcus Aldridge, who was picked by the coaches as a reserve. Sacramento wouldve had no representation at All-Star weekend if Cousins hadnt been selected. That may have helped his campaign over Lillard, who made the All-Star team last season.Everyone in the Kings organization is thrilled for DeMarcus and happy that his diligence and commitment to becoming the best player he can be has been recognized, Kings general manager Pete DAlessandro said.Cousins entered Friday nights contest at Cleveland fifth in the NBA in scoring (23.8 points) and third in rebounding (12.3) per game, both career highs. He also was averaging career-bests of 3.2 assists and 1.6 blocks.The biggest thing hurting Cousins cause — besides the competition — was his teams worsening record.After starting 9-5 this season, the Kings (16-28) have collapsed since Cousins came down with viral meningitis in late November. They went 2-8 during his sick leave — which coincided with Michael Malones stunning firing as coach — and have failed to pick up the pieces under short-term replacement Tyrone Corbin.Lillard began Friday averaging 21.8 points, 6.2 assists and 4.6 rebounds. The Northwest Division-leading Blazers (32-14) were tied for the third-best record in the difficult Western Conference.___Antonio Gonzalez can be reached at: www.twitter.com/agonzalezAPJordan Eberle Jersey .com) - Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price is set to return Tuesday against Nashville after sitting out the past two games because of a minor upper body injury. Bob Nystrom Jersey .ca. Hi Kerry, Love reading your column and loved watching your analysis on the TSN broadcasts!And were now in Round 2! Bruins! Canadiens! We know all about the great games of the past from the players, the broadcasters and the writers. http://www.cheapislandersjerseys.com/?ta...h-bailey-jersey. - The situation looked bleak at best for the coach Doc Rivers Clippers — down by four points with 18 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Nick Leddy Jersey . But Paul Osbaldiston, Hamiltons assistant special teams and kicking coach, said the team still relished the championship game workout. Cheap Islanders Jerseys . Catch the game on TSN starting at 7pm et/4pm pt. Tampa Bay currently holds the last of the Atlantics three automatic bids to the playoffs, but the Maple Leafs are just one point behind.LONDON - Liverpools rapid downfall continued with a fourth successive loss on Sunday, with Crystal Palace adding to Brendan Rodgers woes with a 3-1 victory.The pressure, though, eased on Mauricio Pochettino after his Tottenham team came from behind to beat Hull 2-1 in the Premier League.As Liverpool manager, Rodgers had pledged not to make the same mistakes as Tottenham when it attempted to rebuild after losing Gareth Bale in 2013. But, without Luis Suarez this season, the new-look Liverpool has failed to recapture the form that saw the team finish second in May.Liverpool is now 12th after 12 matches — closer to the relegation zone than the top four.Although Rickie Lambert finally scored his first goal for Liverpool, Dwight Gayle levelled from close range before Joe Ledley netted and Mile Jedinak scored directly from a free kick to secure Palaces first win since September.Youve seen a team low on confidence today, Rodgers said at Selhurst Park. Not quite together as a team. We need to find a solution very quickly because it was very disappointing.I put the team out there, the best team to win us the game. We made a good start. You could see our passing was a wee bit tentative and then we make mistakes. Mistakes you wouldnt expect to see at a team thats supposed to be challenging.It seems unlikely Liverpool will be challenging for anything of note this season. The teams return to thhe Champions League after five years could end in the group stage unless its fortunes turn around on Wednesday against Ludogorets.ddddddddddddOverall, that intensity and togetherness in our game isnt there, Rodgers said. When you dont get the results, that affects you. That leads to (damaged) confidence. The loss leaves Liverpool 18 points behind leader Chelsea and just two in front of Palace, and Rodgers knows his own future could soon come under scrutiny.Im not arrogant enough to think that I will be in a job through anything, he said.Pochettino has also been feeling the heat in his debut season at Tottenham, which had lost three of its last four league games before travelling to Hull.When former Tottenham player Jake Livermore put Hull ahead with an early 25-meter drive, it looked like being another miserable day for Pochettino.But Tottenham had a man advantage from the 50th minute when Gaston Ramirez was sent off for needlessly wrestling Jan Vertonghen to the floor.And striker Harry Kane then levelled with his 10th goal of the season in the 61st, meeting the rebound after Christian Eriksens free kick came off the post. And the Denmark midfielder grabbed the winner in stoppage time from the edge of the penalty area after being setup by Aaron Lennon.Hull is now just a point from the relegation zone, while Tottenham is up to 10th, only two points from fourth place. ' ' '