Zach LaVine, Stephen Curry to headline NBA All-Star competitions

High-flying Zach LaVine of the Minnesota Timberwolves will defend his title in the Verizon Slam Dunk Contest during NBA All-Star Saturday festivities on Feb. 13 at Air Canada Centre in Toronto.

LaVine won last year as a 19-year-old rookie. He’ll be tested next weekend by Will Barton of the Denver Nuggets, Andre Drummond of the Detroit Pistons and Aaron Gordon of the Orlando Magic.

Clippers guard J.J. Redick, who is shooting an NBA-best 48% from long range this season, will go against defending champion Stephen Curry and six others in the Foot Locker Three-Point Contest that precedes the dunk contest.

Other sharpshooters taking aim will be James Harden of the Houston Rockets, Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors, Khris Middleton of the Milwaukee Bucks, Kyle Lowry of the Toronto Raptors, Chris Bosh of the Miami Heat and Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns.

The Taco Bell Skills Challenge will open the competitions, with defending champion Patrick Beverley of the Houston Rockets facing fellow guards Jordan Clarkson of the Lakers, C.J. McCollum of the Portland Trail Blazers, and Isaiah Thomas of the Boston Celtics as well as big men DeMarcus Cousins of the Sacramento Kings, Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors, Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans.

The competitions begin at 5:30 p.m. PST and will be broadcast on TNT.

Earlier Saturday, the NBA Development League All-Star game will be played at 11 a.m. PST. It will be broadcast on NBA TV.

On Friday, the NBA All-Star Celebrity game tips off at 4 p.m. PST (on ESPN) and is followed by the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge at 6 p.m. PST (on TNT).

The NBA All-Star game takes place at 5:30 p.m. PST on Sunday. It will be broadcast on TNT.