New Orleans Gets All-Star Game

The NBA confirmed Monday that its 2008 All-Star game will be played in beleaguered but rebuilding New Orleans, an announcement local officials seized upon as a sign the Hornets also will be playing in the city full time for the 2007-08 season.

Flooding after Hurricane Katrina that was catastrophic in many areas caused only minor damage to New Orleans Arena, which played host to three Hornets games in March.

“The award of NBA All-Star 2008 is our vote of confidence in the progress that is being made in the reopening and rebuilding of New Orleans’ tourism infrastructure,” Commissioner David Stern said in a statement.

The game will be played on Feb. 17.

The Hornets are scheduled to again play most of their games in Oklahoma City next season.

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Larry Brown was at the New York Knicks’ training center in Greenburgh, N.Y., to work out four prospective draft picks, an otherwise routine coaching duty made remarkable by one thing: that he was there at all.

In his first day on the job since reports surfaced last weekend that the Knicks may buy out his contract after one 23-59 season, Brown worked closely with team President Isiah Thomas to put the possible draftees through their paces. Brown was unavailable for comment.

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The NBA draft lottery will be held tonight in Secaucus, N.J., with the odds in favor of the Portland Trail Blazers earning the top pick.... Randy Wittman rejoined the Minnesota Timberwolves for his third stint as an assistant coach after spending this season with Orlando.