Paul, West become hometown All-Stars

Chris Paul and David West were picked for their first All-Star game Thursday night, giving the hometown Hornets a pair of players for the game New Orleans will play host to Feb. 17.

Detroit, Phoenix and Washington also had multiple players chosen as reserves. Boston will send only two of its big three to New Orleans. Paul Pierce was voted in by Eastern Conference head coaches to join starter Kevin Garnett, but Ray Allen fell short.

The Pistons’ Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton return for the third straight year, and the Suns will be represented by Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire. Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison were chosen from the Wizards.

Toronto’s Chris Bosh and Atlanta guard Joe Johnson were the other players picked for the East. Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki, Utah’s Carlos Boozer and Portland guard Brandon Roy were selected from the West.

Paul, Nash and Roy emerged from a crowded group of West guards to beat out Golden State’s Baron Davis, Utah’s Deron Williams, and San Antonio’s Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.

New Orleans’ Byron Scott will coach the West and Boston’s Doc Rivers will lead the East.

Miami center Shaquille O’Neal’s streak of All-Star selections ended at a record-tying 14.

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Guard Earl Boykins, 31, who opted out of $3 million last summer with the Milwaukee Bucks, signed with the Charlotte Bobcats for a prorated portion of the $1.1 million league minimum.