HOUSTON — At least Brook Lopez didn’t get hurt.
In his first All-Star Game, the Nets center made little more than a cameo appearance in the Eastern Conference’s 143-138 loss to the West inside Toyota Center, finishing with three points, five rebounds and three assists in 10 minutes, 35 seconds.
“It was a lot of fun,” Lopez said. “It’s just a huge honor to be on the floor with guys of that caliber.”
Lopez, who made the game as an injury replacement for Celtics guard Rajon Rondo after he was knocked out for the season with a torn ACL, was the last Eastern Conference player to go into the game when East coach Erik Spoelstra sent him in with 9:23 to go in the second quarter.
“I was excited,” Lopez said. “I was very anxious to get in there and I was thrilled when he finally called my name. I couldn’t wait to get out on the floor.”
Lopez, who went 3-for-4 from the foul line, got two shot attempts in the game. He was fouled on the first, a turnaround fadeaway over Dwight Howard, while the second — a 3-pointer from the top of the key that caromed off the backboard — fulfilled a promise to some of his Nets teammates.
“I wanted it to go down, but I’m happy I got the look,” he said with a smile. “I told [Gerald Wallace] and a few other guys I would [take a 3-pointer], so I delivered on my promise.”