NEW YORK - Denver forward Carmelo Anthony and Dallas forward Josh Howard were named as injury replacements to the Western Conference team for the National Basketball Association All-Star Game.

Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony lands on his back after he was fouled driving to the basket in the third quarter of the New Orleans Hornets' 114-112 overtime victory in an NBA basketball game in Denver on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2007. [AP]

Nuggets' playmaker Anthony and Mavericks standout Howard will replace Chinese star center Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets and Utah's Carlos Boozer in the lineup for the February 18 showcase at Las Vegas, Nevada.

NBA commissioner David Stern made the substitutions because Yao is sidelined with a right knee injury and Boozer is out with a broken left fibula.

Anthony and Howard, each in his fourth NBA season, will each make an All-Star debut.