Kyrie Irving will replace Mavs teammate Anthony Davis in NBA All-Star Game

With Dallas Mavericks star big man Anthony Davis expected to miss around a month due to a groin injury, it has left an All-Star game spot open.

His teammate, star guard Kyrie Irving will replace him, earning his ninth All-Star selection. Irving is putting together another highly productive campaign, averaging 24.1 points and 4.8 assists while shooting 47.5 percent from the floor and 40.7 percent from beyond the arc.

Irving will take Davis’ spot on Team Shaq in the NBA’s new All-Star format, with four teams playing in a mini-tournament.

Although it is a much-deserved replacement selection, the Mavericks’ bigger concern is Davis’ health. He suffered the left adductor strain during his debut after recording 26 points and 16 rebounds in just 31 minutes before exiting last Saturday’s game against the Houston Rockets.

Davis’ absence could be extremely pivotal in the Mavericks’ playoff push, currently sitting in the eighth spot with a 28-26 record. Dallas is only a half-game ahead of the Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors.

Irving will need to play a bigger offensive role with Davis out and Luka Doncic no longer on the team. The Mavericks possess a deep roster that could see players like mid-season addition Max Christie figure to be a significant scoring option.

In his first four games with Dallas, Christie is averaging 17.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists while shooting 51.2 percent from the floor and 57.9 percent from beyond the arc. He has scored at least 15 points in each game, including a 23-point outing.