With a wild trade deadline in the books, the NBA shifts its focus to this year's All-Star Weekend. Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry, who has been busy building chemistry with new teammate Jimmy Butler, turns his attention to playing host at the weekend's festivities in San Francisco. Curry will play alongside Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and Phoenix Suns' Kevin Durant on Team Shaq. The trio shined on the Olympic stage in August as they led Team USA to a gold medal over Team France.

Victor Wembanyama has a chance to get his revenge Sunday, however, as he leads his fellow international stars, including MVP front-runners Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, on Team Chuck.

Wembanyama will also take the court Saturday night, alongside San Antonio Spurs teammate and 12-time All-Star Chris Paul in the skills challenge. Saturday will also feature a pair of attempted three-peats as Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard tries to win his third straight 3-point competition while Mac McClung goes for his third dunk contest crown.

Here's everything to know about the star-studded events, including who our experts think will come out on top.

Expert picks were voted on by a panel of NBA insiders including Chris Herring, Marc Spears, Michael C. Wright, Ramona Shelburne, Kevin Pelton, Dave McMenamin, Baxter Holmes, Ohm Youngmisuk, Tim MacMahon, Jeremy Woo and Bobby Marks.

Rising Stars | Skills challenge | 3-point contest
Slam dunk contest | All-Star tournament

Edey, Castle, Knecht! The Rising Stars are here to play

Friday, 9 p.m. ET (TNT)

The league's Rising Stars have a little something extra to play for this year. With the new All-Star Weekend format, the best of the four rising stars teams will earn a spot in Sunday's four-team tournament alongside this year's All-Stars.

The Golden State Warriors' Hall of Fame trio Run TMC will reunite in the Bay with Team T being coached by Tim Hardaway, Team M coached by Mitch Richmond and Team C coached by Chris Mullin, while Jeremy Lin will coach Team G League.

The action starts at 9:15 p.m. ET with Team C vs. Team T and continues at 9:55 with Team G League vs. Team M.

Which of these teams will earn a spot in Sunday's tourney and give the All-Stars a run for their money?

Game 1: Team C vs. Team T
Game 2: Team G League vs. Team M
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2

The winner of Game 3 will play in the All-Star mini-tournament Sunday

The 2025 #CastrolRisingStars rosters!

Friday, 2/14 at 9:00pm/et on TNT pic.twitter.com/sj8YUw4IWv

NBA (@NBA) February 4, 2025

This one is always tricky to peg on paper, but I'm personally excited to see the notoriously competitive twins Ausar Thompson and Amen Thompson reunite as teammates in this setting on Team M. Team T also looks strong, led by several quality sophomores such as Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Brandin Podziemski. While Team C isn't as loaded on paper as the other two, it's possible Zach Edey just takes over for the squad. And I'm curious to see Reed Sheppard, who has been waiting his turn for the Houston Rockets as an ostensible ringer for Team G League. -- Jeremy Woo

Expert pick: Team M

Celebrity takeover!

Friday, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Pro Football Hall of Famer Terrell Owens returns to the game, but this time on the basketball court, and it won't be surprising if the former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver shows out. Owens, 51, last appeared in the All-Star celebrity game in 2010 but is best known for his off-the-backboard alley-oop dunk in 2009 from a Harlem Globetrotter. This time he'll be a few years older and going up against some young competition such as streamer Kai Cenat. Cenat advertised his appearance in 2024 with a mock basketball mixtape, but played sparingly in the actual game under coach Shannon Sharpe. This time around, coached by baseball legend Barry Bonds and rapper 2 Chainz, he'll look to bounce back. However, in his way is comedian Druski, who has advertised his matchup against the internet star as "Kai vs. Druski". It's a one-on-one matchup worth watching. -- Anthony Gharib

Tandem team-ups, high-flying dunks and a Dame three-peat?

Saturday, 8 p.m. ET (TNT)

The night kicks off with the skills competition, which features some formidable duos. Draymond Green and Moses Moody will represent the home team in the competition. Like the Warriors, the red-hot Cleveland Cavaliers will be represented by a veteran and newcomer in Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley. Victor Wembanyama makes his All-Star Weekend debut alongside one of the most skilled point guards of all time in Chris Paul. It'll prove tough competition for Team Rooks, Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr.

Oakland's own Damian Lillard will compete in this year's 3-point competition. A win would give Lillard a record-tying three straight wins in the event. And speaking of three-peats, two-time defending champ Mac McClung is looking for one of his own to close the night out.

Which dynamic duo will dominate the skills competition, and what do they bring to the table together?

Team Cavs (Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley)

It's fitting that Mitchell and Mobley are a tandem. New Cleveland Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson altered the rotation from previous seasons to always pair Mobley with Mitchell, who had been attached to Jarrett Allen under previous coach J.B. Bickerstaff. The idea was to attempt to accelerate Mobley's evolution. It has worked, which is why Mobley has proved enough this season to stick around for the Sunday showcase. -- Tim MacMahon

Team Rooks (Alex Sarr and Zaccharie Risacher)

The top two picks from the 2024 NBA draft are teaming up. The two Frenchmen have not come into the league as heralded as previous top selections, but both have had flashes of success this season. Risacher has scored 30 points in separate games, one of only two rookies (along with Jared McCain) to do so in 2024-25, while Sarr leads all rookies in blocks (1.6 per game). A strong showing in the skills competition and during Friday's Rising Stars challenge could help introduce these rookies to a more national audience. -- Jamal Collier

Team Spurs (Chris Paul and Victor Wembanyama)

They've spent all season up to this point working to improve their chemistry, but the skills competition presents a different challenge from figuring out how to attack opponents in screen-and-roll scenarios. The upshot is that both Paul and Wembanyama are not just skilled ball handlers but also gifted passers. Strictly from the standpoint of skill sets, Paul and Wembanyama should be favored to win this thing handily. -- Michael Wright

Team Warriors (Draymond Green and Moses Moody)

Green just recently returned from a calf injury that cost him seven straight games. And one game prior to that absence, he had missed three games due to illness and a back issue. Green has been back for six straight games and should be fun to watch in the skills competition with his versatility. Moody has seen an uptick in minutes since Jonathan Kuminga went down with a sprained ankle Jan. 4. During a 13-game stretch, Moody scored in double figures in 11 of them. In that same span, Moody hit three or more 3-pointers in seven games. -- Ohm Youngmisuk

Expert pick: Team Spurs

Dame time! What will it take for the Bay Area native to three-peat from 3?

Growing up across the Bay Bridge in Oakland, Damian Lillard fondly recalled attending All-Star weekend in 2000 as a kid and called it a full-circle moment to be back in the Bay Area for this one. But he's also no stranger to this event and the pressure that comes with defending his 3-point crown. The rest of the field might want to hope Lillard is distracted by a weekend of home cooking, but players such as Jalen Brunson (39.7% from 3) and Tyler Herro (38.8%) are going to be tough competition. -- Collier

Expert pick: Lillard

Jumping over cars or Shaq? Bold predictions for this year's bounciest competition?

I'm not sure whether San Antonio Spurs rookie Stephon Castle has the deep bag of creative tricks required to win the dunk contest, but he has the hops -- no doubt about that. I've seen seasoned scouts gasp at some of Castle's thunderous two-handed dunks in traffic given reason to believe that he can emerge to make a surprise impact on this year's event. -- MacMahon

Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, Harold "Baby Jordan" Miner, Jason Richardson, Nate Robinson and Zach LaVine. Those are the names of all the legendary dunkers who have won the dunk contest at least twice. And Mac McClung will try to do something none of them have done: three-peat. Only Robinson has won the title three times -- but never three in a row. McClung is ready to make history Saturday night. -- Youngmisuk

Before the Spurs hit the road for their annual rodeo road trip, Castle was seen at the team's Victory Capital Performance Center putting in plenty of work in preparation for the event. When Wembanyama talks about wanting to see Castle "go crazy" at the dunk contest, pay close attention. Just imagine a scenario in which Castle attempts to sky over the 7-foot-4 Wembanyama with Paul sitting on the French phenom's shoulders. It could happen. -- Wright

I think we'll get one or two very creative dunks this year that will be worth checking out. Milwaukee's Andre Jackson Jr. had his entire head above the rim on a putback dunk attempt last season and that moment is still etched into my memory. Also, watch for Chicago rookie Matas Buzelis, who was working with LaVine on ideas before LaVine was traded earlier this month. -- Collier

The days of McClung are over. After seeing him win it two straight years, there's nothing new he can do. I am going to go with Castle. I heard rumblings of his behind-the-scenes practice for this competition and I am sure he will do something to include Wembanyama. There is a new sheriff in the dunk contest, and he's from San Antonio. -- Marc Spears

Expert pick: McClung

OGs vs. up-and-coming? International vs. homegrown? What to watch in the All-Star game

Sunday, 8 p.m. ET (TNT)

Another format change has been introduced to All-Star Weekend, with four teams of eight players going head-to-head in a mini-tournament.

Chuck's Global Stars, Shaq's OGs, Kenny's Young Stars and Candace's Rising Stars will compete for a prize pool of $1.8 million, but also on the line is All-Star MVP, claimed by Damian Lillard last year.

Kenny's Young Stars will face off against Chuck's Global stars in the first game, followed by Shaq's OGs against Candace's Rising Stars. The first team to 40 points will advance to the championship game.

Game 1: Kenny's Young Stars vs. Chuck's Global Stars
Game 2: Shaq's OGs vs. Candace's Rising Stars
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2

A crop of stars from around the world. A new generation taking the league by storm. All-time greats & OGs doing work.

Presenting the new team names for our #NBAAllStar squads! Watch them battle it out in The Bay on Sunday, Feb. 16 at 8:00pm/et on TNT. pic.twitter.com/5EnOmCjXvo

NBA (@NBA) February 12, 2025

Kenny's Young Stars

The young stars have a roster full of players with something to prove and I'll always be watching Anthony Edwards. At last year's All-Star Weekend, he vowed to shoot left-handed, doing so in the skills competition raising some eyebrows. This time around, with Team Shaq made up of old-guard players, he'll have something to prove. He's the player most likely to get his competitive juices going and try to show out to win MVP. -- Collier

Shaq's OGs

Can LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant keep the good times rolling? That future Hall of Fame trio had a remarkable run together while leading Team USA to gold in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The three players have a barrage of accolades under their belts, and their collective seven MVP awards should stand for something. Oh, and reigning Finals champion Jayson Tatum is on this team, too. Steve Kerr isn't coaching, so Tatum shouldn't have to worry about whether he's in the rotation. -- MacMahon

Chuck's Global Stars

There's a reason we haven't seen an American player win a regular-season MVP since 2018 (James Harden). The international players have staked a claim to hoops dominance over the years. And when you've got an international star such as Wembanyama saying that he doesn't "have any interest in making friends," at the NBA All-Star Game, you can expect a serious approach from a team led by a three-time MVP (Nikola Jokic) and one of the favorites (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) to win this year's award. -- Wright

Candace's Rising Stars

One 2024 NBA All-Star told me that the All-Star players have everything to lose and nothing to gain from playing the Rising Stars team this year, adding that it would be quite embarrassing for the young players to win the weekend. I'm worried that this could end up true, with the All-Stars appearing to care less and less about the game. So here we are. -- Spears

Expert pick: Shaq's OGs

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Left-hander Kyle Hart has signed a one-year contact with the San Diego Padres after one season in the Korean Baseball Organization, where he was selected as the league's top pitcher.

The Padres announced Thursday the signing of the 32-year-old Hart to a deal for this season that includes a club option for 2026.

Hart won the Choi Dong-won Award in the KBO last season after leading the league with 182 strikeouts. He was 13-3 with a 2.69 ERA in 26 starts, ranking second in the league for wins and ERA. He walked only 38 of his 631 batters over 158 innings.

In his only MLB action, Hart pitched in four games (three starts) for Boston during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. He was 0-1, allowing 24 hits and 19 earned runs over 11 innings.

The Red Sox took Hart in the 19th round of the 2016 MLB amateur draft out of Indiana University. He pitched over parts of eight minor league seasons for the Red Sox (2016-22), Seattle (2023) and Philadelphia (2023).

Tadhg Beirne has signed a new two-year contract with Ireland and Munster until 2027.

The forward made his Test debut in 2018 and has earned 58 caps, playing a key role in Ireland's back-to-back Six Nations title wins in 2023 and 2024.

The 33-year-old played every minute of the autumn Tests in November and started Ireland's opening Six Nations wins over England and Scotland this year.

Beirne was one of four Ireland players named in the World Rugby men's XVs dream team of the year for 2024.

He was also named Munster captain before the start of the season.

"It is a source of great pride to represent Ireland and Munster and I am delighted to continue to do so for the foreseeable future," said Beirne, who can play in the second or back rows.

"Playing in Ireland is a dream come true and I believe that Irish rugby is in a strong place with competitive environments across all of the provinces continuing to drive the highest levels of competition at national team level.

"I am hugely excited about the future and will do my best to hopefully deliver for our amazing supporters over the coming seasons."

"Tadhg is a world-class talent whose consistent levels of performance for club and country have been of the highest standards for many years," said IRFU performance director David Humphreys.

"Since breaking into the scene with Clongowes Wood College, Lansdowne and then into the Leinster Academy, he has taken the road less travelled and displayed enormous durability and consistency of performances in achieving league successes with the Scarlets and more recently Munster.

"For Ireland he has been a mainstay in the pack across a hugely successful era and it is a great boost for the IRFU and Munster Rugby, whom he captains, that he has extended his long association in Irish Rugby through until the Rugby World Cup 2027."

Bath forward Ewan Richards has signed a new contract with the club until 2027.

Richards - who can play across the back row - has made 40 appearances for the club since his debut in 2021, after coming through the club's academy.

The 22-year-old has been captain through last season and this campaign's Premiership Rugby Cup, with Bath having already booked their place in the quarter-finals of the competition ahead of their final pool game against Bristol on Saturday.

"I'm surrounded by world-class players and coaches, and really excited to see what the future holds and where this team goes," Richards said.

Richards, who has also represented England at under-20 level, has "developed as a player and a leader", said head of rugby Johann van Graan.

"Captaining the Premiership Rugby Cup team for the last two seasons, in line with what we are about as a group - tough to beat and all about the squad," Van Graan said.

"Ewan's best is definitely yet to come, and his versatility will be very important to the squad in the coming years."

Richards is the sixth player to agree new terms with Bath ahead of next season in recent weeks.

The 4 Nations Face-Off continues Thursday with the first matchup for the United States and Finland (8 p.m. ET, ESPN and ESPN+).

These countries have played six times in the eight previous best-on-best tournaments involving NHL players, according to ESPN Research. The U.S. has won four games, Finland won the most recent matchup (2004 World Cup of Hockey), and there has been one tie.

There are six sets of NHL teammates who will be playing against one another in this matchup:

• Carolina Hurricanes: Jaccob Slavin (USA) vs. Sebastian Aho and Mikko Rantanen (FIN)

• Dallas Stars: Jake Oettinger (USA) vs. Esa Lindell, Mikael Granlund and Roope Hintz (FIN)

• Florida Panthers: Matthew Tkachuk (USA) vs. Aleksander Barkov, Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen and Niko Mikkola (FIN)

• New Jersey Devils: Jack Hughes (USA) vs. Erik Haula (FIN)

• New York Rangers: Adam Fox, Chris Kreider, J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck (USA) vs. Urho Vaakanainen (FIN)

• Ottawa Senators: Jake Sanderson and Brady Tkachuk (USA) vs. Nikolas Matinpalo (FIN)

Who are the key players and matchups to watch? What are the most important statistics heading into this contest? Read on for all of that, plus betting intel courtesy of ESPN BET, and picks on the game from Victoria Matiash.

United States vs.

Finland

Thursday, 8 p.m. ET | ESPN/ESPN+
Bell Centre (Montreal)

Betting intel

Moneyline: USA -360 | Finland +280
Game spread: USA -1.5 (-125) | Finland +1.5 (+105)
Total goals: Over 5.5 (-120) | Under 5.5 (even)

United States

• This will be the 11th game the U.S. is playing in Montreal during an NHL international tournament. The country won Games 2 and 3 of the 1996 World Cup of Hockey Final in Montreal en route to winning the tournament. Of the 10 previous matchups played in Montreal, seven have come against Canada. The U.S. is 4-4 with two ties in 10 previous NHL international tournament games played in the city. The last time the U.S. played Finland in Montreal during an NHL international tournament was a 4-4 round-robin tie in 1981.

• Team USA has the youngest average age roster in this tournament at 28.0 years old, and the heaviest roster, at an average of 203 pounds.

• The Americans have four players who are leading their NHL teams in points: Kyle Connor (WPG, 69), Jack Eichel (VGK, 69), Jack Hughes (NJ, 65), Zach Werenski (CBJ, 59).

• Matthew and Brady Tkachuk will be the fifth set of American brothers to play together at an NHL international tournament. The others are Derian and Kevin Hatcher in 1996, Aaron/Neal Broten in 1984, Brian/Joe Mullen in 1984 and Curt/Harvey Bennett in 1976.

• Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (34 wins) has eight more wins than any other netminder in the NHL this season -- his U.S. teammate Jake Oettinger is second. The last goalie to have eight more wins than any other goalie was in 2015-16 when Braden Holtby (48) had eight more than Jonathan Quick (40). Hellebuyck has already tied a career high with six shutouts this season (2017-18 and 2019-20); he has almost as many shutouts (6) as regulation losses (7).

Finland

• Finland has 29 combined gold medals and championships at international tournaments from players on the roster for this event (Olympics, World Championships, World Cup of Hockey, World Juniors and under-18 World Champ), which is second behind Canada's 31; 14 of those golds came from players winning the World Juniors. Finland has three players on this roster who won bronze at the 2014 Winter Olympics, the last Olympics that involved NHL players: Olli Maatta, Aleksander Barkov and Mikael Granlund.

• In total, Finland medaled in four of the five Olympics that included NHL players, taking bronze in 1998, 2010 and 2014, and silver in 2006.

• Finland has three 20-goal scorers this season: Mikko Rantanen (26), Artturi Lehkonen (22) and Roope Hintz (22). Lehkonen's 22 goals are already a single-season career high, passing the 21 he had in 64 games in 2022-23.

• Sebastian Aho has scored 20 goals in each of his first nine seasons. The only Finnish players with longer streaks to begin an NHL career are Jari Kurri (13) and Teemu Selanne (11).

• Rantanen's 1.09 career points per game is second-highest all time among Finnish players, behind only Kurri (1.12). The trio of Kurri (1.12), Rantanen (1.09) and Selanne (1.00) are the only Finns to average at least a point per game in their NHL careers (minimum 10 NHL games).

• Juuse Saros has 117 wins since 2021-22, which is sixth in the NHL. Two of the five ahead of him are in this tournament: Connor Hellebuyck (USA) is first with 137, and Jake Oettinger (USA) is tied for second with Andrei Vasilevskiy at 128. Igor Shesterkin is fourth, with 127.

Picks for the game

Total goals under 5.5 (+115): Considering how superbly he's performed all season, Connor Hellebuyck -- the heavy Vezina Trophy favorite -- doesn't appear in position to concede many to a Finnish squad that's likely to rely on cohesive chemistry and stingy team defense to keep Game 1 tight. So that leaves us with the burning question of how badly, or not, does Finland starter Juuse Saros get lit up in Montreal against the high-powered Americans?

Perhaps not badly at all. Again, even without blue-line star Miro Heiskanen, Finland's defense -- including Esa Lindell, Niko Mikkola, Olli Maatta, and Jusso Valimaki -- will concentrate on stifling as many high quality chances as possible, helping out their array of two-way forwards.

Historically solid under pressure, the 29-year-old Saros will relish the opportunity to make something positive out of what's been the worst season of his career in Nashville. Guaranteed he's all over the idea of playing spoiler against an American squad that's expected to ruthlessly run over the tournament underdog.

Anytime goal scorer Kyle Connor (+220): Skating on a scoring line with center Jack Eichel and winger Matthew Tkachuk, as well as the secondary power play, the Jets sniper is going to find the back of the net this tournament. Prone to scoring in bunches, Connor is coming off a three-game drought heading into The 4 Nations Face-Off, which sets the table for an explosive start in Montreal. Again, skating on a line with Eichel is a convincing element here. -- Victoria Matiash

English Championship club Burnley made history by keeping a 10th successive clean sheet on Wednesday -- a record that means part owner J.J. Watt might have to make good on a bet that he would make a shock NFL return with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Watt, the former All-Pro defensive end, shared a text conversation with Burnley's James Trafford in December where the goalkeeper, at the very start of the streak, asked the 35-year-old to unretire and join the Bengals.

Watt replied: "You don't allow a goal for the rest of the season and it's a deal." He captioned the post: "This is starting to become a bit of a concern..."

Burnley haven't conceded a goal since that message was shared and on Wednesday became the first club in England's second-tier to keep 10 straight clean sheets after beating Hull City 2-0.

The former Premier League side are third in the table, three points off the automatic promotion places. There are 14 games left in the season.

After sharing the record on social media, Watt posted, "I mean I do love Graeter's and Montgomery Inn BBQ," referencing two famous Cincinnati food institutions.

Watt retired from the NFL in 2022 after 12 seasons, starting with the Houston Texans before joining the Arizona Cardinals. A former first-round draft pick, he was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2012, 2014 and 2015.

Record Breaking!

First team in Championship history to keep 10 straight clean sheets.

Unbelievable.#UTC https://t.co/lKZWT9dtal

JJ Watt (@JJWatt) February 12, 2025

Watt bought a minority stake in Burnley a year after his retirement. The Lancashire club take on Preston North End next on Saturday.

Barcelona sporting director Deco has said "there is no price" for teenage sensation Lamine Yamal as the player's long-term future lies with the Catalan club.

Yamal, 17, is one of the most exciting young talents in world football and has already won the Kopa Trophy and the Golden Boy award as Europe's best player under the age of 21.

"There are key players, and he is [one]," Deco said of Yamal to TV3.

"There is no discussion, there is no price. There have been no offers because we didn't even want to talk about it."

Barça president Joan Laporta claimed in October that the club had rejected an offer worth 250 million ($270m) for Yamal after the player helped Spain win Euro 2024.

Since making his first-team debut as a 15-year-old in 2023, Yamal has become a regular for club and country.

"He will surely be at Barça for many years, like Pedri and Gavi ... They will [all] remain here," Deco said. "The club must do its homework, and he [Yamal] will be here for many years."

Barça midfield pair Gavi, 20, and Pedri, 22, recently extended their contracts until 2030. Yamal's deal expires in June 2026, the maximum allowed by law for minors.

The Spanish winger, however, revealed earlier this year that he will soon sign a new contract with Barça, "the club of my life."

Yamal is expected to put pen to paper on a contract until 2030 when he turns 18 on July 13.

His talent has drawn praise from five-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, who believes Yamal will become "the best player of this new generation."

Deco, who played with Ronaldo for Portugal and alongside Lionel Messi at Barça, agrees Yamal is special.

"Yamal is one of the special ones," Deco said. "Not only does he have talent. He also has a different mental capacity."

Yamal has scored 11 goals and set up 14 more in 31 games for Barça this season.