Wright to Play in Rookie All-Star Game

Clipper swingman Lorenzen Wright has been selected to replace injured forward Samaki Walker of the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA rookie All-Star game Feb. 8 in Cleveland.

Wright, the seventh pick in the 1996 draft, has averaged 8.5 points and 6.4 rebounds in 18 games as a starter.

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It might have been the quickest hook of the season.

Put into the lineup at the start of the fourth quarter of Thursday night’s 100-94 victory over the Vancouver Grizzlies, guard Terry Dehere was benched 49 seconds later after throwing away two passes.

“I hate that because Terry’s a good kid and there isn’t anybody on our team who works any harder than he does at practice,” Coach Bill Fitch said. “Normally, I don’t yank a guy like that, but he was so far off his feed on those two plays.”

Dehere said he deserved to be benched.

“If it was up to me, I would have taken myself out,” he said. “There’s no excuse, no matter how long you’ve been sitting.”