NEW YORK (AFP) - New Orleans Pelicans star forward Anthony Davis on Wednesday became the latest player to pull out of Sunday's NBA All-Star game because of injury.

Davis, who missed a second straight game on Wednesday with a right shoulder sprain, issued a statement thanking fans for voting him into the mid-season exhibition, which will be played on Sunday at Madison Square Garden.

He was hurt on Saturday in a game against the Bulls, when his hands slipped off the rim after he completed an alley-oop dunk and he fell hard to the floor.

National Basketball Association commissioner Adam Silver named Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki to replace Davis on the West squad.

"While I'm disappointed that I won't be able to compete this weekend, I'm still very excited about the opportunity to be a part of the All-Star events in New York and celebrate our game with some of the NBA's greatest figures," Davis said.

"More than anything, I am anxious to get healthy and back on the court with my team-mates after the All-Star break."

Meanwhile, Golden State coach Steve Kerr, who will coach the Western Conference All-Star team, said that Warriors guard Klay Thompson and Houston guard James Harden would start on Sunday, in place of injured Kobe Bryant and Blake Griffin.

Both Lakers star Bryant and the Clippers Griffin had been voted into starting roles by fans while Thompson and Harden had been named to the squad as reserves.