Fast Break

NBA

Iverson among All-Star starters

Allen Iverson surged from behind in the fan voting to earn a starting spot in next month’s All-Star game when the vote totals were released Thursday night. Denver teammate Carmelo Anthony will join him in New Orleans after earning his first starting nod.

Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant will team with Iverson in the Western Conference backcourt for his 10th All-Star appearance. Houston center Yao Ming was voted in by the fans for the sixth straight season at center, while San Antonio’s Tim Duncan was chosen as the other forward. He has been selected to every All-Star game since entering the league in 1997.

Boston’s Kevin Garnett was the leading vote-getter with 2,399,148. He will be joined in the East frontcourt by Cleveland forward LeBron James and Orlando center Dwight Howard, a first-time starter. Miami’s Dwyane Wade and New Jersey guard Jason Kidd round out the starters.

Iverson rallied to pass Houston’s Tracy McGrady in the final weeks of voting to earn his first start since moving to the Western Conference early last season. He started seven straight All-Star games while playing for Philadelphia, but fell short last year after the 76ers dealt him to the Nuggets in December 2006.

The two-time MVP of the All-Star game beat McGrady by 10,410 votes for the second guard spot and will make his ninth appearance on Feb. 17 in New Orleans.

The coaches from each conference will choose the reserves, who will be announced Thursday. They have to select two forwards, two guards, a center and two players regardless of position.

Boston’s Doc Rivers has already clinched the right to coach the East. The West coach hasn’t been determined.

nfl

Seahawks hire O-line coach

The Seahawks hired Mike Solari as offensive line coach, two days after coach Mike Holmgren said he was going to replace Bill Laveroni.

Solari spent the past 11 seasons with Kansas City Chiefs, the first nine as offensive line coach and last two as offensive coordinator.

The Chiefs fired Solari on New Year’s Day after Kansas City gained just 1,248 yards rushing this season, the team’s worst total in a non-strike year.

Solari, a graduate of San Diego State, was the tight ends and assistant offensive line coach from 1992-96 with San Francisco before he joined the Chiefs. Solari began with the 49ers at the same time Holmgren left San Francisco to become Green Bay’s head coach.