Boston Celtics guard Ray Allen will replace injured Orlando Magic guard Jameer Nelson in next week’s NBA All-Star game. 

Allen was officially added to the Eastern Conference roster last Thursday by commissioner David Stern. Nelson was forced to sit out the contest, because he suffered from a torn labrum in his right shoulder. Allen will now join his teammates Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett in the All-Star game on February 15.

“He should have been on there, so it's nice,” commented Celtics coach Doc Rivers. “Having those three doing things together is nice, so I'm happy with the news.”

Allen will now be making his ninth All-Star appearance. He was also added as an injury replacement to last year’s team. During the 2008 game, the guard scored 28 markers that helped the East win over the West 134-128.

Allen stated, “If injury replacement gets you 28 points in the All-Star game, I'll take it every year.”

On a separate note, the bench selection for the All-Star teams drew a lot of negative reactions. For one, Cleveland Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry was very disappointed that Mo Williams—the Cleveland guard—was overlooked in the selection.

“I know Commissioner Stern has followed our team's success, but maybe doesn't appreciate how important Mo has been to our team,” Ferry said in an e-mail to The Associated Press. “We have had a great start. We have been really good on both ends of the court, have the top record in the league, and thus far have led the league in point differential by a wide margin all year long.”

Nelson is also supposed to play on the NBA Skills Challenge on All-Star Saturday. His replacement for the contest has yet to be announced.