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Bucks’ Jennings isn’t an All-Star pick

MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Bucks point guard Brandon Jennings was not chosen as one of the all-star reserves by Eastern Conference coaches.

The coaches’ picks were announced in a TNT telecast Thursday night before the game between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers.

Jennings had put himself in the running with some striking performances, including his 31-point, eight-assist, four-steal effort against Miami on Feb. 1.

But the conference coaches selected Atlanta Hawks veteran Joe Johnson and New Jersey Nets point guard Deron Williams as reserves. Also chosen for the East squad were Miami forward Chris Bosh, Boston forward Paul Pierce, Chicago forward Luol Deng, Indiana center Roy Hibbert and Philadelphia forward Andre Iguodala.

Jennings has started all 25 games for the Bucks while averaging a team-leading 18.9 points and 5.3 assists. He is the third-leading scorer among East guards behind the Bulls’ Derrick Rose and Williams.

The 22-year-old Jennings is shooting 42.6 percent from the field and 35.8 percent from three-point range and has attempted the most threes on the team (57 for 159).

Jennings tweeted after hearing the news: “Just gotta work even harder now.”

Williams was selected despite the Nets’ 8-19 record, worse than the Bucks’ 11-14 mark. He was the only player from a sub-.500 team selected to the East squad.

Deng, Hibbert and Iguodala are first-time selections.

Among other prominent contenders left out of the East team were Atlanta’s Josh Smith and Boston’s Rajon Rondo.

The Western Conference reserves were: Minnesota forward Kevin Love, Portland forward LaMarcus Aldridge, Oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook, Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki, San Antonio guard Tony Parker, Phoenix guard Steve Nash and Memphis center Marc Gasol.

First-timers for the West are Gasol and Aldridge.