But his teammates were outraged.

"It's a tragedy," Ben Wallace said. "I think it's an injustice. It's a fraud. We've got the best record in the league, and we've only got one guy going. You always make it the next year, after the year you were supposed to make it. It's a travesty and a sham and a mockery. It's a shamockery."

Said LeBron James: "It just shows the disrespect that Basketball in Cleveland continues to get. I haven't seen the All-Star list yet, so I can't comment on who's in it. But it's definitely disrespectful that we continue to do work every year with nothing to show for it. They always say when you win, individual accolades will take care of itself. But sometimes it doesn't happen.

"We all believe that Mo's an All-Star and the reason we've had the best record in the NBA right now. Mo's a big part of our team. Just look at the wins and losses from last year to this year with really only one addition - Mo Williams. I'm disappointed for him and disappointed for me because I tried to make sure he got in there by helping him get better."

Williams, meanwhile, took it in stride.

"I've always been an underdog," he said. "I've had to fight my way and prove people wrong my whole career. It is what it is. I'm in the same situation still. It just fuels me, motivates me more and more."

The Magic got two reserves - Rashard Lewis and Jameer Nelson - to join starter Dwight Howard in the All-Star Game.

Familiar faces: Celebrities at Thursday's game included Tiger Woods, NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson and singer Nick Lachey.

New handle: Williams is pondering a new nickname - "Hit Man" - suggested on Kenny Roda's radio show last weekend on WKNR AM/850. It plays off Williams' shooting ability as well as his love of all things Mafia.

"I had to take it in and let it marinate a little bit," Williams said. "Being from the South, I season my steaks and my ribs the night before. I sit it in the refrigerator and I let it marinate 24 hours before I put it on the grill. That's when it's good. So I let it marinate a little bit. 'Hit Man.' I'm rolling with it."

Different look: Zydrunas Ilgauskas has been out with a sprained left ankle since Dec. 30, and Anderson Varejao has filled in well in his absence, even though they're different styles of players.

"Obviously, Z is a guy who stretches the floor out to the 3-point line and can shoot the corner 3," Cavs coach Mike Brown said. "His length makes him effective on the offensive glass and defensively on the weak side. That's a long body to have to shoot over.

"Anderson's capable of knocking down a 19-, 20-foot jump shot. He's capable of handling the Basketball. They're both pretty good passers. Anderson rebounds like Z, but Anderson rebounds because of his anticipation and agility. For Anderson's size, his mobility and agility is different than Z's."

School days: The Cavs will recognize 150 Straight A All-Star students presented by Westfield Insurance during tonight's game against the Los Angeles Clippers at The Q. For information on how to become a Straight A All-Star, visit cavs.com. The deadline for the next grading period is Feb. 27.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

mschmitt@plaind.com, 216-999-4668