Two days after returning home, the Knicks unleashed their road-game frustrations on the Sacramento Kings, dominating 101:65 through three quarters. D'Antoni benched all starters in the fourth to avoid turning the game into a grudge match. The substitutes, perhaps fueled by the starters' fire, opened the fourth with an 8:2 run, forcing D'Antoni to switch to the third rotation. Eddie Curry, activated for the first time this season, saw court time.
The game was billed as a clash between the East and West's top rookies, but Tyreke Evans faltered under Lian Dao's defense, committing 7 turnovers. Evans' media-hyped brilliance fizzled, disappointing reporters expecting a showdown. The Knicks' rout left the media unsatisfied.
With the Kings victory, the Knicks concluded their pre-All-Star games. Their next regular season match was post-All-Star Weekend. After 51 of 82 games, over half the season was done. Post-All-Star, Eastern teams would split into three groups: those tanking to miss the playoffs, those scrambling to qualify, and those secured for the postseason, resting players to preserve health.
The Spurs mastered this, rotating players with creative excuses. In 1996-97, to secure the No. 1 pick for Tim Duncan, they sidelined David Robinson as "injured" for most of the season, with four starters benched, finishing 20-62. Yet the Celtics, at 15-67, out-tanked them, though the Spurs won the lottery. Rumor held that as long as Red Auerbach influenced Boston's management, Stern ensured the Celtics missed the top pick, a factor in Auerbach's eventual exit.
The Knicks, with 35 wins and 16 losses, ranked second in the East, tied with the Magic's wins but with one fewer loss. Eastern standings were:
1. Cleveland Cavaliers (42-11)
2. New York Knicks (35-16)
3. Orlando Magic (35-17)
4. Atlanta Hawks (33-18)
5. Boston Celtics (32-18)
6. Toronto Raptors (29-23)
7. Charlotte Bobcats (26-25)
8. Chicago Bulls (25-26)
Only the Cavaliers dominated. The second and third spots were neck-and-neck, with one win shifting rankings. The seventh and eighth places were similarly tight, separated by a game. The Knicks aimed to stay in the top three to dodge the Celtics in the first round. Facing Boston or Atlanta early could end their playoff run. At best, they'd push a seven-game series, though Lian Dao doubted even that, estimating a 4:2 loss as their ceiling.
Boston's recent record slipped due to their aging roster. Injuries plagued Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, with Garnett missing January games and Pierce sidelined recently. The Big Three rarely played together, explaining their drop to fourth or fifth. Still, their depth kept them competitive, pressuring the Hawks, who also feared a first-round Celtics matchup.
The NBA paused for the 2010 All-Star Game, held February 13–15, coinciding with the Chinese Lunar New Year. Lian Dao hadn't celebrated Spring Festival with his parents for two years. His last was as a high school senior before joining USC, where he led the Trojans to the NCAA playoffs during the holiday. Now, the All-Star Weekend clashed again.
The All-Star Weekend spanned three days:
February 13: NBA Cares, fan carnival, celebrity game, Rookie Challenge, NBDL DreamWorks Skills Competition.
February 14: Fan carnival, East-West team practices, NBDL All-Star Game, All-Star Saturday Night (Shooting Stars, Skills Challenge, Three-Point Contest, Slam Dunk Contest).
February 15: Fan carnival, All-Star East-West Game.
Lian Dao was set for the Rookie Challenge (February 13), Three-Point and Slam Dunk Contests (February 14), and the All-Star Game (February 15). The All-Star's entertainment overshadowed competition, drawing fans, NBA players, singers, and Hollywood stars. The celebrity game blended sports and showbiz, a spectacle of fame.
The Rookie Challenge pitted first-year against second-year rookies. Typically, second-years dominated, but Lian Dao's superstar-level play as a freshman changed expectations. Fans eagerly awaited his duel with last year's top rookie, Derrick Rose.
The Three-Point and Slam Dunk Contests drew massive attention. Last year, the league revised entry rules, shifting from direct invitations to a mix of league invites and fan votes. Fans chose six players for each event from a league-nominated pool. Lian Dao easily made the Three-Point Contest alongside defending champion Daequan Cook (Heat), Paul Pierce (Celtics), Chauncey Billups (Nuggets), Stephen Curry (Warriors), and Channing Frye (Suns). Gallinari, after facing Lian Dao's three-point prowess in practice, opted out, unwilling to compete publicly.
The Slam Dunk Contest featured defending champion Nate Robinson (76ers), Gerald Wallace (Bobcats), Shannon Brown (Lakers), DeMar DeRozan (Timberwolves), Eric Gordon (Clippers), and Lian Dao (Knicks).
The All-Star Game's biggest draw was "23 vs. 24"—LeBron James versus Kobe Bryant. Despite Lian Dao's All-Star vote lead, his popularity couldn't eclipse Stern's hyped James-Kobe rivalry, a perennial talking point. However, Kobe's injuries—persistent issues with his shooting index and little fingers, plus a left ankle sprain from games against the Bobcats (February 4) and Nuggets (February 6)—forced a break. Though named a Western starter, his participation remained uncertain, casting doubt over the marquee matchup.