Parker begins light shooting routine

--G Anthony Parker has started to do some light shooting after practice. He's missed two weeks with a strained lower back. "He shot a little the other day," Cavs coach Byron Scott said. "He's getting better. He's still a little ways away. If he can get on the court a little more (on Saturday), that's a big step."

--TNT analyst Charles Barkley, one of the general managers that picked the teams in the Rising Stars Challenge, selected G Kyrie Irving with his first pick. "It wasn't very difficult (to pass on Jeremy Lin) to be honest because he's only been playing for a week, and it's been a fantastic week," Barkley said. "But Kyrie Irving is terrific and he's going to hand it to (Lin) and if Ricky Rubio wants some ... he can come get some too." F Tristan Thompson was picked by Shaquille O'Neal's team.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"He's very impressive. He's having a great rookie year. He really pushes the ball in transition. He's a one-man fastbreak." - Pacers coach Frank Vogel on Cavs guard Kyrie Irving.

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