Basketball: NBA All-Stars to tip off in Canada

Top-tier U.S. basketball league's NBA All-Star Weekend is set to begin late Friday in Toronto.

Basketball fans will be able to watch rising-stars challenge, skills competitions, three-point and slam-dunk contests plus the All-Star and celebrity games.

Canada is hosting the event for the first time at the Toronto Raptors' home court, the Air Canada Centre.

Toronto Raptors are the only NBA team competing in Canada.

The first game will be the celebrity match which will tip off at 7 p.m. ET (0000 GMT) on Friday.

Canadian rapper Drake, former NBA star Steve Nash and U.S. comedian Kevin Hart will be the coaches.

Many well-known figures such as Canadian professional tennis player Milos Raonic, retired U.S. basketball player Tracy McGrady, Rick Fox, U.S. actor Jason Sudeikis, U.S. rapper Nick Cannon, retired NBA star Chauncey Billups, Muggsy Bogues, and U.S. female basketball player Elena Delle Donne will compete.

The rising-star challenge will be played on the same day. The game between the US team and the World Team will tip off at 0200 GMT.

The US team rosters: Jordan Clarkson, D'Angelo Russell (Los Angeles Lakers), Rodney Hood (Utah Jazz), Zach LaVine, Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves), Nerlens Noel, Jahlil Okafor (Philadelphia 76ers), Jabari Parker (Milwaukee Bucks), Elfrid Payton (Orlando Magic) and Marcus Smart (Boston Celtics).

The World Team rosters: Bojan Bogdanovic (Brooklyn Nets), Clint Capela (Houston Rockets), Mario Hezonja (Orlando Magic), Nikola Jokic, Emmanuel Mudiay (Denver Nuggets), Raul Neto, Trey Lyles (Utah Jazz), Kristaps Porzingis (New York Knicks), Dwight Powell (Dallas Mavericks) and Andrew Wiggins (Minnesota Timberwolves).

The three-point, slam dunk and skills competitions will be on the second day.

The 65th NBA All-Star game will be played late on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET (0100 GMT)

Grammy-award-winning British singer Sting will perform at half time.

Meanwhile Los Angeles Lakers world famous star Kobe Bryant will play his last All-Star match as the 37-year-old U.S. shooting guard will retire at the end of this season.

East starting five: Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks), Paul George (Indiana Pacers), LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers), Kyle Lowry (Toronto Raptors) and Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat).

East reserves: Pau Gasol (Chicago Bulls), John Wall (Washington Wizards), Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons), Chris Bosh (Miami Heat), DeMar DeRozan (Toronto Raptors), Paul Millsap (Atlanta Hawks) and Isaiah Thomas (Boston Celtics).

West starters: Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers), Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors), Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder) and Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio Spurs).

West subs: Draymond Green, Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors), Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers), James Harden (Houston Rockets), DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings), LaMarcus Aldridge (San Antonio Spurs) and Anthony Davis (New Orleans Pelicans).