NBA All Star Game tickets

There was a time when the NBA's mid-season break was about the league's all-stars facing off, nowadays the All Star Celebrity party, the celebrities and the music are just as much a centerpiece of the weekend as actual basketball.Consider that there were as many celebrity games over the weekend as NBA All Star game tickets. (Along with Friday's NBA-sponsored celebrity game, Snoop Dogg hosted a Saturday match called Hoop Magic; the NBA also hosted a rookies vs. sophomores game.)

Also consider that the three main entertainers during Sunday's All-Star game - Outkast, Beyoncé and Christina Aguilera - all entertained at the Staples Center one week earlier. It's like the Grammys never finished. For the first time in 21 years with the game being held in Los Angeles, the NBA welcomed the fame and fortune of Hollywood onto the court like never before. Along with the entertainers during the NBA contests, which included Ruben Studdard, Kelly Clarkson and Nelly Furtado, the league hosted a TV special Saturday for its Read to Achieve organization showing Hilary Duff, Ashanti, Usher and Will Smith.

And finally there was the celebrity game, which featured self-proclaimed modern Rat Packers P. Diddy (coaching with Hilton) against Ashton Kutcher (coaching with WNBA star Lisa Leslie). Or, as it was featured, the Buffalo Braves vs. the Minnesota Lakers - being that, of course, throwback jerseys are all the rage. "Ashton was very efficient," Nick Cannon said of his coach. "He took it seriously. He didn't try to punk no one." Even so, Kutcher's team, which also included Sean Paul, Mark McGrath and Frankie Muniz, lost by a couple of basket shots. The actor and girlfriend Demi Moore left when there were still a few minutes left.

Cannon had two air balls but was happy with his presentation. "They could have put me in the game a little more, but when I was in, I was effective," he said. "I got two steals, six points. I did my thing." Paul, who was wearing a Jamaican headband, had a bit of challenge guarding the speedy Nelly, and he was happy to let his teammates handle the scoring. "That Malcolm in the Middle, he got a shot," Paul said of Muniz. "I only shot twice today, but I average 15 points a game in the entertainers league," Muniz said. "Everyone knows I can shoot."

Many players, which included McGrath and actors Bill Bellamy and Morris Chestnut, also played in the same Hollywood league as Muniz. "It's not fun when you lose, but it's fun being out here with everyone," said a brown-haired McGrath, who drained a three-pointer Friday. "Nelly doesn't even try, he's so good. He's like [famous street ball player] Hot Sauce out there." Nelly was belated to Friday's game, unveiling in the second quarter and taking the court in a white cap and backward jersey.

"I think the celebrity game is rising up, as far as [skill level] and us being able to play the game," said the rapper, who praised his winning coach and "Shake Ya Tailfeather" co-star. "He's probably the only one who could coach the team and own it." Hip-hop stars were also common at the Hoop Magic game, a benefit for Snoop's Save a Life Foundation. Snoop was coupled on the court by Bow Wow, B2K's Raz-B, Swizz Beatz and Murphy Lee in a measure up against West Coast legends from the NBA, such as Flynn Robinson and Jerry Chambers.

Kanye West, David Banner and Murphy Lee entertained at halftime, while Sleepy Brown and Loon took the court before the game and Anthony Hamilton sung the national anthem. With all the rap artists in town, Russell Simmons' nonprofit Hip-Hop Summit Action Network hosted a supporter drive Saturday on the University of Southern California campus and registered more than 60,000 people, according to organizers. Damon Dash hosted that occasion, which was attended by Snoop, Kanye West, Loon, Tamia, the Young Gunz and Layzie Bone (see "Loon Proclaims Innocence In Stabbing Of Nightclub Guard").

As for the parties, Nicole Richie, Jay-Z and Beyoncé were among those making their rounds, while Outkast, Ludacris, Kanye West, Lil' Kim and Sleepy Brown took to the stages at various clubs around L.A. Perhaps the most entertaining invite in town was Shaquille O'Neal's Friday night bash at the Playboy Mansion. 50 Cent made an emergence, while Nick Cannon and B2K mingled with the many athletes in attendance, including Tim Duncan, Terrell Davis and Lennox Lewis. "There's a lot of hot parties," Sean Paul said on his way to the dressing room. Forget basketball