NEW YORK -- Michael Cooper, coach of the Western Conference All-Star team, said Friday that Seattle center Lauren Jackson will start in place of the injured Tina Thompson.

	Michael Cooper has picked Lauren Jackson to start in place of the injured Tina Thompson.

Thompson, who plays for Houston, sprained her ankle earlier this week and cannot play. Jackson is making her third All-Star appearance and is averaging 19.7 points this season.

Houston's Cynthia Cooper also will not be able to play because of a rotator cuff injury, and Tamecka Dixon of Los Angeles is taking her place in the starting lineup.

Leslie, Swoopes miss practice
Lisa Leslie and Sheryl Swoopes skipped practice Friday for the All-Star game but should be able to play Saturday.

Leslie is bothered by a right wrist injury, and Swoopes has a right foot injury. Swoopes, the All-Star game's leading vote-getter, said she was injured Tuesday and has tried to stay off her foot.

Both are the top players for the West.

"I'm going to play as much as I can but I'm not going to try to aggravate it,'' Swoopes said.

Leslie has been selected the MVP in three of the four All-Star games.

"I'm definitely going to come out and give it my all tomorrow,'' Leslie said.

Dunkin' Dydek
Margo Dydek has never dunked in a game, but she wowed the crowd during practice at Madison Square Garden on Friday with a slam.

With chants of, 'Dunk it! Dunk it!' the 7-foot-2 Polish center took a pass from Sue Bird and slammed it home.

	Shannon Johnson, right, shoots over Tamika Catchings during All-Star practice at Madison Square Garden on Friday.

"Everybody wants to see it, I know that,'' Dydek said.

West coach Michael Cooper said he would be willing to give Leslie and Dydek an opportunity to dunk Saturday. Leslie is the only player to have dunked in a game, doing so last season against the now-defunct Miami Sol.

"I said to Margo I think she can be a dominating player,'' Cooper said. "If she wants to dunk that is up to her. We're going to put her in position to do some things. There's no telling what you'll see.''

Hammon makes way to Garden
She had to be pushed onto the court in a wheelchair, but even that wasn't going to stop Becky Hammon from making her first appearance at the All-Star weekend.

When New York's Teresa Weatherspoon pushed teammate Hammon onto Friday as the All-Stars greeted each other between practices, everyone gathered around Hammon, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee last month. They offered hugs and words of encouragement. Despite the season-ending injury, Hammon was voted as an All-Star reserve because of her tremendous play.

She was leading the Liberty in scoring, averaging a career-high 14.7 points, and taking away minutes from Weatherspoon at the time of her injury.

"It's bittersweet,'' Hammon said. "When I got the phone call that I made the team, it put a smile on my face.''

Hammon had surgery Monday and is out 4-to-6 months.

"I have to be patient,'' Hammon said. ``This isn't a mental challenge. It's a physical thing, and that is the hardest thing.''

Half-court hoops
During the West practice, coach Michael Cooper offered $100 to the first player who could make a shot from halfcourt. Sue Bird missed her first attempt. But Sheryl Swoopes chose Bird to take her shot since she could not practice.

Bird made it, and everyone celebrated. She was the only one to make one from halfcourt.