NEW YORK -- The Los Angeles Lakers and their  hallway  rival, the Los Angeles Clippers, will dominate the starting lineups at the 2012 NBA All-Star Game.

The  Lakers and Clippers will have two  players each in the starting lineup for the Western Conference.

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant and center Andrew Bynum will join  Clippers forward Blake Griffin and guard Chris Paul on the team.

The  Lakers and the  Clippers  are developing a spirited rivalry this season, but they’ll  have to get along for a night to give the West a second  straight win  in  the NBA’s midseason event.

Bryant and  Paul will be in the same  backcourt  two  months after the NBA, as owners of the Hornets, killed a trade that would have sent Paul to the Lakers.

Instead, he was dealt shortly after to the Clippers, and he has teamed with Griffin to  make them one of the league’s most exciting and improved teams, leading the Pacific Division over their Staples  Center co-tenants.

“It’s an  honor and a privilege to be voted  as an All-Star starter,” Paul said. “I want to thank the fans for their support. It’s even more special to be starting with one of my teammates.”

Griffin and Bynum are first-time starters, while  Bryant  earned his record-tying 14th consecutive nod.

Griffin said  he’s  not  planning on defending his title in the dunk contest, which he won by dunking over a  car last year in Los Angeles.

“It’s not really my thing. I said that last year,” he said.

Griffin  was a   reserve selection last year, when  he also played in the rookie game.

“Last year it was hectic,” he said. “I’ll try to tone it down and try to get a break.”

It’s  the  first time since 1997, when  Houston had Hakeem Olajuwon and Charles Barkley, and Seattle sent Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp, that two pairs of teammates have been voted to start for one conference.

The only non-Los Angeles player is  Kevin Durant of Oklahoma City, who was voted in by the fans as a forward.

The Miami Heat placed two players on the  Eastern Conference team as LeBron James got in at forward and  Dwyane Wade was voted in at guard.

Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic  was the leading vote-getter overall with 1.60 million votes and  will start for the East in front of his  home crowd at Amway Center arena.

Also making it in the East is forward   Carmelo Anthony of New York and Chicago guard Derrick Rose, who is the reigning league MVP.

Bynum is a first-time all star and Griffin is in  for the first time as a starter.

The  reserves for the  game will be  announced at a later date.

The 2012 all-star game will be played in Orlando, Florida on Feb. 26.   


The balloting:

Western Conference

Guards -- Kobe  Bryant  (LAL) 1,555,479; Chris Paul (LAC) 1,138,743; Ricky Rubio (Min) 397,456; Steve Nash (Pho) 276,268; Russell Westbrook (OKC) 262,186; Kyle Lowry (Hou) 185,584;  Monta  Ellis (GS) 156,603; Chauncey  Billups (LAC) 120,961; Jason  Kidd (Dal) 114,924; Manu Ginobili (SA) 111,273.

Centers-- Andrew Bynum (LAL) 1,051,945;  DeAndre Jordan (LAC) 322,056;  Marc Gasol (Mem) 285,525; Nenê (Den) 207,102; Marcin Gortat (Pho) 136,168; Kendrick  Perkins (OKC) 99,811.   

Forwards -- Kevin Durant (OKC) 1,345,566;  Blake Griffin (LAC) 876,451;  Pau  Gasol (LAL) 470,353; Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) 468,435; Kevin  Love  (Min) 373,880;  LaMarcus Aldridge (Por) 279,500; Tim   Duncan (SA) 185,069; Lamar  Odom (Dal) 142,830;  Danilo  Gallinari (Den) 110,245; Rudy Gay (Mem) 95,228.

Eastern Conference

Guards-- Derrick  Rose (Chi) 1,514,723;  Dwyane Wade (Mia) 1,334,223; Rajon  Rondo (Bos) 547,110; Ray Allen (Bos) 382,147;   Deron  Williams (NJN) 208,697; Jose Calderon (Tor) 132,167; Richard  Hamilton (Chi) 111,368; John  Wall (Was) 96,606; Kyrie   Irving (Cle) 96,346;  Joe Johnson   (Atl) 66,145.

Centers -- Dwight  Howard (Orl) 1,600,390; Joakim Noah (Chi) 236,497;  Tyson  Chandler (NYK) 163,077; Joel Anthony (Mia) 101,307; JaVale McGee (Was) 63,765; Al Horford (Atl) 50,396.       

Forwards --  LeBron James (Mia) 1,360,680;  Carmelo Anthony (NYK) 1,041,290;   Amar'e Stoudemire (NYK) 383,734; Kevin Garnett (Bos) 367,914; Chris Bosh  (Mia) 324,605;  Luol Deng (Chi) 276,205;  Paul  Pierce (Bos) 215,020; Carlos Boozer (Chi) 175,828; Andrea Bargnani (Tor) 152,362; Josh Smith (Atl) 119,638.