Nuggets coach George Karl will lead the Western Conference All-Stars next month in Dallas.

With the Mavericks losing to the Suns on Thursday night and the Lakers' Phil Jackson ineligible, Denver clinched at least a tie with Dallas for the second-best record in the West through Sunday's games.

Karl has the tiebreaker over the Mavericks' Rick Carlisle because he coached the East in 2004, and Karl's last appearance came in 1998 for the West.

Jackson coached the West last year, making him ineligible this season.