Celtics' Rondo replaces Hawks' Johnson in ASG

Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo will take Joe Johnson's spot on the Eastern Conference roster at this year's All-Star Game after being named an injury replacement Tuesday by NBA commissioner David Stern.

For Rondo, it's his third consecutive All-Star appearance.

Rondo, who is celebrating his 26th birthday Tuesday, played in only 22 games during the first half of the season due to both a sprained right wrist injury and a two-game suspension for zipping a ball at a game official in Sunday's loss to the Pistons.

Rondo joins teammate Paul Pierce on the East roster.

Johnson will miss the All-Star Game because of tendinitis in his left knee.

An MRI confirmed Johnson's initial diagnosis, the team said. He sat out the fourth quarter of Monday's loss to the Bulls and will miss the next two games: at New York on Wednesday night, and Thursday night's contest at home against Orlando.

He'll also skip Sunday's All-Star Game in Orlando and all related activities this weekend, giving his knee additional time to rest.

Stern selected Johnson's All-Star replacement, and Atlanta's Josh Smith had been one of several candidates.

Rondo, who was an All-Star the past two seasons, is averaging a career-high 14.8 points per game to go along with 9.5 assists and 1.6 steals.

Johnson leads the Hawks in scoring at 17.6 points a game and was named to the All-Star team for the sixth year in a row.

After the break, he'll be re-evaluated before Atlanta's next game, Feb. 29 against Golden State.

Information from ESPNBoston.com's Chris Forsberg and The Associated Press was used in this report.