PHOENIX (NBA) - Canada international Steve Nash will miss the NBA All-Star Game in Las Vegas this weekend.

The two-time NBA MVP, who has missed the Phoenix Suns' last three games with a right shoulder injury, will not play in the February 18 event, coach Mike D'Antoni announced on Monday.

Nash also will miss Wednesday's game at Seattle.

"Steve's just not ready to play right now," D'Antoni said.

"He needs the recovery and rehab time. He hasn't recovered as quickly as we anticipated. Hopefully, he'll be able to resume play after the All-Star break."

Nash will also miss the the Skills Challenge on All-Star Saturday.

The Western Conference will be missing the Houston Rockets' Chinese center Yao Ming and Utah Jazz forward Carlos Boozer due to injuries.

Commissioner David Stern selected forwards Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets and Josh Howard of the Dallas Mavericks as injury replacements.

The winner of the NBA MVP each of the last two seasons, Nash aggravated the shoulder injury in the first half of last Monday's 113-108 victory at Denver. He collected nine points and seven assists but did not play in the second half.

Nash then missed the next three games - a win at Portland and home losses to Atlanta and Chicago.

Named to his fifth All-Star team on February 1, Nash is averaging career highs of 19.3 points and 11.8 assists. His norm for assists is the highest in the NBA since all-time leader John Stockton averaged 12.3 for Utah in the 1994-95 season.

With Nash at the controls, Phoenix have had the NBA's most powerful offence in each of the last three seasons. But they have not fared well without him.

The Suns are just 4-11 over the last two-plus seasons without Nash, including 2-3 this season. He missed two games in November with back spasms.

Phoenix are 39-11 and chasing Dallas (42-9) for the best record in the Western Conference - and likely home-court advantage throughout the NBA playoffs.

The Suns have reached the Western Conference finals in each of the last two years.

FIBA