by USA TODAY Sports, USA TODAY

HOUSTON — There’s nothing at stake, really. No reason to go all out, risk injury or over exert yourself.

Except that when the Eastern Conference and Western Conference meet Sunday in the NBA All-Star Game at the Toyota Center, it’s still a game.

Well, sort of.

“The first half is the feel-out process,” Miami Heat forward LeBron James said. “We try to get a feel on what we’re going to see. The second half, everyone’s competitive nature kicks in. At that time both teams want to win.”

There’s even a debate on whether you could say they give it their all in the second half.

So let’s ask a coach:

“When it goes on and you get to the fourth quarter, it gets serious in the All‑Star Game and they want to win,” San Antonio Spurs’ Gregg Popovich said. “Things get a little chippier and very competitive.”

Contributing: USA TODAY Sports’ Kevin Spain and Jeff Zillgitt

… [For more on LeBron James says NBA All-Stars play to win, click here.]