Karl Malone isn't coming.
Kevin O'Connor, Jazz vice president for basketball operations, notified the NBA Saturday that Malone would not make it to Philadelphia for today's All-Star Game.
Malone's mother, Shirley Turner, has been hospitalized in Salt Lake City, and the Jazz forward has opted to stay with her, a Jazz spokesperson said.
Malone missed Friday's media day with an "excused absence" — meaning he won't be fined — because he was in Salt Lake carrying the Olympic torch.
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Voted to his 14th All-Star game by the coaches, Malone actually had sounded like he wouldn't mind coming this year — a far cry from his attitude the past couple of years, when he made it clear he'd rather be elsewhere.