HOUSTON — His words cast a pall over this weekend, raising doubt and concern. Kevin Garnett has been an NBA All-Star 15 times, tied for the second most in NBA history, but he said Wednesday night that he “definitely” won’t be an All-Star again.

That set up the backdrop: Garnett would come to this city for an unexpected and hasty All-Star farewell. He’d play on Sunday, the Texas sun would set, and that would be that, leaving future All-Star Games absent one of the sport’s true icons.