On January 30, 2013, NBA Commissioner David Stern selected Lopez to play in the 2013 NBA All-Star Game, his first All-Star appearance, replacing Rajon Rondo who had suffered a season-ending ACL injury. In the game, Lopez finished the game with 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 points in 11 minutes; all of his points came from the free throw line. On March 20, 2013, the Nets were on the road playing the Dallas Mavericks when Lopez had 38 points and 11 rebounds in a 113-97 Nets win. His 38-point total was only 1 point away from his career high of 39. At the end of the 2012–13 season, Lopez averaged 19.4 points and 6.9 rebounds, as he also set a new career high in blocks with 2.1. At the end of the season, the Nets won 49 games and were the fourth seed in the east. Lopez played all seven of the Nets playoff games, averaging 22.3 points and 7.4 rebounds. The Nets were eliminated in a seven-game, first-round series by the Chicago Bulls.