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Super Slam: Howard flies to dunk title

Magic star adds 'some spice' in rout; Kapono repeats in 3-point Shootout

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NBA All-Star Sprite Slam Dunk Contest
  Big men can jump
Feb. 17: Dwight Howard's motivation in winning the NBA All-Star Dunk contest was doing it for all the big men.

Kapono missed his first two shots in the last round before dropping 10 straight. By the time he approached the last rack of balls, Kapono had already clinched the win and didn’t have to fire up another shot.

But he knocked down a few more anyway, matching three-time winner Craig Hodges’ mark of 25 set in 1986. When his final shot swished through, Kapono, who made all five money balls — worth two points apiece — and went 20-for-25 in the last round, slapped high-fives with other All-Stars and hugged Raptors teammate Chris Bosh.

Kapono wasn’t sure what he’ll do with his second shiny trophy.

“I’m thinking in the bathroom or something,” he said. “Maybe every time I take a shower or I go in and brush my teeth I’ll start my day out staring at this beautiful trophy.”

Cleveland’s Daniel Gibson, who made 11 3-pointers in Friday night’s rookie challenge finished second. He scored 17 points in the final round, finishing three points ahead of Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki, who replaced the injured Bryant.

Kapono almost didn’t get out of the first round. He was in danger of elimination as he approached the last rack but came through in the clutch by sinking five straight shots to advance.

In the Skills Challenge, Utah’s Deron Williams was flawless and fast.

With a nearly perfect run through an obstacle course of dribbling, passing and shooting, the Jazz point guard defeated New Orleans playmaker Chris Paul in the final round.

Williams blazed up, down and around the floor of the New Orleans Arena in 25.5 seconds, a new record for the six-year-old event. Cheered on by his home crowd, Paul, who completed the circuit in 29.9 seconds in the first round, finished in 31.2 seconds for second place.

In the night’s first event, San Antonio’s Becky Hammon, David Robinson and Tim Duncan won the Shooting Stars competition. It featured three-person teams consisting of an NBA player, a WNBA player and a former NBA great from the same city. Contestants had to make six shots with the final one a heave from mid-court.

© 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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