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Howard to defend dunk title in All-Star events

Basketball Betting Lines

02/13/2009 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Orlando Magic All-Star center Dwight Howard is set to defend his Sprite Slam Dunk title Saturday night during the NBA All-Star Game festivities at US Airways Center in Phoenix.

Howard won the event last year by throwing down a one-handed jam while sporting a Superman cape. The 6-11, 265-pound Howard is trying to become the first player to win the event two years in a row since Jason Richardson did it in 2002 and 2003 as a member of the Golden State Warriors.

Also trying to defy gravity in the Slam Dunk contest, which began back in 1984, will be Rudy Fernandez of the Portland Trail Blazers, J.R. Smith of the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks 5-9 guard Nate Robinson. Smith is replacing Rudy Gay (hip injury) of the Memphis Grizzlies. Robinson needed several tries to win the 2006 version of this event, beating out 76ers guard Andre Iguodala. Fernandez, meanwhile, is the first international participant in the contest and earned his way onto the stage after being selected by the fans as the fourth and final contestant.

Fans will be able to determine the winner for the second time in the history of the event instead of a panel of judges. Fans will be able to cast their votes by sending a text message or by voting on NBA.com.

Jason Kapono of the Toronto Raptors will try to win his third straight Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout Saturday night. Kapono is aiming to become the first three-peat winner of the event since Craig Hodges of the Chicago Bulls proved to be the sharpest shooter from 1990-1992. Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird was the first to win the event three straight time from 1986-1998.

Joining Kapono in the Three-Point Shootout will be Indiana's Danny Granger, Orlando's Rashard Lewis, Mike Bibby of Atlanta, Roger Mason of San Antonio and Miami's Daequan Cook. All players will battle in the two-round competition with the top three shooters from the first round advancing to the finals. Each player will have one minute to shoot as many balls as he can, as five shooting stations will be set up around the three-point line. Four game balls worth one point each and one 2009 All-Star commemorative "money ball" worth two points will be at each station.

The Skills Challenge consists of four players competing in a two-round timed obstacle course to show off their dribbling, passing and shooting talents. The two players with the fastest times from the first round advance to the finals with the order of competition determined by opposite order of the first round times. Television instant replay may be used for clarification of rules compliance by the referee.

Competing in this year's tournament will be Devin Harris of the Nets, Mo Williams of the Cavs, San Antonio's Tony Parker and Chicago rookie Derrick Rose. Utah's Deron Williams won the event last year in New Orleans to unseat Miami's Dwyane Wade, who had won the previous two Skills Challenge. Magic guard Jameer Nelson was originally pegged to compete in the Skills Challenge, but a torn right labrum in his shoulder will keep him from participating.

The Rookie Challenge will feature NBA rookies versus second-year players in the Valley of the Sun. The 2008-09 rookie class features several future stars, including No. 1 overall pick Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls. Rose will be teamed up with fellow rookies Michael Beasley of Miami, Rudy Fernandez and Greg Oden of Portland, Marc Gasol and O.J. Mayo of the Grizzlies, Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook, New Jersey's Brook Lopez and Eric Gordon of the Clippers.

The Sophomore squad will be comprised of reigning Rookie of the Year Kevin Durant of the Thunder and teammate Jeff Green, Thaddeus Young of the Sixers, Houston's Luis Scola and Aaron Brooks, New York's Wilson Chandler, Atlanta's Al Horford, Al Thornton of the Clippers and Detroit's Rodney Stuckey.

In last year's game, Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson buried 11 three-pointers en route to 33 points to lead the Sophomores in a 136-109 triumph over the Rookies. Rudy Gay of Memphis chipped in 22 points for the second-year stars, while Durant paced the Rookies with 23 points. The Sophomore squad has won the last six years.

In the Haier Shooting Stars contest, Team San Antonio will try to defend its title on Saturday night. Team San Antonio, which won the title in New Orleans last year and back in 2006 at Houston, will consist of Tim Duncan, David Robinson and WNBA star Becky Hammon.

Team Detroit, Team Los Angeles (Lakers) and Team Phoenix will challenge the San Antonio squad this weekend. Team Detroit was last year's runner-up and 2007 champion. Each team is comprised of a current NBA player, a former NBA star and a current WNBA player from the city.

The NBA Developmental League will have its All-Star Game on Saturday night from Jam Session's Center Court. A pair of 10-man teams will battle in the third-annual D-League All-Star Game. The annual NBA All-Star Celebrity Game will take place Friday.

In an interesting twist to shake up the All-Star events, the NBA will implement the old-fashioned game of H-O-R-S-E on Saturday. The legendary drive-way game will be played by Durant, Mayo and Joe Johnson of Atlanta. The contest will played outside at the NBA's All-Star Block Party.

If a player makes a shot in H-O-R-S-E, the next competitor must make the same shot or receive a letter. A player gets an 'H' for his first miss and is eliminated once he has all five letters of the word. Each competitor will have 24 seconds to make a shot, while an NBA referee will rule if they attempt is done in proper manner. There will be no dunking in H-O-R-S-E.

On Sunday, the 58th NBA All-Star Game will close out the weekend extravaganza.