Saturday, February 13, 2010

NBA: Nate completes Dunk Contest three-peat

Demar DeRozan produced the dunk of the competition but it was defending champion Nate Robinson who prevailed, becoming the first ever three-time winner.

DeRozan - of the Toronto Raptors - brought the crowd to its feet in the first round with a dunk using the side of the backboard, scoring a maximum 50.

But it was a rare high point as the contest lacked some of its usual spark and drew criticism from TNT's Charles Barkley. In the final, Robinson had the marginally better dunks and scooped the trophy with 51% of the fan vote.

NBA: Pierce tops Billups, Curry to win 3-Point Contest

Paul Pierce racked up a total of 20 in the final round to lift the 3-Point Contest trophy for the first time.

Chauncey Billups and Stephen Curry joined Pierce in the final and Curry, in particular, looked on course to top Pierce's tally.

But the Golden State Warriors rookie guard fell agonisingly short on 17 and Pierce was able to celebrate his victory with team-mate Kevin Garnett, who was sat courtside.

Soccer: Countdown is on for Beckham's reunion with Man Utd team-mates

The clock is ticking as David Beckham looks ahead to the return of the Champions League and the visit of former club Manchester United on Tuesday.

Beckham's current club AC Milan have dropped off the pace in Serie A but will lean on positive memories of eliminating United in 2005 and 2007 as they prepare to take on the English champions.

While Ryan Giggs' fractured arm will keep him out of the first leg at the San Siro, Beckham can expect to see fellow Fergie Fledglings Paul Scholes and Gary Neville in the United squad. Having spent many happy years at Old Trafford, winning the Champions League along the way back in 1999, the England midfielder is bound to have mixed feelings when he is reunited with former team-mates.

It is sure to be an emotional night for Beckham and, judging by United's recent red hot form, it could be a rough one for the Italians.

NBA: Nash crowned Skills champion

One night on from helping light the Olympic flame in Vancouver, Steve Nash lifted the Skills Challenge trophy after beating defending champion Deron Williams in the final.

Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma Thunder and Brandon Jennings of the Milwaukee Bucks were both eliminated in the opening round before Nash's time of 29.9 seconds in the final was too much for Williams to overcome.

Nash and Williams will be back on the court tomorrow night for the All-Star Game.

NBA: Durant wins H.O.R.S.E trophy

Kevin Durant got his All-Star weekend off to a flying start as he outlasted Omri Casspi of the Sacramento Kings and Rajon Rondo of the Boston Celtics to win the H.O.R.S.E. event in Dallas.

Casspi made an early exit but Durant and Rondo brought their A game, sinking a string of 3s. The Oklahoma Thunder forward had the last laugh, though, winning his second straight H.O.R.S.E. title as a Rondo jumper rimmed out.