Monday February 18, 2013
Raptors’ star dethrones Evans to win Slam Dunk crown
The winning dunk: Terrence Ross of the Toronto Raptors jumps over a ball boy in his final dunk during the Slam Dunk Contest of NBA All-Star Weekend at the Toyota Centre in Houston, Texas on Saturday. — AFP HOUSTON: Terrence Ross of the Toronto Raptors dethroned defending champion Jeremy Evans of Utah to win the NBA Slam Dunk Contest on Saturday in a worldwide vote on social media.
After a judging panel of retired NBA players that included Chinese legend Yao Ming narrowed the field to the finalists, Ross slammed two spectacular dunks through the rim to win 58 percent of fan votes via Twitter and websites.
“It’s a dream come true,” Ross said.
Evans opened with a windmill dunk over a covered painting, then lifted the cover to reveal his own painting of the dunk he had just performed.
Ross answered by making a running start from the side of the hoop, taking a ball bounced off the side of the backboard and catching it then jamming it through the hoop - all while wearing a jersey of ex-Raptor star Vince Carter.
Evans slammed in a one-handed dunk on a run from the side in response but Ross finished by leaping over a ballboy, passing the ball between his legs and slamming it into the basket with his right hand.
Other winners in the All-Star festivities ahead of Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game were Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Three-Point Contest and Portland Trail Blazers rookie Damian Lillard in the Skills Challenge.
Yao and his fellow judges eliminated New York’s James White, Indiana’s Gerald Green, Denver’s Kenneth Faried and Eric Bledsoe of the Los Angeles Clippers in the opening round of the dunk contest.
Green and White missed on their second dunks, neither completing a move within the time limit.
Green had cut down the net to attempt two dunks with one ball on the same leap, missed every attempt, then managed the trick after the time limit had expired and the dunk did not count for the competition.
In the three-point event, Irving made 17 of his first 18 three-point attempts in the final round on his way to scoring 23 points and defeating San Antonio’s Matt Bonner, who finished with 20. — AFP
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