SB Nation Denver - 2011 NBA All-Star Game: Kobe Bryant Wins Fourth MVP In West's 148-143 Victoryhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48907/denver-fave.png2011-02-20T21:46:29-07:00http://denver.sbnation.com/rss/stream/17643162011-02-20T21:46:29-07:002011-02-20T21:46:29-07:002011 NBA All-Star Game: Kobe Bryant Wins Fourth MVP In West's 148-143 Victory
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<p>One year after the West squad lost by two points to the East squad in Arlington Tx., <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="#">Kobe Bryant</a> and Kevin Durant led the West to a 148-143 victory over the East in the NBA All-Star Game. Kobe Bryant won the MVP award for his 37-point, 14-rebound performance. Kobe's fourth All-Star MVP award is tied for the most in league history with Bob Pettit. Durant added 34 points.</p>
<p>For the East team, LeBron James finished with 29 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. Amar'e Stoudemire added 29 points as well. Boston's four All-Stars (Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo) combined for a total of 28 points, 14 assists and 12 rebounds.</p>
<p>Carmelo Anthony, the subject of multiple trade reports over the weekend, scored eight points and pulled down seven rebounds.</p>
<p>With NBA All-Star Weekend over, all eyes turn to the NBA Trade Deadline, which is Thursday, Feb. 24. When the 1:00 p.m. MT deadline comes, will Carmelo Anthony still be a member of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.denverstiffs.com/">Denver Nuggets</a>?</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/denver-nuggets/2011/2/20/2005188/2011-nba-all-star-game-kobe-bryant-bob-pettit-mvpRuss Oates2011-02-19T21:14:58-07:002011-02-19T21:14:58-07:002011 NBA Dunk Contest: Blake Griffin Dunks Over Car To Win Against JaVale McGee
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<p>Blake Griffin won the 2011 Slam Dunk Contest with 68 percent of the fan voting in the final round. He received a 49 on his first dunk which involved a 360-degrees spin. His second brought only a 46. He kept trying to dunk a ball after it bounced off the side of the backboard. In the third round, Griffin bent his right arm around the rim as he made the dunk, reminiscent of <span>Vince Carter</span>. And for his last dunk, Griffin jumped over a KIA Optima. With a choir singing "I Believe I Can Fly," teammate <span>Baron Davis</span> poked his head out of the rooftop window and passed the ball to Griffin, who then flew over the hood of the car.</p>
<p><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/548454/griffin.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Griffin_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/548454/griffin_medium.png"></a></p>
<p>thanks to <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/#!/jose3030/status/39173114625527808">@jose3030</a></p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../nba/players/35084/javale-mcgee">JaVale McGee</a> dominated the first round with a dual-rim dunk. He received a score of 50. On his second dunk, McGee tried to dunk three balls into one hoop. The third ball was the red, white and blue one. It took several tries, but he finally accomplished it by holding onto the rim. He received a 49.</p>
<p>In the final round against Blake Griffin, McGee wore two different colored shoes while he made a dunk that had his head under backboard and his body going away from the basket. Wearing gold sneakers for his final dunk, McGee couldn't compete with Griffin's dunk over a car.</p>
<p>Here's a photo of McGee<span class="sbn-auto-link"></span>'s dual-rim dunk:</p>
<p><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/548430/mcgee.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Mcgee_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/548430/mcgee_medium.png"></a> <br id="1298172848647"></p>
<p>thanks again to <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/#%21/jose3030/status/39164206309703680">@jose3030</a></p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../nba/players/51539/serge-ibaka">Serge Ibaka</a> saw a 45 for his first dunk, but for his second dunk he involved a kid running on to the court to retrieve a teddy bear. The bear was hanging from an extension bar that was added to the rim. Ibaka then dunked the ball while pulling the teddy bear off with his mouth. However it only resulted in a 45.</p>
<p><span>DeMar DeRozan</span> received a 44 for his first dunk but then received a 50 for his second dunk.</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/denver-nuggets/2011/2/19/2003685/dunk-contest-2011-blake-griffin-car-javale-mcgeeRuss Oates2011-02-19T19:31:21-07:002011-02-19T19:31:21-07:002011 NBA All-Star Weekend: Stephen Curry Wins Skills Challenge
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<p><span>Stephen Curry</span> won the 2011 Taco Bell Skills Challenge. His first round score was 34.1 seconds while he improved to 28.2 in the final round. Russell Westbrook finished second. He took 30 seconds to complete the course in the opening round, but then messed up on the bounces passes to finish at 44.2, the worst of the night.</p>
<p><span>John Wall</span> (39.3 seconds), Derrick Rose (the defending champion at 35.7) and Chris Paul (42.7) were eliminated in the first round. Paul messed up when he missed the opening layup, severely handicapping his chances of advancing.</p>
<p>Each participant was playing for a chance to give a kid a $30,000 scholarship for college.</p>
<p>This was the second of four contests tonight. The 3-Point Challenge is next, but the best event is saved for last. The Slam Dunk contest, headlined by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="#">Blake Griffin</a>, will close out the night. I can't wait to see Griffin jump over a car.</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/denver-nuggets/2011/2/19/2003572/2011-nba-all-star-weekend-stephen-curry-wins-skills-challengeRuss Oates2011-02-19T15:50:15-07:002011-02-19T15:50:15-07:00NBA Dunk Contest 2011: Blake Griffin Headlines Participants, Possibly Will Jump Over Car
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<p>Tonight's 2011 dunk contest will be the fourth and final event of NBA All-Star Saturday Night. The Slam Dunk contest is usually the highlight of the night. There have been a number of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2011/2/19/2002837/slam-dunk-contest-2011--history-blake-griffin">great dunks over the years, which SB Nation</a> provides video of, but will tonight's contest see the best of them all?</p>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.clipsnation.com/">Los Angeles Clippers</a>' Blake Griffin plans on jumping over a car on Saturday night. Yes, a car. <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/#!/Jpdabrams/status/39038985279897602">Jonathan Abrams of the <i>New York Times</i></a> first reported this. No word yet on the car he'll jump over, but the 6-foot-10 forward has an amazing leaping ability, meaning this isn't as ridiculous as it sounds. Rather, it's kind of awesome.</p>
<p>Toronto's DeMar DeRozan, Oklahoma City's <span>Serge Ibaka</span> and Washington's JaVale McGee will oppose him, but I don't know what it would take to out-do jumping over a car. Jumping over two cars side-by-side?</p>
<p>All-Star Saturday Night kicks off at 6:30 p.m. MT on TNT.</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/denver-nuggets/2011/2/19/2003322/dunk-contest-2011-blake-griffin-carRuss Oates2011-02-18T21:13:35-07:002011-02-18T21:13:35-07:002011 NBA Rookie Game Score: John Wall Takes MVP As Rookies Win, 148-140
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<p>The Rookies won the Rookie-Sophomore Challenge for a second year in a row with a 148-140 victory on Friday night. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Washington Wizards</a> rookie <span>John Wall</span> took home the game's MVP award for his 12-point, 22-assist performance. Wall was usually on the giving end of balls that wound up being dunked, but late in the game he did have his <a target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqCG-4nOvYs">own dunk (video)</a>.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.sactownroyalty.com/">Kings</a> center <span>DeMarcus Cousins</span> of the Rookie Squad led all scorers with 33 points. His 14 rebounds were second to <span>DeJuan Blair</span>'s game-high 15. Minnesota's <span>Wesley Johnson</span> had 25 points off the bench for the Rookies. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/">Oklahoma City Thunder</a> <span>James Harden</span> led the Sophomores with 30 points. DeJuan Blair was right behind him with 28 points.</p>
<p>Rookie <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="#">Blake Griffin</a> played only 13:47 and was out for the last several minutes of the game. Griffin will be in Saturday's dunk contest and then in Sunday's All-Star Game.</p>
<p>Before these last two victories by the Rookies, the Sophomores had won seven straight.</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/denver-nuggets/2011/2/18/2002290/2011-nba-rookie-game-score-john-wall-takes-mvpRuss Oates2011-02-18T19:59:43-07:002011-02-18T19:59:43-07:002011 NBA Rookie Game: Carmelo Anthony Talks While Rookies Lead Sophomores, 71-69
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<p>At halftime of the Rookie Challenge Game, the Rookies lead the Sophomores, 71-69. One of the highlights of the first half was a <span>DeJuan Blair</span> dunk. From the free throw line, Blair bounced the ball off the back board and made the dunk successfully. There were 22 dunks of all varieties in the first half.</p>
<p>Blair and <span>DeMar DeRozan</span> lead the Sophomore team with 14 points each while <span>Wesley Johnson</span> leads the Rookies with 16 points. As expected this is a offensive game with little in the way of defense being played in the first half. Will that change during the second half of the game?</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="#">Carmelo Anthony</a> is an assistant coach for the Sophomore team, and TNT interviewed him during the last few minutes of the first half. When asked if there were any meetings happening this week, "Melo said there were none. However, at this point, can we trust what he says? As the Melodrama turns. . . .</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/denver-nuggets/2011/2/18/2002255/2011-nba-rookie-game-carmelo-anthony-talks-while-rookies-leadRuss Oates2011-02-17T20:57:32-07:002011-02-17T20:57:32-07:002011 NBA All-Star Weekend Schedule: Rookie Game, Dunk Contest And More
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<p>The 2011 NBA All-Star Game takes place this Sunday, Feb. 20, but there is plenty of other action leading up to the game. From the Rookie Game to the All-Star Game, we have the complete schedule of events taking place inside the Staples Center in Los Angeles this weekend.</p>
<p><b>Friday, Feb. 18<br>All-Star Celebrity Game, 5:00 p.m. MT, ESPN</b> - Justin Bieber and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/">Magic</a> Johnson headline this year's participants.</p>
<p><b>Rookie-Sophomore Challenge, 7:00 p.m. MT, TNT</b> - Somewhat surprisingly, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.denverstiffs.com/">Nuggets</a> point guard <span>Ty Lawson</span> was not selected for the Sophomore team. However, Nuggets fans could get a look at future member of the team in the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/new-jersey-nets">Nets</a>' <span>Derrick Favors</span> should a <a target="_blank" href="http://denver.sbnation.com/denver-nuggets/2011/2/17/2000297/2011-trade-deadline-nba-carmelo-anthony-nets-extension">Carmelo Anthony trade</a> go down. Oh, 'Melo will be an assistant coach for the Sophomore team.</p>
<p><b>Saturday, Feb. 19<br>All-Star Saturday Night, 6:00 p.m. MT, TNT</b><br>Shooting Challenge<br>Skills Challenge <br>3-Point Contest - Voshon Leonard won this contest as a Nugget back in 2004.<br>Slam Dunk Contest - This is the event everyone loves each year, even if it hasn't been truly exciting for years. <span>Blake Griffin</span> is going to be the big draw here.</p>
<p><b>Sunday, Feb. 20<br>2011 NBA All-Star Game, TNT</b> - <span>Carmelo Anthony</span> starts at forward for the Western Conference in the 60th edition of this game.</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/2011/2/17/2329978/2011-nba-all-star-weekend-schedule-rookie-game-dunk-contest-and-moreRuss Oates