NBA All-Star Weekend: Three Point Shootout, Slam Dunk Contest Lineup - Long Island Press

Not like everyone is glued to the TV watching NBA All-Star game weekend activities, but since some people will be plopping themselves in front of TV sets then it's probably important to tell NBA fans what the schedule looks like for Saturday night.

The first big contest of the night is the skills challenge which will pit some of the best point guards in the game against each other, with the victor proving that he can dribble, pass, shoot and zip through obstacles better than the rest.

Competing in what is pretty much a contest only made for point guards will be Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs, John Wall of the Washington Wizards, Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Deron Williams of the New Jersey Nets. Also competing in the skills competition is Rajon Rondo of the Celtics, who is replacing Stephen Curry.

The NBA decided to expand the field of players this year, going with six contestants instead of five.

Next up is the three-point contest which may actually be one of the events actually worth watching because Kevin Durant, one of the best players in the game, will be competing this year.

Durant will try to take down James Jones, the reigning three-point shootout champ.

The other shooters taking the court will be Kevin Love of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Ryan Anderson of the Orlando Magic, Anthony Morrow of the New Jersey Nets and Mario Chalmers of the Miami Heat. Durant is competing in place of Joe Johnson who is out with an injury.

The main event, of course, is the slam dunk contest which features four first-time contestants.

The four men looking to be declared dunk champion are Derrick Williams of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Paul George of the Indiana Pacers, Jeremy Evans of the Utah Jazz and Chase Budinger of the Houston Rockets. Evans replaced New York Knicks rookie guard Iman Shumpert who had to bow out of the dunk contest because of an injury.

The NBA's "All-Star Saturday Night" kicks off at 8:30 p.m. on TNT.

26 Feb, 2012