LOS ANGELES - Indiana's Fred Jones won the dunk contest practically by default Saturday night, dethroning two-time champion Jason Richardson when both missed final jams.
It was hardly a Hollywood ending for Jones, a reserve competing in his first dunk contest after initially declining an invitation because he wanted a vacation on All-Star weekend.
Jones made two impressive dunks early, including a one-handed reverse after throwing a bounce pass to himself from the 3-point line. But two misses on his final turn - on a pass from a friend in the stands - should have made it easy for Richardson to become the contest's first three-time champion.
But Richardson also missed his final dunk, handing the title to Jones.
"It was an honor to be out here, because Jason Richardson is one of the greatest dunkers ever," Jones said.
Boston's Ricky Davis and Denver's Chris Andersen were eliminated in the first round. Davis made one, and Andersen got more cheers for his spiked hair than his jams.
3-POINT CONTEST: Denver's Voshon Lenard denied Sacramento's Peja Stojakovic a third straight win in the shooting contest, winning 18-16 in the final round. The Nuggets guard hit all five red-white-and-blue money balls (worth two points) in the final. Stojakovic needed to hit the last money ball to tie, but it bounced off the rim. Stojakovic could have tied Larry Bird (1986-88) and Craig Hodges (1990-92) as a three-time winner.
SKILLS, SHOOTING CHALLENGE: The Hornets' Baron Davis won the All-Stars skills challenge, and the team of Magic Johnson, Derek Fisher and Lisa Leslie won the Shooting Stars contest. Davis beat Stephon Marbury, Earl Boykins and Fisher in the timed test of passing, dribbling and shooting. Los Angeles repeated as the Shooting Stars champion, beating three other teams in the timed contest.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING: The possibility of a long lockout in the NHL influenced the NBA's decision to extend its collective-bargaining agreement through the 2004-05 season, commissioner David Stern said.
"Frankly, the likelihood that the NHL was going to shut down for at least a season if they could not solve their problems ... was an element in our decision," Stern said at his All-Star news conference.
Stern also said the league and the union reached a preliminary agreement to scrap a rule barring veterans from the first five days of camp next season.
PRESEASON IN CHINA: The league will stage two preseason games in China next season, marking the first time a U.S. prof sports league has played in the world's most populous nation. The Kings and Rockets, who feature Chinese center Yao Ming, an All-Star starter in consecutive seasons, will play in Shanghai (Oct. 14) and Beijing (Oct. 17).
