LOS ANGELES: Paying homage to a close friend who died this week, Blake Griffin dunked over a car to win the 2011 NBA All-Star Slam Dunk competition over Washington's JaVale McGee. “I dedicate this to my best friend who passed away Wednesday,” said Griffin speaking to the crowd from center court of Staples Center arena. “He would be watching me here so I wanted to dedicate this to him.” Los Angeles Clippers rookie forward Griffin's final show-stopping dunk earned him 68 percent of the fan votes to beat McGee who finished with 32 percent. Griffin soared over the hood of a Kia car as teammate Baron Davis popped through the sunroof and passed him the ball. Griffin then slammed the ball through the rim in one motion while the choir sang R. Kelly's 1996 hit ‘I Believe I Can Fly' from the movie Space Jam. McGee's final dunk in the preliminary round was a leaping attack on the rim where he slammed three-consecutive balls through the hoop. McGee posted a perfect score from the judges on the most suspenseful dunk of the evening. He brought out another backboard and dunked on both rims at the same time. Miami Heat's James Jones won the three-point shooting contest by beating Boston Celtic teammates Ray Allen and Paul Pierce in the final round. Golden State's Stephen Curry beat Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook to win the Skills Challenge, and a three-person team from Atlanta won the Shooting Stars competition. – Agence France
