ped a shot home from the left circle 12 seconds into the midd

LOS ANGELES - As practice wrapped up at the Lakers facility in L.A. on Thursday, Terrence Ross hung around to work on his aerial acrobatics with the assistance of teammate DeMar DeRozan. DeRozan threw the Raptors sophomore and reigning NBA Slam Dunk champion lobs off the side of the backboard, he tossed bounce passes and threw alley-oops. Ross experimented with a variation of finishes. As it turns out, they could both use the practice. The Raptors duo will take part in State Farm All-Star Saturday Night - taking place in New Orleans on Feb. 15 - as Ross returns to defend his title in the Sprite Slam Dunk competition and DeRozan will make an unexpected appearance in the Taco Bell Skills Challenge. After edging out Jeremy Evans to win last years contest in Houston, Ross will have his work cut out for him this time around. For the first time since 1988, three all-stars - Pacers forward Paul George, Wizards guard John Wall and Blazers guard Damian Lillard - will compete in the event. Rounding out the field is Warriors forward Harrison Barnes and Kings rookie guard Ben McLemore. "Everybodys kind of a threat," Ross said of this years competition. "Its going to be fun, everybody wants to win." What will Ross do for an encore? The 23-year-old says hes still searching for ideas, scouring YouTube, Twitter and even using video games to brainstorm. "Everybodys done everything," he continued. "I dont know, its like how many times can you do the same dunk before people get tired of it? So its hard to find new dunks but at the same time you always find something a little different." The one thing he could say with certainty is he will not be using props. While Ross has expected to defend his crown since last season, DeRozans debut in the Skills Challenge comes as a surprise, even to him. "I kind of got peer pressure into doing it," said the first-time all-star, who will also be assisting Ross in the dunk-off. DeRozan initially declined the invitation but his agent twisted his arm and eventually he came around. "I changed my mind. I said Ill try it, why not." "I thought it would be fun," he said of the event, which is usually exclusive for point guards but DeRozan hopes to start a new era of shooting guards entering and conquering the ball handling/passing obstacle course. "Everybody doesnt get a chance to be a part of All-Star Weekend and the big thing for me is to go out there and have fun. I think it will be cool to go out there and represent my team as much as I can and you never know, I might mess around and win it." Along with DeRozan, the participants will consists of Lillard, Goran Dragic, Reggie Jackson and rookies Giannis Antetokounmpo, Michael Carter-Williams, Victor Oladipo and Trey Burke. DeRozan, who has previously competed in the Slam Dunk contest on two separate occasions, will be the first Raptor to appear in the Skills Challenge. Although he wouldnt tip his hand, his strategy centres on speed over precision. "I look at it like, a lot of players go out there and try to do it cool," said the fifth-year guard. "I always used to say, you can go a little faster. So Ive got my whole mindset to try and win it." The format in both events will be tweaked this season. The Skills Challenge will feature four teams of two players each competing in a two-round timed relay-style course. The fastest team from each conference will advance to the second and final round, where the winning pair will be crowned. The Dunk Contest participants will also compete in teams, divided by conference. The competition will tip off with a "freestyle round" where the dunkers for each the East and the West will have 90 seconds to showcase as many dunks as they choose. At the conclusion of the opening round, the panel of judges will vote for a winning conference. The winning conference will decide whether its competitors will dunk first or second in the following round, a head-to-head "battle round". In the battle round dunkers from opposing conferences will face off against each other, with the judges choosing a winner in each battle. The first team to win three battles will win the competition. Fans will then vote on the "Dunker of the Night" from the winning team. Ross is the fifth Raptor to participate in the event, joining DeRozan, Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady and Jamario Moon. Marshon Lattimore Womens Jersey . Wilson hit Schenn from behind during Tuesday nights game in Philadelphia, earning a five-minute major for charging and a game misconduct. He has a phone hearing with the department of player safety, which limits any potential suspension to five or fewer games. Alvin Kamara Youth Jersey . On the eve of the 2013-14 NBA season, he can finally take a step back and allow his team to do the talking. http://www.shoptheofficialsaints.com/Elite-Archie-Manning-Saints-Jersey/ . The two teams will play through the completion of the game starting at 5pm ct on Wednesday. The regularly scheduled Wednesday night matchup will follow that and will now be seven innings. New Orleans Saints Jerseys . Malone will become an unrestricted free-agent and as per the collective bargaining agreement, the Lightning will be responsible for two-thirds of the remainder of his contract over twice the length of the rest of the deal. Archie Manning Jersey . -- When the Los Angeles Kings are on top of their formidable defensive game, they revel in the silence they can create in a frustrated road arena.San Jose, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Sean Monahan scored the game-winning goal 24 seconds into overtime to lift the Calgary Flames to a 4-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Saturday. Paul Byron won a faceoff back to Mark Giordano, who skated across the blue line and backhanded a shot on net. Monahan was there in front to slip the rebound pass Antti Niemi for the win. Lucky enough it bounced right on my stick and I had an open net, Monahan said. Joe Colborne tallied a goal and an assist, Dennis Wideman and Jiri Hudler also scored and Giordano supplied two assists for the Flames, who won their third straight game. Joni Ortio made 19 saves and has now won all three of his NHL starts. Joe Thornton, Logan Couture and Melker Karlsson all lit the lamp and Niemi stopped 19 shots for the Sharks, who had won their previous two games. Calgary got off to a quick start as Wideman blasted a shot through the pads of a screened Niemi 40 seconds into the game. Colborne made it a 2-0 game with a short-handed marker five minutes later. After the Sharks coughed up the puck in their own zone, Colborne took a pass from Matt Stajan, moved in alone on Niemi and cut back from his backhand to his forehand to beat the netminder. We got what we deserved, Sharks coach Todd McLeellan said of the loss.dddddddddddd. Were probably fortunate we got (a point). The start was unacceptable. There are nights where we dont execute. Sometimes its half the team. Tonight it was the whole team. San Jose used a quick goal of its own to cut the deficit in half as Couture snapped a shot home from the left circle 12 seconds into the middle frame. Just over two minutes later, Thornton tied the game with a wrist shot on the power play and Karlsson put the Sharks ahead after he deflected Joe Pavelskis pass into the net nine minutes into the second. A video review upheld the goal as it was determined the puck went in off Karlssons skate without a distinct kicking motion. Calgary evened it back up at 3-3 after Mikael Backlunds shot deflected off a Sharks skate straight to Hudler, who cut across the slot and beat Niemis glove with a quick shot at 11:32. Patrick Marleau had a chance to put San Jose ahead on a breakaway with 10:45 to play, but Ortio snagged his wrister to keep the game tied. Game Notes Thornton tied Norm Ullman for 38th on the NHLs all-time points list with 1,229 ... Calgary has won four of the last five meetings between the two teams ... The two teams will meet again on Feb. 4 in Calgary. ' ' '