Bodog Beat

Dwight Howard flew like Superman on Saturday night. (AP Images)

The NBA Slam Dunk Contest needed a hero to revitalize the competition. Dwight Howard donned a Superman cape and delivered.

The 6-11 power forward from the Orlando Magic started off by dunking from behind the backboard then, while wearing a cape, leapt so high he was able to throw the ball into the basket as if he was spiking a volleyball. He'd pretty much won the competition at that point as fans and NBA players were awestruck by his performance. The competition had become predictable in recent years but Howard brought back memories of Michael Jordan and Vince Carter with his astonishing dunks.

Howard continued his high-flying escapades by throwing the ball off the backboard with his left hand then catching it with his right to deliver his third dunk in front of fans in New Orleans. He capped the night by placing the ball in a mini-basket that he pasted beside the net. Howard then grabbed the ball while in the air and hammered down a windmill slam.

He won 70 percent of the fan votes over defending champion Gerald Green of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Also during the NBA Skills Competition, Jason Kapono of the Toronto Raptors repeated as the three-point champion. Kapono beat Dirk Nowitzki in the final round by hitting a record-tying 25 three-pointers.

Howard will be part of the Eastern Conference team for Sunday’s All-Star Game (8 p.m. ET, TNT) in the Big Easy. The Western Conference is favored by seven on the point spread.

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