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Keshan Johnson wins dunk contest; Damian Lillard wins 3rd 3-point contest

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NBA: All Star-Saturday NightFeb 14, 2026; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) celebrates with the trophy after winning the three point contest during the 2026 NBA All Star Saturday Night at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Keshad Johnson of the Miami Heat has not started a game this season, Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers has not played in one, and yet both made their impact on All-Star Weekend.

Johnson delivered the defining moment of his short two-season NBA career so far when he won the Slam Dunk competition over rookie Carter Bryant of the San Antonio Spurs to close out Saturday’s prelude of events to Sunday’s All-Star Game.

In the 3-point Contest, the veteran Lillard defeated seven other long-distance shooting rivals and won the event for a third time, tying the record previously held by Larry Bird and Craig Hodges. The 35-year-old has been out due to an Achilles injury.

Johnson used a between-the-legs reverse dunk and a running dunk from just inside the free-throw line to post a combined score of 97.4 in the final round. He then had to wait out a final dunk from Bryant, who delivered a perfect 50.0 on his opening dunk of the final round.

Needing a score of 47.5 to become the dunk champion in his native Southern California, Bryant struggled to deliver some flash and settled for a 360-degree dunk just before time expired. His score of 43.0 left him with a final-round total of 93.0.

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Eliminated in the opening round of the dunk competition were Jase Richardson of the Orlando Magic and Jaxson Hayes of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Johnson, who has played in just 21 games off the bench this season and averages 7.6 minutes per game, outlasted them all.

Lillard’s 3-point victory was almost as much of a surprise. He has been out of action since an Achilles tear during last season’s playoffs as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks.

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“For me, it means a lot just being able to get involved in some competition, feel a little bit of pressure, to do something that I haven’t been able to do all year,” Lillard said. “But just as a shooter, any time you can get in this competition and win it amongst other great shooters, I think that’s one of the greatest honors you can have as a shooter in this league.”

Lillard scored 29 points in the final round to hold off Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns, who had 27 in the final after posting a high score of 30 while advancing from the first round. Rookie Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets also advanced to the final round but was eliminated with a score of 17.

While Lillard made his final 3-point shot to record his 29, Booker reached 27 by making his first two shots on the final rack of balls, then missed all three of his final shots, any one of which would have forced overtime in the competition.

In addition to Booker’s 30 in the first round, Knueppel and Lillard each scored 27 to move on. Failing to advance were the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Donovan Mitchell (24), the Miami Heat’s Norman Powell (23), the Denver Nuggets’ Jamal Murray (18), the Philadelphia 76ers’ Tyrese Maxey (17) and the Milwaukee Bucks’ Bobby Portis Jr. (15).

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Lillard said his entry in the contest started off as a joke between NBA executive Michael Levine and became a reality when one player in the field backed out.

“It didn’t really take much,” Lillard said “I think I’ve done it enough times. … I think this was my sixth time doing it. I get up every day, and my mind is engaged in being able to play the game. I knew it was an opportunity to get back on this stage.”

Team Knicks — comprised of Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and team legend Allan Houston — won the Shooting Stars contest with a dominating 47 points in the final. Team Cameron – consisting of former Duke players Jalen Johnson, Kon Knueppel and Corey Maggette — were the runner-up with 38 points.

The Shooting Stars competition had all three players shoot from seven different spots on the floor with each distance worth a varying amount of points.

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Team All Star (Scottie Barnes, Chet Holmgren, Richard Hamilton) and Team Harper (Dylan Harper, Ron Harper Jr., Ron Harper) were eliminated in the first round of the Shooting Stars contest.

–Doug Padilla, Field Level Media

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Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Martin Bakole all on one heavyweight’s hit list: “It’s personal”

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Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Martin Bakole are all being targeted by a world-ranked heavyweight contender, with Bakole representing a particularly “personal” option.

The 34-year-old has not fought since his controversial draw with Efe Ajagba in May, when many believed he should have been handed a points defeat.

Prior to that, Bakole had suffered a second-round stoppage loss to Joseph Parker, who he faced on just two days’ notice, which followed his stunning fifth-round finish over Jared Anderson.

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It was back in 2022, though, that the Congolese giant claimed arguably a more surprising upset victory by edging a majority decision against Tony Yoka.

Back then, this was considered little more than a development fight for Yoka, who had crafted an unbeaten record after claiming gold at the Rio Olympics in 2016.

After losing to Bakole, though, the Frenchman later suffered split decision defeats to Carlos Takam and Ryad Merhy, before reigniting his career with four wins on the bounce.

Now gearing up to face former world cruiserweight champion Lawrence Okolie at the Adidas Arena, Paris, on April 25, the 33-year-old hopes to eventually exact his revenge on Bakole.

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Speaking with Playbook Boxing, Yoka – who is of Congolese descent – named Bakole, Joshua and Fury as three potential opponents after his clash with Okolie.

“I need to beat Bakole – that’s personal. That’s the first fight I lost, we’re both from the same country [The Democratic Republic of the Congo] and we need to make that happen over there, in Kinshasa.

“So I need to beat Bakole first, then I would love to fight Anthony. That would be a great fight, just because it would be so big – especially in my country [France]. It would be two Olympic gold medallists fighting in a stadium.

“And why not Tyson Fury? Tyson Fury’s one of the greatest [heavyweight] boxers ever. He’s so strange, but also he’s just too good.”

It is yet to become clear who Joshua will face in his comeback fight, which has been slated for July by Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn.

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Fury, meanwhile, will face Arslanbek Makhmudov at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 11 after ending his year-long retirement in January.

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India cruise past Wales 4-1, confirm Women’s Hockey World Cup spot | Other Sports News

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The Indian women’s hockey team delivered a commanding 4–1 victory over Wales in their Pool B clash at the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup Qualifiers 2026 in Hyderabad, confirming their place in the upcoming FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup.

 


Star forward Navneet Kaur stole the spotlight with a brilliant hat-trick, while Sakshi Rana opened the scoring at the G. M. C. Balayogi Hockey Stadium on Wednesday evening. With the emphatic win, India not only finished strongly in the pool stage but also secured qualification for the global event set to be held next year in Belgium and the Netherlands.

 
 

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India Start Strong Against Wales

 


India began the match with intensity, overwhelming Wales with aggressive pressing and quick attacking moves.

 

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The breakthrough came in the 7th minute when Salima Tete surged down the right flank and set up Sakshi Rana, who unleashed a powerful reverse hit from the edge of the circle to give the hosts a 1–0 lead.

 


Wales attempted to respond midway through the second quarter but Indian goalkeeper Bichu Devi produced a crucial save to deny their first penalty corner opportunity.

 

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Just before halftime, Navneet Kaur doubled India’s advantage. The forward converted a penalty corner with a precise low drag-flick in the 29th minute, sending India into the break with a comfortable 2–0 lead.

 


Navneet Kaur Leads the Charge

 

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Navneet continued her outstanding performance in the second half. She added her second goal with another penalty corner conversion, extending India’s lead to 3–0 and firmly putting the hosts in control of the contest.

 


The Indian attack maintained relentless pressure, with players like Sunelita Toppo combining effectively with Sakshi Rana to stretch the Welsh defence.

 

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Wales Show Brief Resistance

 


Wales managed to pull one goal back in the 39th minute through Betsan Thomas, who capitalized on a counterattack and slotted the ball home from a tight angle.

 

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The visitors briefly threatened to close the gap further but India quickly regained control of possession and territory.

 


In the final quarter, Wales had a chance to reduce the deficit after earning a penalty stroke, but the attempt was missed.

 

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Navneet Kaur then wrapped up the match in style by converting a penalty stroke in the 55th minute, completing her hat-trick and sealing India’s dominant 4-1 victory. 

 


India Secure Top Spot in Pool B

 

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The win ensured that India finished top of Pool B in the Hyderabad qualifiers. Importantly, it also helped the hosts avoid a potential semifinal clash with England, giving them a more favorable route as the knockout stages approach.

 


Head coach Joerd Marijne had earlier stressed the need for improved finishing following India’s 2–2 draw against Scotland, and the team responded with a clinical attacking display against Wales.

 

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India will now face Italy in the semifinals as they aim to secure a place in the final of the qualifiers.

 


How India qualified for the Women’s Hockey World Cup before semis?

 

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Qualification for the FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup is being determined through two separate qualifying tournaments, each featuring eight teams, making 16 teams in total competing for seven World Cup spots.

 


The first qualifying event in Santiago, Chile, has already concluded, with Chile, Australia, and Ireland confirming their World Cup places.

 

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The Hyderabad qualifiers provide three automatic spots for the teams that finish in the top positions.

 


The seventh and final spot is reserved for the highest-ranked team (in the FIH World Rankings) that finishes fourth in either tournament.

 

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In the Santiago event, Japan, currently ranked No. 15 in the world, finished fourth. India, however, are ranked No. 9 in the world.

 


Because of this ranking gap, India would have to suffer a massive points drop from losing their remaining matches to fall below Japan in the rankings, a scenario that is mathematically impossible. As a result, India secured their World Cup qualification even before the semifinals of the Hyderabad event.

 

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A boost ahead of the global stage

 


India’s dominant performance, highlighted by Navneet Kaur’s hat-trick, not only secured a convincing win but also confirmed their participation in the next Women’s Hockey World Cup.

 

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With momentum on their side and a semifinal clash against Italy ahead, the Indian team will now aim to carry this form forward as they prepare for the biggest stage in international women’s hockey.

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What are Cradle Breaches in Warzone Black Ops Royale

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Cradle Breaches are a new gameplay feature added in Warzone Black Ops Royale as a part of the latest update. These are basically hotspot areas on the Avalon map where players can find high-tier loot and take part in some activities during a match. The zones are dangerous as they spawn zombies, powerful bosses, and real opponents. If you manage to complete the activities, you can earn various rewards, including Exotic Weapons and Armors.

Read on to know more about Cradle Breaches in Warzone Black Ops Royale.


Cradle Breaches in Warzone Black Ops Royale: Explained

Cradle Breaches are the new hotspot locations in Warzone Black Ops Royale that offer high-risk, high-reward gameplay. These zones are extremely dangerous as they are filled with hordes of zombies, along with real opponents to face off against. During a match, a jet will fly over the area and drop a Cradle Gas Bomb into the ground.

A still of  Cradle Breaches gameplay in Warzone Black Ops Royale (Image via Activision)A still of  Cradle Breaches gameplay in Warzone Black Ops Royale (Image via Activision)
A still of Cradle Breaches gameplay in Warzone Black Ops Royale (Image via Activision)

Read more: How to get Blundergat & Sundergat Wonder Weapon in Black Ops 7 Zombies Paradox Junction

This drops a tube structure that releases red smoke, which soon covers the surrounding areas. Any players inside the zone will then start hallucinating and encounter zombies. The real challenge during this time is that the zombies can easily distract you, and you’ll struggle to fight actual opponents.

An image showcasing the Mystery Box after defeating zombies  (Image via Activision) An image showcasing the Mystery Box after defeating zombies  (Image via Activision)
An image showcasing the Mystery Box after defeating zombies (Image via Activision)

Check out: All Warzone and Black Ops 7 Season 2 Week 6 Challenges and rewards

The red smoke stays for a certain period of time, and when it clears out, all enemies and reward opportunities disappear. Cradle Breaches also offer players two activities, which are fighting the Mangler and opening the Mystery Box.

The Mangler is a powerful Cradle Boss that offers high-tier loot once you defeat it. To get the Mystery Boxes, you need to defeat the hordes of zombies. Once they are defeated, a wooden box will drop, which contains Exotic Weapons as a reward.

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