Fast Break

Basketball

Superman returns for dunk contest

Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard will try to defend his Slam Dunk championship at the NBA All-Star weekend in Phoenix in February.

In New Orleans last season, Howard edged defending champion Gerald Green for the title in one of the most creative competitions in recent history. Howard scored perfect 50s on both of his first-round dunks – one of which included his donning a cape for a “Superman” dunk.

Howard will face off against Memphis’ Rudy Gay and 2006 winner Nate Robinson of the New York Knicks. A fan vote will pick the fourth competitor between Milwaukee’s Joe Alexander, Portland’s Rudy Fernandez, and Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook.

On Thursday, Howard had 12 points and 15 rebounds as Orlando defeated New Orleans 88-68 for its sixth consecutive victory (In brief, C2). Hedo Turkoglu scored a game-high 20 points for the Magic and David West led New Orleans with 13 points.

TENNIS

Mary Pierce plans to play French Open

Two-time Grand Slam champion Mary Pierce isn’t ready to hang up her racket just yet.

Out with a knee injury since 2006, the Frenchwoman told sports daily L’Equipe that she’d like to play at the French Open.

“I care about Roland Garros. If I could stand in center court for one match, that would already be a big victory,” she said.