Narrow misses, untimely slips and repeat victors highlighted the 2010 edition of the NBA All-Star weekend. Here is a brief recap of the events you may have missed or would simply appreciate the opportunity to recall to memory.

H.O.R.S.E

Last season’s Rookie Challenge MVP Kevin Durant comfortably defended his H-O-R-S-E title with victory against Omri Casspi and Rajon Rondo. Despite unsuccessfully trying some new tricks he still managed to claim his second successive title and outclass his resilient competitors.

Taco Bell Skills Challenge

Fresh from lighting the torch at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, “Mr Canada” Steve Nash put in an almost flawless performance to claim victory.

This was his second hold on the title after being victorious in 2005. Admittedly, his victory was created because a mishap from another previous winner, Deron Williams.

Williams, who is also the record-holder of the competition, was on course to break his 25.5 seconds record in the competition, but got stalled on the penultimate obstacle and finished almost 10 seconds behind Nash who finished in 29.9 seconds.

Foot Locker Three-Point Contest

Known more for his scoring abilities versus his shooting prowess, Paul Pierce defied the odds and claimed his first ‘Three-Point’ title.

Pierce, as well as Stephen Curry and Chauncey Billups were the contestants of the final round after acquiring 17, 18 and 17 points respectively in the opening round. Defending champion Daequan Cook, Channing Frye and Danilo Gallinari, who all tallied 15 points, saw their efforts undermined as the top three progressed.

Pierce started the final round and heaped tons of pressure on his fellow contestants after putting up 20 points and this proved effective as both Billups and Curry fell short by a considerable amount.

T-Mobile Rookie Challenge

The adage “all good things must come to an end” proved to be the heart-breaker for the Sophomores as they saw their seven-gaming winning streak snapped by the Rookies.

On Saturday night in Dallas the Rookies led by the competition’s MVP Tyreke Evans upstaged their second-year counterparts 140-128.

In an exhibition game more than anything else the star-studded rookie line-up inclusive of Stephen Curry, Brandon Jennings and DeJuan Blair proved to be too resilient for the likes of OJ Mayo, Michael Beasley and Danilo Gallinari.

Though there is no room for excuses in these fixtures, the absence of Derrick Rose from the sophomore line-up may have played a part in the emergence of the rookies.

Sprite Slam Dunk Contest

After being a fixture of the All-Star weekend for over 20 years, the Slam Dunk Contest finally has a three-time winner. Vince Carter, Jason Richardson, Dominique Wilkins and the legendary Michael Jordan are among an elite list to have won the event twice, but Nate “The Great” Robinson has fired himself into an even greater class by claiming the title three times.

Though it was clearly not as creative as in previous years and though the use of props was completely absent Nate still did what he set out to do and that was to claim the title.

The expected rivalry from Gerald Wallace and Shannon Brown was never seen as only the rookie DeMar DeRozan, who finished the first two rounds with 92 points (three more than eventual winner Robinson) posed a threat. In the end Nate was declared champion after claiming 51 per cent of the fans votes.