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Heat's Johnson holds off Spurs' Bryant to win Slam Dunk contest

Adam Pantozzi / National Basketball Association / Getty

Miami Heat wing Keshad Johnson won the 2026 Slam Dunk contest, defeating San Antonio Spurs rookie Carter Bryant in the final.

Johnson scored a combined 97.4 points with his two dunks in the final round, concluding with a monster one-handed windmill for 47.8 points.

Bryant put up the night's only 50-point dunk with his first attempt of the final, a through-the-legs cram off a self-assisted bounce pass in which he nearly went eye-level with the rim.

However, needing a 48 or better to hold off Johnson for the Slam Dunk crown, Bryant struggled to convert his second attempt, forcing him to resort to a simple two-handed throwdown for 43 points before his allotted time expired. He finished with a combined score of 93 in Round 2 after leading the Round 1 field with 94.8 points.

Johnson impressed out of the gate with his first slam. The second-year Heat forward easily jumped over rapper E-40 while posing with one hand behind his head as he dunked it with the other.

Orlando Magic guard Jase Richardson and Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes also competed in Saturday's competition. Richardson had a scary moment during his second dunk attempt when the ball got caught on the side of the backboard, causing him to fall hard on his back.

The 20-year-old recovered but finished Round 1 with the lowest combined score of all four competitors at 88.8.

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