NBA: Bolt's east side goes under in celebrity clash

usain-boltHouston, Feb 19 : Jamaica's multiple Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt pulled off a two-handed dunk and became the biggest track-and-field star to play basketball in prime time at the weekend.

Bolt rubbed shoulders with a list of celebrities and was a star attraction during 29 minutes on court in a celebrity basketball match, a precursor to the NBA all-star game.

Bolt hit one of five shots, missed both of his free throws and totalled just two points in his time on court as his east team was thrashed 38-58 by the western team.

Snagging a high pass with his right hand nearing the end of the first quarter, the 6' 5" sprinter controlled the ball and then rose up for a two-handed slam but denied taking more than two steps to complete the shot.

"I got a little bit of skills. For me it was good and I want to dunk some more," he told a television reporter on court.

"Look at my strides. I took like two steps. That's it. Just two."

The Jamaican sprinter played alongside the likes of comedian Kevin Hart, singer Ne-Yo, rapper Common, actor Nick Cannon and former NBA great Dikembe Mutombo.

Bolt opened his 2013 season with a rare run at 400 metres and has talked about expanding his programme for the 2016 Olympics in Rio.(IANS)