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HOUSTON -- Zach Randolph, DeAndre Jordan and Luis Scola were among the top players who dazzled NBA-starved fans in a charity celebrity game in Houston pulled together by former player and coach John Lucas. Augusto Fernandez Argentina Jersey . But former player Mike James, also a minister, summed up the issue looming on everybodys mind in his pre-game invocation Sunday. "I pray you will unlock the lockout, in Jesus name," James said, to laughter. "Amen." NBA players are taking game opportunities where they can, with the lockout into its fifth month and no end in sight. The players at Lucas game say theyre stressing patience and remain supportive behind union leaders who rejected the leagues latest proposal for a new labour deal. "Im not too optimistic, Im not too pessimistic," said Houston point guard Kyle Lowry, the Rockets player representative. "Were all together, were all in this together. Weve missed cheques, and were going to miss cheques. But we have to get a fair deal." When talks broke off last Monday, NBA commissioner David Stern declared a "nuclear winter" had arrived and said the 2011-12 season was "in jeopardy." The locked-out players began filing class-action antitrust lawsuits against the league in at least two states, saying Sterns ultimatums left them no other choice. "This is for us, this is for the future of the league, this is for everybody," Lowry said. "Its for the good of basketball. Now its up to our lawyers to get this deal done." Meanwhile, more players seem to be considering playing in Europe as an alternative to an NBA season. Kevin Durant was supposed to headline Sundays event, but Lucas said the Oklahoma City star is working on a deal to play in Germany. Kobe Bryant was in contact with a team in Italy and Dwyane Wade authorized his agent to listen to viable offers. Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose also attended, though he sat out the game. Rose has been working out in Los Angeles with other players during the lockout, and said hes not looking to play overseas. "Im not going anywhere, Im good," Rose said. "Im just trying to stay in a nice place where you never know what will happen, or what can happen, what will happen. Now, Im trying to keep myself in nice shape, and stay positive. Hopefully, well have a season Scola has been working with his Argentine national team and a club team in his home country. He was hoping the lockout wouldve ended by now, but may start considering playing overseas as well. "Its very hard to make a plan, because you really dont know whats going to happen," he said. "Ive been saying that I dont want to go to a place for a week or two for three or four months. If I wouldve gone, it wouldve been more than two weeks, it wouldve been two or three months. "At some point, I have to just go play," he said. "I dont know when is going to be that point." For two hours on Sunday night, the players at Lucas game set aside their dispute with owners to remind fans what theyre missing. The six-foot-11 Jordan, a Houston native whos played three seasons with the Clippers, set the tone with three powerful dunks in the first three minutes. Neither side played much defence and the officials hardly blew their whistles in the fast-paced, entertaining game rich in dunks and three-pointers. Kenneth Faried, Denvers first-round pick over the summer, stole the spotlight with a handful of fierce dunks, including a one-handed windmill jam in the second quarter. He was glad to at least get into a simulated NBA game as he awaits the start of his pro career. "Its very helpful, getting a feel for the game and how guys play," Faried said. Lowrys team, which included Scola, Randolph and Marcus Camby defeated a team with Jordan, Damion James and Jordan Hill by a score of 166-157. No individual statistics were kept. "Its good to get some live work in, some action," Jordan said. "Working out an individual drills is not the same as going against a body and getting that real conditioning." The game was played at Delmar Fieldhouse, a 5,400-seat gym on the northwest side of the city. It was the home court for the Houston Cougars basketball team in the late 1960s. Proceeds from the game benefitted Lucas foundation, which helps athletes who need after care or wellness services and programs. Former Rockets Moses Malone and Robert Horry were the celebrity coaches of each team, All-Pro Texans receiver Andre Johnson sat next to Malone and former Rocket Steve Francis sat at courtside in the second half. Hugo Campagnaro Jersey . -- Jacksonville Jaguars rookie receiver Marqise Lee has agreed to terms on a four-year contract worth more than $5 million. Sergio Romero Argentina Jersey . "Yeah, [I heard them]," he said. "They made me miss the free throw." A year ago, Lowrys post-game antics may not have been so well received but what was snide and snarky is now endearing quick wit.RALEIGH, N.C. -- Winless in shootouts this season, the Carolina Hurricanes werent optimistic when Fridays game against the Anaheim Ducks was tied after 65 minutes. But Chris Terry helped the Hurricanes end their homestand successfully, scoring the game-winner in the shootout to lift Carolina to a 3-2 victory over the Ducks. With the win, Carolina improved to 3-10 in shootouts since the start of the 2011-12 season. "Obviously, the confidence wasnt very high going into shootouts," Carolinas Jordan Staal said. "Theres a fine line in those shootouts -- things can go right and wrong pretty quickly. Were glad we got the upper hand tonight." Eric Staal and Drayson Bowman scored for Carolina in regulation while Justin Peters made 28 saves. Peters, who is filling in for the injured Cam Ward and Anton Khudobin, helped Carolina conclude a 4-0-1 homestand by making 138 saves on 144 shots in the five games. "Im just really proud of the effort of the guys," Carolina coach Kirk Muller. "Weve had a couple injuries -- guys have jumped in different spots, different roles, starting with Peters in net. Hes had a great week, great homestand here." Corey Perry had a goal and an assist for the Ducks while Dustin Penner also scored. In his first game since being activated from injured reserve on Thursday, Viktor Fasth stopped 21 shots. After a nine-game stretch in which they went 8-0-1, the Ducks have lost three in a row. Anaheim entered Friday leading the NHL with 31 points. "I think we played pretty well tonight," Anaheims Teemu Selanne said. "The last two games, we havent been at the level where we should be, so were going in the right direction." Perry and Carolinas Riley Nash had scored earlier in the shootout, but Terry won it when he skated quickly at Fasth and made a move before going to his backhand for the goal. Jose Maria Basanta. "Its a different kind of way to help the team, but nonetheless, we got the two points," Terry said. Earlier in the third period, Penner tied the score at 2 with a one-timer on the power play at 7:18. Penners stick broke on the play, but the puck managed to flutter into the net. The Ducks entered the game ranked 28th on the power play, having scored eight goals. Only two of those had come on the road. Carolina took a 2-1 lead 3:01 into the third period when Bowman collected the puck off the boards and charged the net, shovelling the puck past Fasth after he skated along the goal line. After the first 35 minutes had few scoring chances, Anaheim and Carolina both struck in the final five minutes of the second period. The Ducks opened the scoring when Carolinas Justin Faulk made an ill-advised pass through the middle of the ice from deep in his own zone. Anaheims Ryan Getzlaf intercepted the puck and passed it to Perry, who snapped it past from Peters from close range at 18:00 of the second. Perry entered the night tied for sixth in the NHL with 11 goals. Carolina answered 1:43 later with a power-play goal. Semin skated across the blue line and created space by cutting across the middle of the zone. After delaying for an extra second, Semin sent a wrist shot that deflected off Staal and beat a screened Fasth high on the glove side. "We knew he fakes and fakes and fakes and fakes," said Anaheim coach Bruce Boudreau, who coached Semin in Washington. "I think our young penalty killers bit too easily on him there. They hadnt seen him play before." NOTES: Getzlaf returned to the Ducks lineup after missing three games with an upper-body injury. ... After its five-game homestand, Carolina will play three of its next four on the road, beginning Saturday night in St. Louis. ' ' '