Thompson defeated Curry, the reigning MVP and contest champion, by a score of 27-23 in the final.
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Curry batted it down to other end of the court after he and the other National Basketball Association stars who were as captivated as the fans and celebrities sitting courtside charged onto the court after LaVine leaped from just inside the free-throw line, put the ball between his legs in midair and slammed it down. You know, he’s the best shooter I’ve ever seen.
Mark Blinch/AP Curry is dethroned as three-point champ by his teammate Thompson. “It’s the three-pointer’s time now”. I went to school and had to tell my team, ‘Hey guys, I can’t play tonight.’ Because there were four dirty dish plates in the sink and I didn’t get it done.
Arguably the most highly-anticipated portion of All-Star Saturday, this year’s 3-point contest did not disappoint in the least.
“Oh for sure (I feel nostalgic), especially when you get into the Air Canada Centre and it’s the same staff that used to work there in 2002 when my dad retired, same ushers, crew in the background, so a lot of familiar faces”, Curry said. Thompson shot pretty well early, but he truly hit the jackpot with his final two ball racks, including going a flawless five-for-five at the “moneyball” rack to post 27 points and claim the crown.
The six-foot-five LaVine, who won as a 19-year-old rookie last year, joins Michael Jordan (1987-88), Jason Richardson (2002-03) and Nate Robinson (2009-10) as the only back-to-back dunk winners. NBA Day event, part of the All-Star festivities in Toronto on Friday, Feb. 12, 2016.
“Just the fact I got to go up against Steph in the finals again”, Thompson said.
“I like proving people wrong”, Towns said”. He also had high, analytically-minded praise for Thompson and Curry.
Minnesota rookie big man Karl-Anthony Towns won the Skills Challenge, beating out Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas in the final round. “That’s right in his wheelhouse”. Maybe next year the three-point contest will be the main event, and the dunk contest will be on the undercard.
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Maybe Curry and Thompson are starting something, coming into their primes on the league’s best team, at a time when the game is trending directly towards their skill sets. Either way, Thompson is just happy for the recognition; and for a rare win over his teammate. “So I think that was my goal, and I did it”. “So I’ve got a couple properties that aren’t doing too well”.
