the NBA. But on All-Star Saturday Night in Toronto, he wasn't even
the best shooter on his own team.
In a spectacular final, Curry was dethroned as champion of the
Three-Point Shootout by Klay Thompson, his fellow All-Star and
backcourt mate with the defending champion Golden State Warriors.
The youngsters of the Minnesota Timberwolves captured the other
contests as Zach LaVine soared above Orlando Magic forward Aaron
Gordon to defend his title in a highly competitive Slam Dunk Contest
and rookie center Karl-Anthony Towns was the surprise winner of the
Skills Challenge.
But despite sub-zero temperatures outside the Air Canada Centre,
Curry and Thompson - known as the "Splash Brothers" - heated up very
quickly.
"We love to shoot against each other," said Thompson, who was beaten
by Curry in last year's final. "I've never been on a team with
someone who shoots it better than me, so it's a privilege to work
with him every day. He makes me that much better."
The reigning MVP, Curry is on a record pace with 245 three-pointers
while Thompson is a distant second with 161. But the gap between them
appears to have narrowed.
Thompson went first in the opening round and put up 22 points. Curry
went last and needed to make his last two shots to squeeze into the
final round with 21.
They were joined by Phoenix Suns 19-year-old rookie Devin Booker, a
late addition who notched 20 points, before winning a tiebreaker with
Houston Rockets All-Star guard James Harden and Los Angeles Clippers
guard JJ Redick.
Booker went first in the final round and put up a 16. Next was Curry,
who made his first eight shots and his last six to score a 23,
putting pressure on his teammate.
But Thompson responded. He drained eight straight shots early in his
round, lost his rhythm, then caught fire again as he sank his last
seven shots for a 27, unseating Curry as champion.
"It was like deja vu last year," Thompson said. "I got nervous when
he hit his first eight, and I didn't think he was going to miss. But
it was exciting. ... Back-to-back years for Splash Brothers. It's
pretty cool."
LaVine was an easy winner of last year's Slam Dunk Contest as a
rookie. This time, he was pushed to the limit by Gordon, a
second-year forward who relied on power and creativity to counter
LaVine's long-distance leaping and athleticism.
Gordon began the final round by leaping and grabbing the ball from
the Magic's mascot - appropriately named "Stuff" - who was spinning
on a hoverboard. He cuffed the ball and slammed it for a perfect
score of 50 from the five-judge panel of George Gervin, Dikembe
Mutombo, Tracy McGrady, Shaquille O'Neal and Magic Johnson.
LaVine countered with 360 cuff windmill slam of a bounce lob for a
perfect score.
Gordon was perfect again after jumping over the mascot, grabbing the
ball from him and putting it through his legs before dunking. LaVine
took off from the foul line and rocked the ball before hammering it
home for a 50, forcing sudden death.
After each had another perfect score, Gordon received a 47 for a
driving dunk from the baseline where he put the ball over his head,
rocked it downward and then up again. Sensing an opening, LaVine did
another flying dunk from the foul line, this time putting it through
his legs for his fourth straight perfect score and the win.
"We did some crazy stuff, man. This is ridiculous," LaVine said.
"I've never even tried half of them. I know he hasn't tried some of
them."
The night began with the Skills Challenge, which featured big men for
the first time in its 14-year history. Towns, the first pick in the
2015 draft, bested Boston Celtics All-Star guard Isaiah Thomas, the
last pick of the 2011 draft.
"This is bigger than me," the 7-foot Towns said. "This is for all the
bigs out there, with the game changing the way it is, to show that
bigs can stand up with guards, skill-wise."
The final was heated, with Towns and Thomas racing through the
obstacles and rushing three-pointers before Towns drilled one and was
mobbed by the other big men.
There was a light moment afterward when actor and comedian Kevin Hart
challenged Golden State Warriors All-Star forward Draymond Green to a
three-point shooting contest - and actually tied Green by making
eight shots.