NBA All-Star Weekend: Mac McClung Defends Dunk Title, Steph vs. Sabrina Captivates
The NBA All-Star weekend featured exciting events such as the slam dunk contest and the 3-point showdown between Sabrina Ionescu and Steph Curry.
Mac McClung Defends Slam Dunk Contest Title
Mac McClung, known for his viral dunks, won his second consecutive slam dunk contest title at the NBA All-Star weekend. He jumped over Shaquille O'Neal for a two-handed reverse dunk to secure the championship. McClung received a perfect score of 50 from the judges and defeated Jaylen Brown in the final round.
After the win, McClung expressed his gratitude and excitement, saying he couldn't believe what was happening. He mentioned how emotional it was for him to see Shaq wear his high school jersey during the contest. McClung also impressed in the first round with a reverse dunk after grabbing the ball off the top of a person's head.
McClung's victory earned him a prize of $105,000, which was more than what he would make in the G-League this season.
Steph Curry Wins 3-Point Contest vs. Sabrina Ionescu
In a thrilling 3-point shootout, Steph Curry and Sabrina Ionescu competed head-to-head to determine who was the better shooter. Curry, with his career 42.7% 3-point shooting, faced off against Ionescu, who has shot 37.3% from three during her career. Both players showcased their skills, but Curry ultimately won the contest, scoring 29 points.
Ionescu matched the score that Damian Lillard tallied to win the 3-point contest, but Curry outperformed her by scoring three more points. The event marked the first NBA vs. WNBA 3-point challenge, and both players expressed their respect for each other and their desire to showcase the talent of women's sports.
Curry, who now has three 3-point contest wins, praised Ionescu's performance and mentioned the positive impact that their competition can have on young boys and girls watching the game.
Damian Lillard Defends His 3-Point Title
Damian Lillard of the Milwaukee Bucks won the 3-point contest for the second consecutive year. He made a clutch final shot to edge out Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks. Lillard scored 26 points in the final round, while Young scored 24 points.
Lillard's victory marked the first back-to-back win in the 3-point contest since 2007-2008. He showcased his shooting skills by hitting deep-range shots and making the final money-ball shot on each rack. Lillard credited his advantage of going last in each round, allowing him to see the target and know what score he needed to beat.
In the first round, Lillard tied with Young, Tyrese Haliburton, and Karl-Anthony Towns with 26 points. They went to a tiebreaker, where Lillard and Towns advanced to the final round. Lillard earned a prize of $60,000 for his victory.
