GORDON GIVES UP 3-POINT CROWN.
LOS ANGELES — The reigning champion’s honor of going last in the 3-point contest did not work well for Eric Gordon. After sitting through the first seven shooters, by the time he caught a rhythm on the final rack of balls, it was too late.
Gordon’s loss, however, could be the Rockets’ gain.
“Now, I just have to make up for it and make a lot of 3s in the second half of the season,” Gordon said.
“The one thing I hate is going last. You always get a rhythm shooting early. Things happen. You’re going against a lot of good shooters. I was catching it at the end. After I missed one or two, I should have slowed down a little bit and just focused on making them.”
One for the money
Gordon had just five points through the first three racks, hitting just one shot on his money ball rack.
He made four of five shots on the final rack, finishing with 12 points, but needed to have at least 18 points to join Tobias Harris, Klay Thompson and Devin Booker in the championship round.
From there, Phoenix’s Booker dominated, hitting eight of nine money balls and 20 of 25 shots overall to finish with 28 points and take the championship with a record-setting performance.
“It’s a big deal, I’d say, knowing the history of the three-point shootout, all the legends of the game that have been in it from Peja Stojakovic, Larry Bird,” Booker said of breaking the record. “I’m glad my name can be mentioned with those guys. I’m happy to get the win.
“Season not going how we planned, but I know a lot of the city was ready for this All-Star Weekend, having somebody participate. So I’m glad I could win it.”
On a team having a much better season, Gordon looked to the games ahead, but also to a return to an All-Star weekend.
“It’s fun,” Gordon said. “I definitely want to be here next year and for many years. It’s a fun event.”
Dinwiddie wins challenge
Spencer Dinwiddie of the Brooklyn Nets won the skills challenge to kick off NBA AllStar Saturday.
Dinwiddie, who played at Taft High in the Woodland Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, beat Lauri Markkanen of the Chicago Bulls in the final round.
The skills competition consisted of two players going head to head.
They dribbled around pylons, passed the ball into a net, dribbled to the other end of the floor for a layup and then dribbled back to the other end to take a pull-up 3-pointer.
Eight players started the competition, with Dinwiddie and Markkanen advancing to the final.
Markkanen struggled passing the ball into the net, giving Dinwiddie a big lead. Dinwiddie dribbled down the floor and missed his first 3 but drained the next one to win.
Mitchell soars in slam dunk
Utah’s Donovan Mitchell won the slam dunk contest.
Mitchell needed at least a 47 on his final dunk in the championship round to defeat Cleveland’s Larry Nance Jr. and secured a 48 for the win.
Nance Jr. finished his night with a 50, tossing the ball off the glass as he soared toward the basket and jamming it home. He had the crowd on his side just a little over a week after being traded to Cleveland from the hometown Lakers.
Indiana Pacers All-Star Victor Oladipo and Dallas Mavericks rookie point guard Dennis Smith Jr. were eliminated after the first round. Smith, however, did earn the only other 50 of the competition, nailing a between-the-legs 360 reverse on his second dunk of the first round.