Curry escapes to top Ionescu in first-of-its-kind showcase

INDIANAPOLIS — Stephen Curry was on a roll — and it was barely enough to beat Sabrina Ionescu. And fittingly, he won by three. The Golden State star and NBA’S all-time 3-point king beat Ionescu 29-26 in the Steph vs. Sabrina competition at All-star Saturday night, the first such him-vs.-her event of its kind at the league’s weekend showcase.

“For us to deliver a show like that, it was perfect,” Curry said. “As much excitement as you can build in that short amount of time with two great shooters going at it. This is something we’ll remember for a long time.”

Ionescu won the WNBA’S 3-point shootout at its All-star weekend last year with a record 37 points, smashing Curry’s NBA shootout mark of 31 points. From there, a challenge was thrown down and the plan was concocted for them to meet at All-star weekend.

So they did, and it felt like the main event of the night.

“Hopefully, this isn’t the last time we do this,” Ionescu said.

Given how the fans — and really, everybody from both the NBA and WNBA — seemed to love it, it likely won’t be the last time, especially since Curry and Ionescu talked afterward about adding partners to the mix next year when All-star weekend just happens to be in San Francisco, the area where he plays and she calls home.

Curry’s prize was a championship belt, with images of goats — as in, GOATS — on either side.

And he’s the shooting GOAT, without question. But Ionescu, the New York Liberty star, almost gave him more than he could handle.

Ionescu went first and made 18 of 27 shots — starting 7 for 7.

Curry had to rally a bit at the end, making nine of his last 10 to finish off the win.

Slam dunk contest

G-league champion Mac Mcclung won his second straight event by grabbing the ball out of Shaquille O’neal’s hands and leaping over him to draw five perfect scores on his final attempt.

Mcclung finished with 98.8 points on his final two dunks, one point ahead of Boston Celtics All-star Jaylen Brown.

3-point contest

Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard defended his title by finishing with 26 points in the final round.

Skills challenge

Tyrese Haliburton, a two-time All-star, made the tiebreaking halfcourt shot with 20.5 seconds left in a timed contest to give Team Pacers the crown over Team All-stars.

Darron Cummings The Associated Press Warriors guard Stephen Curry hugs Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu after beating her 29-26 on Saturday in the Steph vs. Sabrina competition in Indianapolis.