NBA All-Star Saturday 2023: Who won the 3-point contest, slam dunk contest, and skills challenge?
The NBA All-Star Saturday 2023 concluded with three events headlining the day: the Skills Challenge, the 3-pt Shooting Contest and the Slam Dunk Contest. All-Stars Jayson Tatum, Damian Lillard, Tyrese Haliburton, Julius Randle and Jrue Holiday were among the notable names participating in Saturday's event.
NBA All-Star Saturday 2023: Who won the Skills Challenge?
The night began with the Skills Challenge. Three teams participated in the competition. Team Antetokounmpo featured Thanasis, Alex Antetokounmpo, with Jrue Holiday, who replaced the injured Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Jordan Clarkson, Collin Sexton and Walker Kessler were in action for Team Jazz, while Paolo Banchero, Jabari Smith Jr. and Jaden Ivey represented Team Rooks (Rookies).
The home team (Team Jazz) won the competition. The rookie trio led after the first round, called "Team Relay," with 100 points, while Utah's hometown team failed to score. However, they stormed back in the next couple of rounds.
The Jazz trio owned the "Team Passing" and "Team Shooting" challenges to seal the win.
NBA All-Star Saturday 2023: Who won the 3-pt Shooting Contest?
The 3-pt Shooting Contest featured a bevy of stars who will be in action for Sunday's main event, with sharpshooters across the NBA. Jayson Tatum and Damian Lillard headlined the competition. Julius Randle, Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield, Tyler Herro, Kevin Heurter and Lauri Markkanen. Randle replaced the injured Anfernee Simons.
The contest started with first-time All-Star Haliburton tying Steph Curry's record tally of 31 points in the first round itself. Lillard and Hield joined him in the final round, securing 26 and 23 points, respectively.
Haliburton failed to replicate his heroics in the final round, managing only 17 points. His Pacers teammate Hield went second and scored 25, setting the target for Lillard to win the competition. Lillard displayed his clutch ability and won the tie on his last shot, scoring 26 points.
NBA All-Star Saturday 2023: Who won the Slam Dunk Contest?
The 2023 NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest was arguably the best since 2020. Philadelphia 76ers' Mac McClung, New York Knicks' Jericho Sims, New Orleans Pelicans' Trey Murphy and Houston Rockets' Kenyon Martin Jr. took part in the competition.
The quartet changed the notion of the contest losing its importance with thunderous dunks from the get-go. McClung and Murphy made it to the final round and put on an enticing contest. The former prevailed after securing 50 points on three separate attempts.
McClung finished the contest with a near 720 slam dunk followed by a staple Vince Carter "it's over" celebration to take home the Slam Dunk contest award in his debut appearance.