McClung, Lillard repeat as All-Star dunk, 3-point champions

INDIANAPOLIS — Mac McClung grew to become the fifth participant in NBA historical past to win back-to-back dunk contests when he ended All-Star Saturday night time with a clinching 50-point slam over Shaquille O’Neal.

McClung, who grew to become a viral sensation in highschool for his high-flying dunks, broke out his highschool jersey when he received the competition a yr in the past. This time, he introduced out a a lot bigger jersey and handed it to O’Neal, who donned the jersey and held the ball above his head for McClung’s fourth and remaining dunk.

The 6-foot-2 McClung cleared O’Neal and completed with a reverse slam for the one 50-point dunk of the night time to defeat 6-foot-6 Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics within the remaining.

McClung, a G Leaguer, mentioned he advised his mother and father in regards to the thought of getting O’Neal put on his Gate Metropolis Excessive Faculty (Virginia) jersey about 5 – 6 weeks in the past, and so they sprang into motion. When it was time for the dunk, McClung mentioned O’Neal advised him one factor.

“I advised him will you place it on, and he mentioned, ‘You higher not miss this dunk,'” McClung mentioned. “I used to be like, ‘All proper, I will not miss it.’

“What a cool man to try this, man. What a terrific man to try this for myself and my hometown. That simply exhibits who he’s. It is actually cool of him.”

McClung mentioned he had been considering for weeks in regards to the dunks and would keep up late at night time texting his finest associates movies of dunks and asking in the event that they thought these had been adequate or not.

“And so they’re like, ‘Yeah, they’re adequate. Now, I’ll mattress,'” McClung mentioned jokingly.

McClung joins Zach LaVine (2015-16), Nate Robinson (2009-10), Jason Richardson (2002-03) and Michael Jordan (1987-88) as the one back-to-back dunk contest champions.

If McClung had been to return to the dunk contest subsequent season, he might turn out to be the primary participant to win in three consecutive seasons and would be part of Robinson as the one three-time champions.

“I am going to give it some thought,” he mentioned when requested if he deliberate to provide it a attempt in 2025.

Brown grew to become the primary participant to compete within the dunk contest in his All-Star season since Victor Oladipo in 2018. The final participant to win the dunk contest in his All-Star season was John Wall in 2014.

Brown made the ultimate with a callback to dunk contest choose Dominique Wilkins together with his first slam then sealed the deal by leaping over YouTuber and social media sensation Kai Cenat, with an help from Celtics teammate Jayson Tatum on the toss.

“I assumed I had enjoyable,” Brown mentioned. “I believe that was what the last word factor, was to exit and have enjoyable. I completed that. It was an honor. Not less than I can say I did it at one level in my profession, and I can reside with that.”

Along with his first dunk within the remaining, McClung jumped over two individuals — one sitting on the opposite’s shoulders — for a 48.8 rating from the panel, simply greater than Brown’s 48.6. Brown donned a Brewster Academy (New Hampshire) jersey honoring Terrence Clarke, a Boston native who performed a season at Kentucky and died in a automobile crash simply months earlier than the 2021 NBA draft.

For his remaining dunk, Brown put a sequined glove on his left hand, a nod to some who’ve joked he does not go left when he drives. Brown jumped over Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell and completed with a left-handed windmill slam for a 49.2.

Needing a minimum of a 49.1 to win, McClung’s dunk over O’Neal capped the victory.

O’Neal additionally was concerned within the night’s first dunk. Miami Warmth rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. jumped over O’Neal however wanted the help of his hand on O’Neal’s shoulder to finish the jam.

After that, New York Knicks ahead Jacob Toppin referred to as upon his older brother and 2022 NBA dunk contest winner Obi for his first dunk. Like Jaquez, Jacob determined to leap over his particular visitor, hitting a reverse slam.

Jaquez (94.2) and Toppin (95.0) didn’t qualify for the ultimate.

Lillard defends 3-point title on final shot

Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard went back-to-back because the NBA 3-point champion, successful this yr’s competitors on the ultimate shot try.

After getting via to the ultimate spherical on a tiebreaker, Lillard made it to his remaining rack tied at 24 factors with Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Younger and needing only one shot to earn the victory.

Lillard missed the primary 4 photographs from the left nook earlier than sinking the ultimate one to earn the victory.

“Once I obtained to the ultimate rack, I did not know my precise rating, however once I missed a pair, I heard the group simply oohing and aahing,” Lillard mentioned. “As soon as they saved doing it again and again, I knew I used to be nonetheless alive as a result of I knew they’d have stopped if it had been over for me. The following two balls, I missed once more, after which I grabbed the subsequent one and I knew I wanted that to win.”

Lillard grew to become the eighth participant in NBA historical past to win a number of 3-point contests and the primary to go back-to-back since Jason Kapono received in 2007 and 2008. Lillard additionally received it final yr whereas with the Portland Path Blazers.

Like the abilities problem that preceded it, the 3-point contest required a tiebreaker after 4 of the eight shooters within the first spherical completed with 26 factors — Lillard, Younger, Minnesota Timberwolves ahead Karl-Anthony Cities and Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton.

Since solely three gamers might advance to the ultimate spherical, a 30-second tiebreaker was held to see which three would transfer on. Haliburton completed with simply 12 factors in that occasion, so the others superior.

Staff Pacers takes abilities problem

It took a pair of tiebreakers, however the hometown Staff Pacers began NBA All-Star Saturday night time with a victory within the abilities problem.

After Staff All-Stars received the ultimate problem to tie the rating at 200, the 2 squads confronted off in a half-court problem. Haliburton clinched the victory by draining his shot for Staff Pacers, who received in roughly half the time it took Staff All-Stars.

“We felt like there was a number of vitality within the constructing,” Haliburton mentioned. “We heard in our intros how loud the group will get, and that was thrilling for us to be part of.

“This complete weekend has been thrilling for us to be part of, I believe all of us can agree, with the ability to do stuff locally, doing model activations, all these items, has been a number of enjoyable. And good for individuals to see our metropolis for what it’s, quite than once they come right here, they do not actually exit as a result of we play the subsequent day or no matter. They’ll truly benefit from the metropolis for what it’s.”

Staff Pacers comprised Haliburton, Bennedict Mathurin and Myles Turner, whereas Staff All-Stars was made up of three Japanese Convention All-Stars: the Hawks’ Younger, Toronto Raptors ahead Scottie Barnes and Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey.

The third crew concerned within the Expertise Problem was Staff Prime Picks, which featured 2020 No. 1 choose Anthony Edwards, 2022 No. 1 choose Paolo Banchero and 2023 No. 1 choose Victor Wembanyama.

Haliburton put an exclamation level on Staff Pacers’ win within the first problem, a relay occasion, ending issues off by going between his legs to throw it off the glass earlier than hitting an emphatic dunk.

Staff Prime Picks had an opportunity at successful the primary problem, however the right-handed Edwards opted to shoot his 3-pointers left-handed, lacking all three.

The second problem was a passing occasion and introduced on a tiebreaker when Staff Pacers and Staff All-Stars every completed with 72 factors. Within the tiebreaker, Staff Pacers earned a 92-90 win.

Within the remaining taking pictures spherical, Staff All-Stars dominated the occasion to tie the competition for the reason that first two challenges had been price 100 factors and the ultimate spherical was price 200. Staff All-Stars took 58.8 seconds to hit its half-court shot within the tiebreaker, opening the door for Haliburton to earn the victory for his crew.