NBA All Star 2021: Slam Dunk Contest updates, Three points and Skills Challenge winner... | Live online
NBA All-Stars 2021: Skills, three points & dunk contest: live
NBA All Star Game 2021 : Team LeBron beats Team Durant, scores, highlights
Skills, 3-points and Dunks at the All-Star Game
Domantas Sabonis won the Skills contest, taking the final against Nikola Vucevic.
Steph Curry was crowned 3-Point Contest champion. He racked up a massive 31 points in the first round, before hitting his final shot to get to 28 in the final round and beat Mike Conley, who finished on 27.
Anfernee Simons wins the Slam Dunk Contest with an attempted kiss on the hoop. He just backed out before landing his lips on it, but did enough to convince the judges.
That's all from us on this feed, hope you enjoyed the coverage and thanks so much for being with us.
Team LeBron win it! 170-150 final score and they win every quarter.
Target score 170! We play till one side hits that target.
Team LeBron have won the first three quarters. 146-125 the current standing.
Simons plucking the ball from 12 feet up on the backboard.
If he'd landed the kiss that would have been beyond legendary
First ever Portland Trailblazer to win it!
Simons... he takes it 3-2!
Simons goes for a standard dunk WITH A KISS ON THE RIM. But he just backs out from the final smooch. Very close though.
Simons has to fancy his chances here after that.
Toppin fluffs his first. He then gets his second, rather tame compared to what we just saw. He jumped, moved the ball from left to right through his legs before dunking. Nice, but spectacular.
Final round! This isn't scored. It's just done by judges picking their favourite.
He gets it this time! Soars over, one hand on a shoulder, and windmills the ball into the hoop.
Judges give it a 46! He's into the final.
46+48 = 94
Toppin goes over the two men and just misses the dunk... he's going for it again
Obi Toppin needs 34 to advance. He's bringing out friends for this one...
Simons bounces one straight in front of the hoop, catches and does an aerial 360 before dunking. Nice. That'll put him in the final.
Judges give it a 49! Wow, best of the night they reckon. 46+49=95
Anfernee Simons up for his second dunk.
Cassius Stanley up. He looked to go for the same dunk... but he fumbles the ball and doesn't make.
He tries it again and again fails to control the ball.
Finally dunks one, off a bounced ball, but that's not good enough to get back into this. Nice dunk, but pretty standard stuff.
Judges give it a 37. 44+37 = 81
Second round is go
1st dunk, 1st round
Obi Toppin - 48
Anfernee Simons - 46
Cassius Stanley - 44
Anfernee Simons goes third. He's got a ball attached to the backboard. 12 feet in the air.
Simons leaps and... grabs it and DUNKS it. Awesome height.
Judges give it... 46!
Toppin does a reverse dunk back over his head. You'll need to see it a couple of times to work out what he did. Bounce under the leg to pick up and reverse slam. New.
48 points from the judges!
Obi Toppin next up.
Coming in from the right... bounces, catches, under the knee and SLAMS. Great hang time, hand switch in the air under the knee... tasty!
44 points!
Cassius Stanley first up!!
Two dunks each in the first round, three attempts per dunk. 6-10 points per dunk. Two dunkers with highest score go into final round.
Five judges sitting on this one, all former slam dunk champions: Spud Webb, Dee Brown, Josh Smith, Jason Richardson, Dominique Wilkins
Dunk participants: Obi Toppin (Knicks), Anfernee Simons (Trail Blazers), Cassius Stanley (Pacers)
Time for some dunks!!
Curry hits his 6th three of the quarter!
Team LeBron win the second quarter easily, 60-41.
But then Steph Curry comes back out and hits a 3-pointer with his first effort.
5 minutes left in the 2nd quarter. Team LeBron all square at 28 with Team Durant.
2,500 fans in the arena, but it sounds a lot louder
Second quarter underway, and score is reset to 0-0.
Team LeBron wins first quarter 40-39.
Curry top scorer after 10 minutes.
Chatting with Curry courtside. He's asked if he spoke to the other participants in the 3-Point Contest ahead of the competition and asked them: "Which one of you is shooting for second?" He laughs.
Curry nails two 3-pointers in a row from EXACTLY THE SAME SPOT he put his winning shot from in the 3-Point contest.
6 minutes left in the first quarter, Lebron 23 - 20 Durant.
Curry misses his first 3-point attempt in the All-Star Game... used them all up in the contest?
Curry with his final shot to win the 3-Point Contest
After his first round of 31 we didn't expect it to be so close, but Curry knew he had that final shot.
Moment's silence ahead of the All-Star Game for the 2.5 million people who have lost their lives around the world to covid-19
That one's going in...
Watch Curry's last ball again, it's great the way he knows the very INSTANT it leaves his fingers that it's going in. Range locked in.
NBA All Star Game live online: Team LeBron vs Team Durant
After the 3-point contest we've got no more and no less than the All-Star Game! We've got live coverage of that on our dedicated game feed, hosted by none other than CJ. Head over and check it out.
We'll have all the coverage of the half-time slam dunk contest here on this feed - don't miss that!
Second time Steph Curry collects the 3-point contest trophy, after his first win in 2015.
Curry: "My mind went blank on that last ball. I just knew I had to knock it down. It was a fun contest!"
Curry up to take his 3-point contest trophy!!
CURRY DOES IT! Started very poorly but what a finish to get to 28 and take the 3-point contest!
Conley grinning at this, as the nerves kick in with Curry landing basket after basket.
Curry only on 12 with 30 seconds left...money rack to come...
Misses the first four!! Curry is fallible.
Curry up for the final round.
27! That's a decent score from Conley. Great final rack of balls to make Curry at least think about.
14 with 30 seconds left!
Solid start from Conley!
Mike Conley, who got 28 in the first round, is up next!
Tatum fast through the balls but he's only got 17. Nothing from the money rack
Tatum struggling early on. He's onto 11 with 30 seconds left.
Jayson Tatum up first!
Tatum, followed by Conley followed by 31-point Curry.
3-point contest. We've got Steph Curry, Jayson Tatum and Mike Conley in the final round!
Curry needed 22 to avoid elimination... he's HIT 31!! "Come on!" he shouts as he walks off.
But Curry has found his rhythm and it's pop, pop, pop. Onto 17 with 30 seconds left and he's still got his money rack.
Curry misses his first two!
Steph Curry up to the racks...
Mitchell JUST GETS ONTO 22 and avoids being knocked out with his last throw!
Mitchell's eye and arm have not turned up tonight! He's on 8 with 30 seconds. He needs 22 to avoid elimination!
Donovan Mitchell is go!
Conley ON FIRE at the end there. He's racked up a solid 28 points in the first round!
Mike Conley, the oldest man in the field is up next! 33 years old and a wealth of experience. 18 points with 30 seconds left!
Mountain Dew Scholarship awarded: $50,000 for education to two students.
We're having an extended break in the contest at the moment. Players looking like they want to get on with it.
Zach Lavine's put up not a bad score, but he's not happy about it. Just too erratic.
Zach Lavine makes it to 22, remember Tatum is on 25.
30 seconds left and he's only on 13...
Zach Levine starts with the money ball rack and misses the first two! But gets the next three. He'll take that.
Tatum solid. He's got 3 from the money rack and that takes him to 25! That's a good score.
4 in... misses the 5th. He's got great rhythm here, but misses the Mountain Dew ball. 30 seconds left and he's already onto 15!
Jason Tatum up next!!
Mountain Dew ball goes in! His money rack was decent. And he finishes with 17 points. Don't think that'll be enough to do it. Walking into his rack halfway through didn't help!
Jaylen Brown up first! First 3 in, then misses the next 3.
The rules!
For the second consecutive year, the MTN DEW 3-Point Contest will feature the “MTN DEW Zone” – two deep shot locations positioned equidistant between the traditional racks at the top of the 3-point arc and the adjacent “wing” rack. Each of the two ball pedestals in the MTN DEW Zone is located 6 feet behind the 3-point line and holds one special green ball, the “3-Ball.” Shots made with the green ball are worth three points.
In addition to the two shots in the MTN DEW Zone, the MTN DEW 3-Point Contest will have five main shooting locations – four racks containing four official NBA game balls (each worth one point) and one multicolored “money” ball (worth two points), as well as one special “all money ball” rack. Every ball on the all money ball rack, which each participant can place at any of the five traditional shooting locations, is worth two points.
Each competitor will have 70 seconds (1:10) to shoot as many as the 27 balls as he can, with a maximum possible score of 40 points in a round. The three competitors with the highest scores in the first round will advance to the championship round.
The player with the highest score in the championship round will win the MTN DEW 3-Point Contest.
Money balls first up or wait till the end when you've got your rhythm. That's the big question.
NBA All Star Game live online: Team LeBron vs Team Durant
NBA All-Star Game 2021
Our build-up to Team LeBron vs Team Durant is well underway. That's what multiple tabs are for, right?!
Steph Curry, winner in 2015, last to be presented.
Players being introduced...
3-point contest about to get underway!
Next up... the 3-point contest.
Steph Curry, Zach LaVine, Mike Conley, Donovan Mitchell, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown lining up.
Sabonis says the trophy goes to all the fans who couldn't be here tonight.
NBA announcer says $250,000 already raised for HBCUs and people suffering from Covid.
Both miss, miss, miss the 3-pointers AND IT'S SABONIS WHO GETS HIS FIRST! The runner-up last year, Domantas Sabonis, is this year's Skills Challenge champion!
Vucevic in the lead!
Both hit the pass!
Off we go!
Sabonis vs Vucevic about to start...
Funky skills video from the season so far.
Break for some break-dancing from the 404 Crew, whose page had definitely loaded.
Sabonis has looked so good throughout. Money has to be on him, he's not missed a thing so far.
Sabonis v Vucevic in the final round.
They can't get the 3-points... miss after miss BUT FINALLY VUCEVIC GETS HIS! He's into the final round.
Both get the pass... Paul misses the lay-up!!
Chris Paul vs Nikola Vucevic!
Sabonis just romped that one! A full court length ahead as he popped home the 3-pointer. He's in the final round!
Doncic v Sabonis!
Vucevic will play Chris Paul in the second round!
Covington caught up after missing the pass, but Vucevic JUST got to the three-pointer first and NAILED IT.
Covington misses the pass!
Vucevic v Covington!
And Sabonis nails the three-pointer to go through to the second round! Looked fast, composed and confident throughout that.
First challenge is between Sabonis and Randle. Off they go... and both make the first pass!
Skills challenge: dribbling, passing, agility and shooting. It's one on one in a bracket system.
Luka Dončić (Mavericks) first up, followed by Domantas Sabonis (Pacers), Julius Randle (Knicks), Nikola Vucevic (Magic), Chris Paul (Suns) and Robert Covington (Trail Blazers).
ATL Boom, the Hawks' drumline, are up and hitting some rhythm before we get down to the action. They're followed by Sir Foster, the Hawkes' organist. He's got some tasty riffs.
Chris Paul taking about the skills. Saying the pass is one of the key elements of the event. He's got a bye into the second round.
Covington says he went through the course really well earlier in the day. He's looking relaxed and confident. He's wearing a number 22 Tennessee State jersey, his alma mater.
Small forward Covington is 30 years old, and stands 6ft 7in.
Coverage up and running!
The skills challenge is about to start. Doncic and Paul get a bye to the second round. Sabonis faces Randle. Vucevic faces Covington in the first round.
NBA Slam Dunk Contest odds
Obi Toppin is favourite to take this one, but the bookies are seeing this one as tighter than the 3-point contest by a long way.
Obi Toppin +150
Anfernee Simons +175
Cassius Stanley +200
3-point contest odds
Wow, would you believe it... Steph Curry is indeed the favourite to land the 3-point contest, with Zach LaVine a fair old way behind.
Steph Curry +125
Zach LaVine +400
Mike Conley +500
Donovan Mitchell +550
Jayson Tatum +700
Jaylen Brown +850
NBA Skills Challenge Odds
The running is currently as follows (from William Hill)
Luka Dončić +225
Chris Paul +250
Domantas Sabonis +500
Julius Randle +550
Nikola Vucevic +550
Robert Covington +600
Skills challenge and 3 Point contest - not long to go
Less than 20 minutes to the start of tonight's action. The Skills Challenge and 3 Point contest get underway at 6:30 pm ET. The 70th NBA All-Star game then follows at 8 pm. The slam dunk contest is at half-time in the game.
Talking of three-pointers...
Here’s the longest one ever. Baron Davies for the Hornets against the Bucks in 2001, nailing one from a long, long way out. 89 feet is given as the record.
Jae Crowder did send one in from further back... from behind his own line in fact trying to send a pass the length of the court, but of course that didn’t count. That was in 2015, Celtics v Pacers.
Alas none of tonight’s events feature 90-foot shots. We’d love to see that.
NBA All-Star: who has won the most Slam Dunk Contests?
NBA All-Stars slammin' it!
Although the AT&T Slam Dunk competition is not taking place until half-time in the main game, it always possible that you just can't wait for some facts on what many regard as he highlight of the weekend.
If you want to impress your friends about the records and history of the contest that seems to get more inventive every year, check out our article.
Tonight's action in summary
As we've said, this year the best of All-Star is all wrapped into one night!
Let @jahronmon take you through what we can expect from the star-studded All-Star Game, the exciting competitions and musical performances that are jam packed into one amazing show, all in support of Historically Black Colleges and Universities and communities of color impacted by covid-19.
NBA All-Star: which players have won the most 3-Point Contests?
3-point legends
Over its 35-year history, only six players have managed to win the 3-Point Contest on more than one occasion.
Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird won the inaugural edition in 1986, as well as the two following editions in 1987 and 1988. Bird’s three consecutive 3-Point Contest victories puts him top of the leaderboard, where he is joined by Craig Hodges.
The former Chicago Bulls shooting guard also won the contest on three consecutive occasions in 1990, 1991 and 1992. Hodges also holds the 3-Point Contest records for most shots made in one round (21/25), set in 1986, and most consecutive shots made (19), set in 1991.
Want more trivia on the 3-point contest? We're here to help...
3-point contest: what to do
A quick explanation from the organisers.
For the second consecutive year, the MTN DEW 3-Point Contest will feature the “MTN DEW Zone” – two deep shot locations positioned equidistant between the traditional racks at the top of the 3-point arc and the adjacent “wing” rack. Each of the two ball pedestals in the MTN DEW Zone is located 6 feet behind the 3-point line and holds one special green ball, the “3-Ball.” Shots made with the green ball are worth three points.
In addition to the two shots in the MTN DEW Zone, the MTN DEW 3-Point Contest will have five main shooting locations – four racks containing four official NBA game balls (each worth one point) and one multicolored “money” ball (worth two points), as well as one special “all money ball” rack. Every ball on the all money ball rack, which each participant can place at any of the five traditional shooting locations, is worth two points.
Each competitor will have 70 seconds (1:10) to shoot as many as the 27 balls as he can, with a maximum possible score of 40 points in a round. The three competitors with the highest scores in the first round will advance to the championship round.
The player with the highest score in the championship round will win the MTN DEW 3-Point Contest.
Simple, right?!
3-point contest: participants
This year's line-up is a special one, consisting of only current NBA All-Stars, the first time that has happened.
Stephen Curry, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Zach LaVine, Donovan Mitchell, Mike Conley (who replaces the injured Devin Booker) will be throwing them up for points and worthy causes prizes.
MTN DEW 3-Point Contest
After the tasty skills warm-up, we're going to be moving onto the three-point contest. Find out who's got the rhythm to pop them in from each of the stations around the arc.
The MTN DEW 3-Point Contest is a two-round, timed shooting competition. And the final ball in each section carries more weight.
Skills winners
Here is a list of the Taco Bell Skill Challenge Winners from 2003. Who will add their name to this list over the coming hours?
2003 – Jason Kidd, New Jersey
2004 – Baron Davis, New Orleans
2005 – Steve Nash, Phoenix
2006 – Dwyane Wade, Miami
2007 – Dwyane Wade, Miami
2008 – Deron Williams, Utah
2009 – Derrick Rose, Chicago
2010 – Steve Nash, Phoenix
2011 – Stephen Curry, Golden State
2012 – Tony Parker, San Antonio
2013 – Damian Lillard, Portland
2014 – Trey Burke, Utah and Damian Lillard, Portland
2015 – Patrick Beverley, Houston
2016 – Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota
2017 – Kristaps Porzingis, New York
2018 – Spencer Dinwiddie, Brooklyn
2019 – Jayson Tatum, Boston
2020 – Bam Adebayo, Miami
Skills to pay the bills
Luka Dončić, who was named an NBA All-Star Game starter for the second year in a row, joins Sabonis (the 2020 runner-up) and Vučević as second-time participants in the skills challenge.
Paul, an NBA All-Star selection for the 11th time, will make his record fifth appearance in the challenge and his first since 2011, while Randle and Covington will make their event debuts.
Skills Challenge: participants
In what is the 19th Taco Bell Skills Challenge, we will watch Robert Covington, Luka Dončić, Chris Paul, Julius Randle, Domantas Sabonis and Nikola Vučević show off their stuff.
The obstacle course that is laid out in front of them will test their dribbling, passing, agility and even their 3-point accuracy.
Let's have a look at some of the players that will be involved...
Taco Bell Skills Challenge
Back to the aperitivo, appetiser or hors d'oeuvres - we do have a very international line-up tonight after all - and the Skills Challenge will test a number of players' talents.
NBA All Star Game 2021: times, TV and how to watch online
NBA All-Star game 2021
Of course, we very much hope you'll join us for coverage of the game itself, but if you're looking for information on when it is and how to watch it, here's our handy guide.
NBA All Star: how were starters and reserve players chosen?
Team LeBron vs Team Durant
Before we get stuck into the details and fun of the warm-up entertainment, let's have a quick look at the main event of tonight: the 2021 All-Star Game.
Captains Lebron James and Kevin Durant sat 'virtually' side-by-side on Thursday evening and made their draft picks from the starters and reserves that had been voted for.
Here's what happened and who ended up with who:
NBA All-Stars 2021: Skills, three points & dunk contest: welcome
Hello and a very warm welcome to our live coverage of tonight's action from Atlanta, Georgia: home to the 2021 NBA All-Stars game.
We know just how much you love the extra contests that take place on All-Star weekend, and because this covid-19 has reduced the activity to just one night, we're providing you with a dedicated feed on the skills challenge, the three-points contest and the slam dunk competition.
The excitement is building...