All-Star Saturday: Robinson, Gordon, Porzingis steal the show
It wasn't the most memorable Saturday night All-Star Weekend has ever produced, but there were still plenty of moments worth reliving.
Slam Dunk Contest
The least talked-about entrant leading up to Saturday's dunk contest emerged victorious, as Glenn Robinson III defeated Derrick Jones Jr. in the final, thanks to this night-capping jam:
GR3 makes a statement in the #VerizonDunk Contest. pic.twitter.com/ZuuhHreqFa
— NBA (@NBA) February 19, 2017
Related: Watch every dunk from the 2017 Slam Dunk Contest
The Final:
2nd 50 of the night. @TheRea1DJones put on a show down in the Big Easy. ✈️✈️✈️#VerizonDunk pic.twitter.com/4EphROcMRV
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) February 19, 2017
| Dunker | Score |
|---|---|
| Glenn Robinson III | 94 (44+50) |
| Derrick Jones Jr. | 87 (37+50) |
First round:
| Dunker | Score |
|---|---|
| Jones Jr. | 95 (45+50) |
| Robinson III | 91 (50+41) |
| DeAndre Jordan | 84 (41+43) |
| Aaron Gordon | 72 (38+34) |
Derrick Jones, Jr.
Jones lived up to the hype in the first round, leaping over four of his Suns teammates for his opening number before throwing down the following beauty on his second dunk:
Derrick Jones Jr. was born to dunk. #VerizonDunk#StateFarmSaturday pic.twitter.com/NLqCuzjzRA
— NBA (@NBA) February 19, 2017
Derrick Jones Jr. everyone... #VerizonDunk pic.twitter.com/eDpv83NhO4
— NBA (@NBA) February 19, 2017
Glenn Robinson III
Robinson earned the first perfect 50 of the night by dunking over two people. The Pacers youngster then channeled his inner Dee Brown:
Glenn Robinson finale çıkıyor. pic.twitter.com/gUOBcqAd4l
— PickAndRoll.org (@pickandrollorg) February 19, 2017
Aaron Gordon
Gordon needed four attempts - which sunk his score (38) with the judges - but he did take the ball from a moving drone before going between his legs.
The drone with the assist to @Double0AG!
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 19, 2017
38 PTS pic.twitter.com/1CJaODkGKT
Gordon's night didn't last long, however, as last year's darling of All-Star Saturday night couldn't even complete his final dunk of the first round.
DeAndre Jordan
Jordan got things started by jumping over DJ Khaled's booth, but the judges weren't impressed, giving the Clippers big man a 41.
DJ jumps the DJ booth in the #VerizonDunk Contest! @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/Z4Y9msy2Lt
— NBA (@NBA) February 19, 2017
3-Point Contest
Eric Gordon's career year from beyond the arc reached its apex Saturday night at Smoothie King Center, with the Houston Rockets guard edging Kyrie Irving in a tiebreaker to win the 3-point contest.
The Final:
Congratulations @TheofficialEG10 on winning the #JBL3PT contest! ☔️ pic.twitter.com/byRReB9qnj
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) February 19, 2017
| Shooter | Score | Tiebreaker |
|---|---|---|
| Eric Gordon | 20 | 21 |
| Kyrie Irving | 20 | 18 |
| Kemba Walker | 17 | N/A |
First round:
| Shooter | Score |
|---|---|
| Eric Gordon | 25* |
| Kyrie Irving | 20* |
| Kemba Walker | 19* |
| Klay Thompson | 18 |
| Nick Young | 18 |
| Wesley Matthews | 11 |
| C.J. McCollum | 10 |
| Kyle Lowry | 9 |
Skills Challenge
Kristaps Porzingis took down the big men, then bested Gordon Hayward in the final to claim the 2017 Taco Bell Skills Challenge title. It's the second straight year that the competition was won by a big man (Karl-Anthony Towns, 2016), and the first time a Knick has won the event.
All 3⃣ rounds of KP the 🦄! pic.twitter.com/xjfZrhHhYh
— NBA (@NBA) February 19, 2017
The Final:
Kristaps Porzingis defeats Gordon Hayward
A 7'3" #TacoBellSkills Challenge winner?
— NBA (@NBA) February 19, 2017
Kristaps Porzingis is a 🦄 for sure. pic.twitter.com/SjFFE5ABeU
Semifinals:
Gordon Hayward defeats Isaiah Thomas
Kristaps Porzingis defeats Nikola Jokic
First round:
Gordon Hayward defeats John Wall
Isaiah Thomas defeats Devin Booker
Kristaps Porzingis defeats DeMarcus Cousins
Nikola Jokic defeats Anthony Davis
#SagerStrong
The feel-good moment of the night came courtesy a cavalcade of NBA stars, legends, and celebrities, whose impromptu 3-point shooting raised $500,000 for the foundation created in Craig Sager's honor.