4 matchups we'd want to see in the NBA's HORSE competition

A classic playground game of HORSE is a perfect opportunity for basketball stars to go toe to toe in a test of talent. With the NBA reportedly planning a televised HORSE competition amidst the season hiatus, theScore is pairing off players based on their respective skill sets - and in some cases, rivalries - to create some must-watch matchups for the proposed event.

Notes: Players who were injured when the league halted play were not considered. Additionally, we assumed dunking would not be allowed after the NBA prohibited dunking in its HORSE competitions during All-Star Weekend in 2009 and 2010.

Stephen Curry vs. Damian Lillard

Pairing two of the NBA's elite sharpshooters in Curry and Lillard for a game of HORSE only feels right, especially considering just how far each player can extend his range on the hardwood.

Whether in warmups or during actual games, Curry has proven his range is truly limitless. Pulling up from the edge of the logo or even from half court is well within the realm of possibility for the three-time NBA champ, so one can only imagine the sort of tricks he'd unveil during a creative shooting competition.

Topping Lillard in HORSE wouldn't be a walk in the park for Curry, though. The Portland Trail Blazers' All-Star point guard can stretch the floor with the best of them and has stepped up when it matters most time and time again. Seriously, who else has eliminated two teams from the playoffs with a game-winning dagger?

In a game of HORSE, the importance of the clutch gene can't be emphasized enough.

Trae Young vs. Luka Doncic

Young and Doncic will forever be intertwined and compared after they were essentially traded for one another on draft night in 2018.

Both players have been offensive wrecking balls since entering the league, and both have taken the next step toward stardom with some more experience under their belts this season. While their respective teams may be trending in opposite directions at the moment, there's no denying both can put up points in bunches. Young's 29.6 points per game ranked fourth league-wide when the league suspended play, while Doncic's 28.7 points per contest weren't far behind in sixth.

Given the current circumstances, it's hard to envision a better way to fan the flames of one of the league's most intriguing budding rivalries than with a thrilling HORSE shootout.

LeBron James vs. Zion Williamson

A game of HORSE between two of the league's most physically dominant specimens would be the NBA's closest thing to an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object. Better yet, it would be a great opportunity for the league to showcase a clash between the game's present and future in a creative one-on-one competition. Viewership would undoubtedly be through the roof for any event featuring both James and Williamson, two of the NBA's most marketable stars.

We got a small taste of this battle when the Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans met twice in the span of a week in late February and early March. If this competition came anywhere close to being as exciting as those games, fans would be in for quite a treat.

Ja Morant vs. James Harden

The other prize jewel from the 2019 draft class besides Williamson, Morant solidified himself as a must-watch talent while leading the up-and-coming Memphis Grizzlies toward a surprising playoff berth before play halted. The former Murray State standout has showcased his filthy handle on multiple occasions in his rookie season, and it stands to reason that level of creativity would translate well to HORSE - especially when it comes to incorporating slick dribble moves before even attempting a shot.

Morant would need every ounce of inventiveness to win a matchup against one of the league's craftiest scorers in Harden. Thanks to his nearly unguardable step-back jumper and his ability to get to the free-throw line, the Beard made averaging a league-best 34.4 points per game this season look like child's play. While his ability to draw fouls wouldn't factor into HORSE, few are capable of replicating Harden's devastating step-back, which could definitely serve as a valuable weapon in such a competition.

Though many would surely love to see Harden settle his feud with Giannis Antetokounmpo in a game like this, their stylistic differences wouldn't make it much of a fair fight for the latter. For what it's worth, Harden and Morant also have some history when it comes to trash-talking, something that could very well trickle over to this type of event.