Lillard repeats as Three-Point Contest champion
Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard repeated as the Three-Point Contest champion, beating Karl-Anthony Towns and Trae Young with a final-round score of 26.
Lillard became the first player to go back-to-back in the marquee sharpshooting event since Jason Kapono did so in 2007-08. The 33-year-old also joins Larry Bird, Craig Hodges, Mark Price, Jeff Hornacek, and Peja Stojakovic as repeat winners.
The Bucks star missed four of his first five shots but made seven of his last eight. He also made four out of his five money balls, with the rack being placed on the wing. Lillard drained one of his two Starry shots, worth three points.
Lillard drained his last shot to beat Young, who was previously in the lead.
Final round
Player | Team | Score |
---|---|---|
Damian Lillard | Milwaukee Bucks | 26 |
Trae Young | Atlanta Hawks | 24 |
Karl-Anthony Towns | Minnesota Timberwolves | 22 |
First round
The competition was fierce from the beginning, as four players tied with 26 points in the opening round. Lillard eliminated hometown star Tyrese Haliburton in the tiebreaking round. Both players were in the final round of last season's competition.
Player | Team | Score |
---|---|---|
Trae Young | Atlanta Hawks | 26 |
Tyrese Haliburton | Indiana Pacers | 26 |
Karl-Anthony Towns | Minnesota Timberwolves | 26 |
Damian Lillard | Milwaukee Bucks | 26 |
Lauri Markkanen | Utah Jazz | 25 |
Jalen Brunson | New York Knicks | 24 |
Donovan Mitchell | Cleveland Cavaliers | 21 |
Malik Beasley | Milwaukee Bucks | 20 |
Six of the eight challengers - Lillard, Towns, Young, Haliburton, Markkanen, and Mitchell - competed in the event in previous seasons. Lillard also followed in Kapono's footsteps by winning the competition as a member of two different teams after winning as a member of the Portland Trail Blazers last year.