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Jayson Tatum, Joe Harris & Hamidou Diallo win Satutday’s 2019 NBA All-Star Contests

Jayson Tatum nails half-court shot to win 2019 NBA Skills Challenge

Jack Baer | Yahoo Sports

As the finals of the 2019 NBA Skills Challenge reached its last stage, it was Atlanta Hawks rookie Trae Young who was first to the 3-point line. And yet, it was the Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum who got the first shot off.

With an incredible half-court shot to close out the finals and cap off his third comeback in the event, Tatum won the Skills Challenge after topping Young, Nikola Jokic and Mike Conley in Charlotte. Tatum didn’t even break stride as he released the winning shot.

“I’m just here trying to have fun. I threw it up and it went in,” Tatum said in a TNT interview after the event.

Tatum had to come from behind in all three of his matchups, eventually prevailing in the 3-point shooting phase. In total, Tatum attempted just four 3-pointers, including the half-court shot, during the entire event.

First, Tatum edged the veteran Conley after falling behind due to a missed pass.

More: https://sports.yahoo.com/jayson-tatum-nails-halfcourt-shot-win-2019-nba-skills-challenge-014236519.html

Joe Harris edges out Steph Curry to win 2019 3-Point Contest

Ryan Young | Yahoo Sports

Steph Curry has more than proven himself to be one of the best 3-point shooters in NBA history.

On Saturday night, however, the Golden State Warriors star fell just short.

Instead, it was Brooklyn Nets guard Joe Harris who dominated the 3-Point Challenge at the Spectrum Center on Saturday, winning the second contest of the night after posting a 26 in the championship round.

“I’m just fortunate to be here,” Harris said after the event on TNT. “We were talking about it coming in, obviously the field is stacked … It’s just an honor to be here, an honor to compete with everybody.”

And while many would be weary of going first, Harris was happy about it. That, he said, actually gave him an edge.

“I actually thought it would be an advantage because I was able to warm up beforehand,” Harris said on TNT. “Instead of coming down and sitting and getting cold, I was able to get warm and get myself in a rhythm.”

Opening round

Harris flew threw the opening round of the contest, getting out to a hot start with a 25 after making his last eight shots and making all five of his money-rack shots.

Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield edged Harris out for the lead with a 26 soon after. Curry, though, flew through the first round after making his final 10 shots — six of which were money balls — to grab the lead with 27.

Championship round

Harris kicked off the championship round and upped his score to 26, thanks to a perfect money-ball rack to close out the round.

Hield started off slow in his championship round, making just five of his first 15 shots. The slow start plagued the Kings guard, who finished with 19 to secure a third-place finish.

Curry didn’t waste any time, hitting his first nine shots in the championship round. While it looked as if he was going to cruise to the win, Curry stalled near the halfway point. He missed the mark just slightly, finishing with a 24 to give Harris the win.

Harris, who was in his first 3-Point Contest, has averaged 13.9 points in 54 games for the Nets this season, and is shooting nearly 47 percent from behind the arc.

https://sports.yahoo.com/joe-harris-edges-steph-curry-win-2019-3-point-contest-023355214.html

With Russ, Shaq and Migos behind him, Hamidou Diallo wins 2019 NBA Slam Dunk Contest

Jack Baer | Yahoo Sports

He didn’t exactly have a ton of competition, but it was Hamidou Diallo who shined the brightest during the 2019 NBA Slam Dunk Contest on Saturday.

The Oklahoma City Thunder guard won the event with a litany of guest stars beside him, with Russell Westbrook, Migos’ Quavo and Shaquille O’Neal all making appearances.

Hamidou Diallo’s big night at the Slam Dunk Contest

The highlight of the night was undoubtedly the dunk featuring Shaq, in which Diallo jumped over the seven-footer and landed an incredible elbow dunk.

All in all, a pretty lackluster Slam Dunk Contest between the many tries some players needed and the sheer farce of some other attempts. But at least we had Diallo’s Shaq dunk, which is all we need to remember from this event.

More: https://sports.yahoo.com/russ-shaq-migos-behind-hamidou-diallo-wins-2019-nba-slam-dunk-contest-033155661.html

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Stephen and Seth Curry have a major bet riding on the 3-point contest

Nick Schwartz | USA TODAY SPORTS

Hometown heroes Stephen and Seth Curry will face off against a lineup of some of the best shooters in the NBA on Saturday night in the 3-point contest in Charlotte, and the two brothers placed a significant bet on the outcome of the event. Stephen Curry explained the wager during All-Star media day.

Family is obviously big for us and our support and so we kind of wanted to weave that into the bet, so whoever loses has to pick up the tab for all the tickets any time we play against each other for the rest of our careers, which…. The stakes are high, considering how many people show up for our games. I’ve got to get the best of him tonight.”

If both Curry brothers remain with their current teams, they’ll play each other four times per season – and could potentially meet in the playoffs, when ticket prices will skyrocket. This bet has the potential to get very costly for the loser.

Seth Curry’s Trail Blazers just defeated Steph Curry’s Warriors before the All-Star break began, and the younger Curry finished the game with a highlight-reel play against the two-time MVP.

Source: https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/02/seth-curry-stephen-curry-bet

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Anthony Davis: ‘I never said Boston wasn’t on my list’

Anthony Davis on His Future – Full Interview | February 16, 2019 NBA All Star Media Day

Maybe Anthony Davis is willing to play for the Celtics after all

Ben Weinrib | Yahoo Sports

The 2018-19 NBA season has been filled with drama, and no story has been bigger than Anthony Davis’ future outside of the New Orleans Pelicans.

Since Davis requested a trade, much has been made about how the star big man did not want to play for the Boston Celtics. His agents indicated to the Pelicans that he’d only be willing to sign a long-term extension with the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks and Milwaukee Bucks, while Davis’ father said he didn’t want his son playing for the Celtics because of how they treated Isaiah Thomas.

However, he played down those rumors in a press conference on Saturday.

That’s not exactly a ringing endorsement from Davis about Boston, even if it is the warmest he’s been to playing in green. Of course, Davis may be watching his words more after he was fined $50,000 by the league when his agent, Rich Paul, went public with the trade request.

Is there any team Davis won’t play for?

After the press conference, Davis went on NBATV’s broadcast of the All-Star Game’s media day, where he spoke further about his future with the Pelicans and possibly the Celtics.

Anthony Davis CONFIRRMS Boton on the list

When asked about the report that he’d be willing to play for the Celtics, Davis didn’t sound particularly enthused to play in Boston as much as excited to play anywhere but New Orleans.

“All 29 other teams are on my list,” Davis said. “I don’t have a preferred destination. Like I said, I just want to win. It could be a big market, small market. I don’t care. I want to win. Obviously whatever team I get traded to or play for that year or whatever, if I get traded, I’m not sure. I’ll make the best of it, and then when free agency comes, we’ll see what happens. I can’t tell the future, but all 29 teams are on the list.”

That line is surely going to irk plenty of Pelicans fans since he’s making his disdain for the only franchise he’s ever known clear. Davis may be covering his tracks as far as his desire to play for the Lakers, but it comes across as the Pelicans — forget the Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls — having the worst situation in basketball.

Do the Celtics have a realistic shot?

The Celtics are often brought up in Davis talks because they can offer the biggest package for Davis this side of Zion Williamson. With as many as four first-round picks in the upcoming draft plus young twenty-somethings Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Terry Rozier, the Celtics have much more than, say, the Lakers to offer.

However, Davis’ latest comments indicated that he is excited for the prospect of free agency and won’t necessarily commit to a long-term contract with any team he’s dealt to. The Celtics may be hesitant to include Tatum in a deal for Davis, and they certainly will if Davis can just leave after one season.

Boston couldn’t submit an offer for Davis before the trade deadline because of the Rose Rule, but they will continue to come up since Davis is close with Celtics star Kyrie Irving, who reportedly pitched the All-Star on playing for the Celtics. Irving is now his own flight risk after his latest comments, but the Celtics have the firepower to add Davis if they’re willing to take a leap of faith.

https://sports.yahoo.com/maybe-anthony-davis-willing-play-celtics-162020095.html

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WATCH: Mom Sonya Curry makes insane half-court Steph-like shot with a hilarious twerkin’ celebraton – all for a good cause

Steph Curry and family put on show, highlighted by mom’s halfcourt shot, while giving back

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — No matter what Steph Curry does in the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday night, it’ll be hard to top what his mother did here Friday.

In a packed gymnasium at Carole Hoefener Center, in front of Charlotte’s mayor and North Carolina’s governor, Sonya Curry hit a halfcourt shot to win a family shootout.

When the basketball she flung with her right hand – almost like a bowling ball – fell through the hoop, Sonya Curry raced around the court and broke into a frenzied dance before accepting a championship belt.

What did Steph Curry have to say about his mom’s feat during a contest that included four teams that also featured Steph Curry’s brother, Seth, a sixth-year NBA player; and their father, Dell, the former NBA standout who retired in 2002 as the highest-scoring player in Charlotte Hornets’ history?

“I don’t know know because I was too busy running around,’’ Sonya Curry told USA TODAY Sports with a smile. “I haven’t even talked to him about the shot yet.’’

The Curry family gathered Friday to celebrate their refurbishing of the community center in honor of their Charlotte roots at the same time the All-Star Game is being played here. With support from partners such as Under Armour, Chase and the NBA Players Association Foundation, the project includes a computer lab, a new STEM education space and new locker rooms, along with the refurbished indoor gym and the “Curry Court,” as the basketball court has been named.

The affection between Curry and the community — represented at the community center by an energized crowd of about 500 people — was clear. After the family shooting contest, he officiated a basketball game involving eighth-graders and at one point grabbed an errant ball and, to the delight of everyone, jacked up a 3-pointer.

A brick.

But his opening remarks were on target.

“This community has helped me because the man I am today, on and off the court,’’ said Curry, whose wife, Ayesha, and their three young children were in attendance. “…Charlotte will always be home.’’

Yet it was his mother whole stole the show when the action commenced.

“Actually, Dell and I were working out at Lifetime Gym the day before yesterday and he’s like ‘come in the gym and rebound for me,’ ’’ Sonya Curry said. “So then he was shooting halfcourt shots and I was shooting it the regular way and I was like, ‘I can’t get it anywhere. Hmm.’

“So I just flipped it (underhand) and the first time, I didn’t make it but it hit like right at the rim. I said, ‘Dell, I’m going to do this when we get up there.’ ”

She declared as much before the competition.

“Ayesha said, ‘You talk mad trash,’ ” Sonya Curry said with a laugh. “So when (the shot) actually went in, I said, ‘Oh, my Gosh. I cannot believe this.’ I think it was God’s blessing to me for this weekend.’’

For the record, Sonya Curry, who played volleyball in college, said it was the first time she has made halfcourt shot. But she took a modicum of credit for her famous son’s shot that came of age in this city.

“The most I kind of influenced that was this one time when he was just really, really frustrated because Dell had moved him in and wouldn’t let him move back until he was more consistent with his shot,’’ Sonya Curry said. “And so he got really frustrated because he wasn’t able to get to the free-throw line with the new shot. …

“One day he was outside and he was just tearing up and I went out and I was like, ‘Look, dude. You got two choices. And one is to stand out here and give up. Or two, keep trying and it’s up to you.’ And he just turned around and started shooting and that was the end of it.

“So I think with me, most of my role has been a lot of cheering them on and not coddling them, but cheering them on saying, ‘Hey, you can push through this. You can do it.’ ”

More: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/allstar/2019/02/15/steph-curry-mom-sonya-halfcourt-shot/2887615002/

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NBA All-Star Schedule, Rosters, How to Watch Every All-Star Event

Rising Stars Challenge, Dunk Contest, 3 Point Contest, Skills Challenge, and All Star Game

USA TODAY SPORTS

NBA All-Star Weekend 2019 starts tonight in what will be an action-packed and star-studded few days. The Rising Stars take center stage in Charlotte this evening, before Saturday’s individual events and Sunday’s battle royale between Team LeBron and Team Giannis in the NBA All-Star Game.

The NBA All-Star Weekend schedule is below, including participants and rosters.

How to Watch NBA Rising Stars Challenge

  • Date: Friday, February 15
  • Time: 9 p.m. ET
  • TV: TNT

The 2019 Rising Stars Challenge might feature the most-stacked rosters since it moved to the Team U.S. vs. Team World format. Jayson Tatum, Donovan Mitchell, and Kyle Kuzma have lit the league on fire in their first two seasons and will represent the US. On Team World, rookie sensation Luka Doncic will try to replicate one of the most electrifying first seasons in recent memory.

How to Watch NBA Skills Challenge

  • Date: Saturday, February 16
  • Time: 8 p.m. ET
  • TV: TNT

The NBA Skills Challenge is equally loaded with top talent. Doncic, already a legendary passer, will try to assert his all-around abilities as top in the league. But veteran Mike Conley and newcomers Trae Young, De’Aaron Fox, Jayson Tatum, and Nikola Jokic will have plenty to say about that.

How to Watch NBA 3-Point Contest

  • Date: Saturday, February 16
  • Time: 8 p.m. ET
  • TV: TNT

The NBA 3-Point Contest will be the second event of Saturday night and features the NBA’s best-known sharpshooters. Dirk Nowitzki is taking one last run to add to his title collection while contending with defending champion Devin Booker and the league’s consensus long-distance ruler in Steph Curry.

How to Watch NBA Slam Dunk Contest

  • Date: Saturday, February 16
  • Time: 8 p.m. ET
  • TV: TNT

The NBA Slam Dunk Contest will be the last of the events on Saturday night. The Slam Dunk participants are Miles Bridges, John Colins, Hamidou Diallo, and Dennis Smith Jr.

How to Watch NBA All-Star Game

  • Date: Sunday, February 17
  • Time: 8 p.m. ET
  • TV: TNT

Finally, the weekend will be capped with the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday night. The rosters for Team Giannis and Team LeBron are below.

Team LeBron Roster

LeBron James

Kevin Durant

Kyrie Irving

Kawhi Leonard

James Harden

Anthony Davis

Klay Thompson

Damian Lillard

Ben Simmons

LaMarcus Aldridge

Karl-Anthony Towns

Bradley Beal

Dwyane Wade

Team Giannis Roster

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Steph Curry

Joel Embiid

Paul George

Kemba Walker

Khris Middleton

Nikola Jokic

Russell Westbrook

Blake Griffin

D’Angelo Russell

Nikola Vucevic

Kyle Lowry

Dirk Nowitzki

Source: https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/02/how-to-watch-nba-all-star-weekend-onlineu

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😂Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson on if he can beat Michael Jordan: ‘Yeah cause he old’👌

Nate Scott | USA TODAY SPORTS

It’s the NBA All-Star weekend, which means we don’t get to watch a lot of basketball but we do get to complain about how the dunk contest isn’t what it used to be.

We also get to have press conferences from rising NBA players, who occasionally say something that makes us laugh.

That honor on Friday belonged to Grizzlies rookie Jaren Jackson Jr., the 6’11” big out of Michigan State who was picked fourth overall in last year’s NBA draft.

A reporter asked Jackson if he could play any NBA legend in 1-on-1, to which Jackson thought about it for a second, then said Michael Jordan. When asked if he thought he would win, Jackson said yeah. Because Jordan is old.

Here is the thing. He’s not wrong! Michael Jordan is old. And Jackson is 19 and 6’11” and is an active professional athlete. I’m not saying Jordan doesn’t score on him a few times, but I am going to take the 19-year-old NBA player over the 55-year-old NBA executive.

What makes me the happiest about this quote, though, is that I know Jordan is seething about it. Dude is trying to organize a 1-on-1 game right now. When they’re done with basketball, they’ll play golf. Then after that, poker. Jordan doesn’t take kindly to slights.

Source: https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/02/grizzlies-jaron-jackson-michael-jordan