Cade Cunningham’s second All-Star weekend is underway.
The Detroit Pistons’ budding superstar fell in the first round of the Starry 3-Point Contest Saturday night, finishing with 16 points. Miami Heat sharpshooter Tyler Herro won the contest with 24 points. The event began at 9 p.m., a day before making his debut in the main event, the All-Star game, on Sunday. Saturday’s events tipped off with the 8 p.m. with the Kia Skills Challenge and will conclude with the AT&T Slam Dunk Contest.
Mac McClung clinches first Dunk Contest 3-peat
The G League guard and dunk contest specialist dazzled, clinching his third title in a row while fending off competition from San Antonio Spurs rookie Stephon Castle.
All three of McClung’s dunks were perfect 50s. He capped his performance by jumping over Cleveland Cavaliers 7-footer Evan Mobley and grabbing the ball with both hands, tapping it off of the front of the rim before slamming it in.
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Castle also received a perfect score for his final dunk, pulling off a 360 behind-the-back before cupping the ball in his left hand to finish it.
Hield falls short in 3-Point Contest; Herro takes home win
With 24 points in the second and final round, Herro became the fifth member of the Miami Heat to win the 3-Point contest. Hield, who went last in the order, fell just short with 23 points. He got hot late but missed his second-to-last shot, which would’ve secured the win.
Herro, Brunson knock Cunningham out of 3-point contest
Both Tyler Herro (19 points) and Jalen Brunson (18 points) topped Cunningham’s score of 16 in the 3-point contest, knocking the Pistons’ All-Star out of the contest. Buddy Field (31 points) topped Garland’s 24, and they were joined by Herro in the final round.
Cunningham scores 16 points in 1st round
The 6-foot-6 guard got off to a slow start but got warm toward the end, knocking down four of his final five 3-pointers in his first 3-point contest. He failed to top Darius Garland, who tallied 24 points, but bested Cameron Johnson, who opened the contest with 14 points.
Cunningham ready for 3-Point Contest
The first-time All-Star was all smiles as he was introduced among the eight competitors in this year’s 3-point contest. Brooklyn Nets forward Cameron Johnson led the group off with 14 points. Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland topped him next, with 24 points.
San Antonio Spurs disqualified; Cleveland Cavaliers win Skill Challenge
The Spurs’ superstar duo of Chris Paul and Victor Wembanyama tried to skirt the rules in the Skills Challenge, intentionally missing all of their shots during the shooting portion to advance as quickly as possible. They were eliminated due to the lack of good faith behind the attempts.
Michigan State alumnus Draymond Green and Moses Moody represented the Golden State Warriors and proceeded to the second and final round, along with Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley of the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavaliers went on to win it.
Cade Cunningham in 3-point contest
Cunningham will compete against New York’s Jalen Brunson, Cleveland’s Darius Garland, Miami’s Tyler Herro, the L.A. Clippers’ Norman Powell, Golden State’s Buddy Hield, Brooklyn’s Cameron Johnson and Milwaukee’s Damian Lillard.
Each player will have 70 seconds to shoot 27 3-pointers — 25 divided across five racks along the line, plus two deep shots. Each rack has one “money ball” worth two points. The long-range “Starry balls” count for three points each. The three-highest scorers will advance to the second and final round.
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