Karl-Anthony Towns won the three-point contest at the NBA All-Star Weekend in Cleveland.
The Minnesota Timberwolves center beat Atlanta Hawks’ Trae Young and Los Angeles Clippers’ Luke Kennard in the finals of the show event to set a finals record with 29 points. Young and Kennard each had 26 points.
In the three-pointer competition, participants must throw five three-pointers each from five different positions and hit as many distance shots as possible within one minute. “I think I’m one of the best big hitters in NBA history – I needed this trophy to prove that,” Towns said. At 2.11 meters, the 26-year-old is the second tallest player to win the three-man competition. Only Dirk Nowitzki was taller with 2.13 meters, who was the best three-point shooter in 2006.
Towns honored his late mother at the competition by wearing a necklace from her. Towns’ mother died of complications from the corona virus in April 2020. The NBA usually prohibits the wearing of jewelry.
New York Knicks’ Obi Toppin clinched victory in the dunk contest. The 23-year-old edged out Juan Toscano-Anderson of the Golden State Warriors in the finals and impressed the judges the most. On his final dunk, Toppin scored 47 out of 50 when, after jumping off, he pulled the ball through his legs, tapped the play device against the board with one hand, and then dunk right through the ring.
In the third competition, the so-called Skills Challenge, Jarrett Allen, Darius Garland and Evan Mobley prevailed as Team Cavs. In the final playoff against a team of rookies, the Cavs were the quickest to hit a throw from the center line. The Skills Challenge combines dribble, pass and throw actions.