By Ernesto Nodado III

PHOTO: Particle News

Gigantic shock from downtown by Karl-Anthony Towns.

Against all odds, the Minnesota Timberwolves center broke big-man shooting stereotypes, clinching a record-breaking win in the Mountain Dew three-point contest at the 2022 NBA All-Star Weekend, Sunday (PhST), inside Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.

Towns displayed spectacular shooting from beyond the arc, hitting perfect racks and crucial money balls to drain 29 points in the final round at capture the three-point contest.

The seven-foot marksman made huge strides in breaking expectations from big men--from the traditional ‘back-to-the-basket plays’ to draining three-point shots.

“This is for all the tall kids who were told they can’t succeed unless they play with their back to the basket,” Towns said, who also won the Skills Challenge back in 2016 All-Star.

His massive win also set a new record for the score in three-point contest history with a whopping 29, eclipsing Devin Booker’s and Stephen Curry’s 28 showcases.

L.A Clippers' Luke Kennard fell short after missing a three in the left-wing rack to settle with 26, while Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young’s sluggish start propelled him to a 22-point ending.

Meanwhile, Desmond Bane, CJ McCollum, Zach Lavine, Patty Mills, and Fred Vanvleet were evicted in the first round and couldn’t advance to the next.

TACO BELL SKILLS CHALLENGE

Evan Mobley showed ice on his veins as he bailed out the Cleveland Cavaliers trio with his first shot in the final round to overcome the Rookies, snatching the Taco Bell Skills Challenge title.

Mobley, the third-overall pick rookie, lifted his comrades Jarett Allen and Darius Garland from the jaws of defeat by hastily deploying his only shot in the halfcourt round with 5.5, overcoming the young squads’ 9.9 finish by Cade Cunningham.

The Rookies, composed of Cunningham, Josh Giddey, and Scottie Barnes, still made a gallant stand as they dominated the qualifying relay round with 1:18.5 but were later on stunned by Mobley’s clutch shot in the final frame.

On the other hand, the Antetokounmpo brothers, Giannis, Alex, and Thanasis find themselves tied with the homecourt triad before Garland’ tiebreaker three-point shot halted them to advance.

DUNK CONTEST

Third time’s the charm for the New York Knicks’ Obi Toppin who went out on a thunderous 92-point performance to bag the AT&T Slam Dunk trophy over Juan Tuscano-Anderson.

Toppin, out to redeem himself after two previous All-Star outings, flashed vindictive dunks between the legs and off the backboard en route to a 45 and 47 in the final round.

The Golden State Warriors’ Tuscano-Anderson, who flopped in the final round, only got 39 in Dunk 1 while failing to execute his Jason Richardson-inspired slam, and just landed with a 30.

Cole Anthony and Jalen Green scored 70 and 83, respectively during the opening frame but couldn’t get over the hump with Toppins’ 90 and Tuscano-Anderson’s 87.

LeBron James will try to defend his undefeated record in the revamped All-Star game format as Team LeBron and Durant will battle it out for the main event tomorrow morning. (PH Time)


Edited by Jostle Doen Pilayre