MANILA, Philippines — It was a night of close fights in the NBA All-Star 3-point shootout and slam dunk contest in Chicago on Saturday (Sunday Manila time).
Both competitions were decided by a one-point difference with the excitement reaching sky high in the basketball festivities.
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Sacramento Kings' Buddy Hield edged out late-replacement Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns, 27-26 in the 3-point shootout.
Buddy Hield wins the #MtnDew3PT contest by hitting 7 of his last 8 shots and finishing with a final score of 27! #NBAAllStar #SacramentoProud#StateFarmSaturday on @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/0KOrXN6hC3
— 2020 NBA All-Star (@NBAAllStar) February 16, 2020
Hield had to drain his last shot in the moneyball rack to overtake Booker, who won the title back in 2018.
Meanwhile, Derrick Jones Jr. of the Miami Heat and Aaron Gordon of the Orlando Magic participated in a dunk fest that rivaled Gordon's showdown with then-Minnesota Timberwolves star Zach Levine in 2016.
Jones Jr. outlasted Gordon, 198-197, in a high-flying final round that saw both players exchange highlight dunks.
DJJ with the 48!#ATTSlamDunk #StateFarmSaturday @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/00imNrVny0
— NBA (@NBA) February 16, 2020
Jones Jr. hit a windmill as his final dunk attempt and got a 48, which gave him a one-point advantage over Gordon, who dunked over Boston Celtics' Tacko Fall.
???? AARON GORDON DUNKS OVER TACKO FALL! ????#StateFarmSaturday on @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/cMmRjnnTzN
— NBA (@NBA) February 16, 2020
Gordon received a 47 for the attempt — the only dunk he made that night that wasn't scored a 50.
Earlier in the skills challenge, the Miami Heat's Bam Adebayo defeated Indiana's Domantas Sabonis.
Bam Adebayo defeats Domantas Sabonis in the Finals to win the #TacoBellSkills challenge! #NBAAllStar
— NBA (@NBA) February 16, 2020
WATCH #StateFarmSaturday on @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/jLtuRx0wSl