Damian Lillard Defeats Trae Young To Maintain His 3-Point Title
Last season, Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers prevailed in the shooting duel.
The Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard defeated Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young in the championship game of the All-Star Weekend, effectively defending his NBA 3-point contest title on Saturday night.
Now only the sixth player in history to win at least two 3-point titles, Lillard, 33, took home the trophy in the shooting competition last season while still playing for the Portland Trail Blazers. The chance to be successful was almost lost on him.
After round one, Young, 25, and three other players were tied at 26 points apiece. The Indiana Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton was eliminated in a tiebreaker after Damian Lillard equaled their score.
The second man out was Karl Anthony-Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves, who had emerged victorious from the 3-point shootout a few years prior. This meant that Lillard and Young would face off in the championship round.
In the final round, Lillard overcame Young by a mere two points, solidifying his position as the top 3-point shooter in the league—that is, until Stephen Curry defeated Sabrina Ionescu in a rematch not too long after.
