It was “Dame Time” again on Saturday night in Indianapolis.
Damian Lillard successfully defended his 3-point title during NBA All-Star festivities.
The Milwaukee Bucks guard posted 26 points in the final round, edging out Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young’s 24-point performance.
Lillard, known for his clutch performances late in games, sealed the title with his final shot. The eight-time All-Star pointed to his wrist, a signature celebration, after making the winning basket from the corner.
Damian Lillard wins the 3-point contest on the last shot! pic.twitter.com/JV3eGufqm2
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) February 18, 2024
“When I got to the final rack, I didn’t know my exact score, but when I missed a couple, I heard the crowd just oohing and aahing. Once they kept doing it over and over, I knew I was still alive because I knew they would have stopped if it had been over for me,” the 33-year-old said. “The next two balls, I missed again, and then I grabbed the next one and I knew I needed that to win.”
After his victory, the Weber State product said he didn’t prepare for the competition.
“My first two times I [competed], I was practicing, I had racks … and I went out there and just didn’t win,” the 12-year veteran said. “Then last year I just went in there. I never practiced, I never shot off a rack, I didn’t do none of that. I just showed up and won.”
In the competition’s first round, Lillard posted 26 points to tie with Young, the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns, and the Indiana Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton, who was playing in front of his home crowd. The reigning champion Lillard was the last shooter in Saturday night’s final, posting 26 points to surpass Young’s 24 points.
“Everybody shot well. This [year’s 3-point contest] was a little more fun, a little bit more rewarding. We had to really shoot it in to win,” Lillard said. “This one feels good, doing it two times in a row.”
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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