Who won NBA Slam Dunk Contest? (It was an epic battle)

Karl-Anthony Towns showed big men have skills too Saturday night as the seven-footer from the Minnesota Timberwolves beat Boston guard Isaiah Thomas in the National Basketball Association skills challenge.

But he may have had the most memorable dunks of the night with some help from the Magic’s mascot – aptly named Stuff the Magic Dragon.

Gordon did an absurd leapfrog dunk over Stuff, making it look like he was in suspended animation in the air, sitting at the rim. That is, this one was spectacular and we were all winners.

LaVine’s array of dunks while gliding from the free throw line, and Gordon’s dunks while jumping over the Magic mascot were something we’ve never seen before.

Gordon added: “If I knew it was going to be like that, I would have prepared better and we would have been here dunking all night, going back 50 after 50 after 50 after 50”. At Barclays Center past year, he repeatedly showcased his ability to levitate off the ground, completing complicated around-the-back and through-the-leg moves before finishing with authority.

To put those legendary 50-point dunks into context, consider the fact that prior to LaVine posting two 50s last year, no one had performed multiple 50-point dunks in the same contest in the previous five years, according to ESPN Stats & Info.

LaVine responded with a windmill almost from the free throw line. He’s the first player since Jason Richardson in 2002 to win both the Rising Stars MVP and the Dunk Contest.

“I don’t think there is any doubt that he’ll go down as one of the greatest players ever to play this game”, Silver praised Bryant who will also make his final appearance on Sunday at the 65th All-Star game. In the championship round LaVine and Gordon produced a succession of brilliant dunks that had not been seen before. Thompson finished with 27 points to defeat Curry, who had 23 points.

The door finally opened for LaVine when Gordon was awarded a 47 on his fourth dunk of the second round, a Harold Miner-style jackknife.

And it wasn’t just a Slam Dunk Contest.

“He definitely shot well tonight”, Curry said.

The Golden State Warriors star has set a record for three-pointers made at the All-Star break, and he’s all but guaranteed to set the mark for a season.

It was a light-hearted evening with Stewart shown on the bongo cam on the big screen while Nash quaffed a beer next to him.

Even Mutombo shook a long leg during a dance sequence.