Zach LaVine wins dunk thriller to cap All-Star Saturday

At the NBA All-Star game dunk competition in Toronto, Nash brought his soccer moves to the table, using a rainbow flick to get the basketball up to Andre Drummond of the Detroit Pistons, who slammed it home.

The All-Star Game tips off Sunday night, when the crowd might still be buzzing over the performances LaVine and Gordon put on to cap off All-Star Saturday.

It’s not just impressive that he could execute those, it’s impressive he had the legs to last that many rounds and leap from the free throw line on his FINAL DUNK, even if he is 20 years old.

The State Farm All-Star Saturday Night extravaganza never fails to disappoint, and we can’t wait to see what these pro-athletes have in store for us. But he had already used all four of the dunks he planned to do when fellow contestant Will Barton told him to try it.

“Everybody’s probably going to say something about Mike and all them and Dr. J”, LaVine said, referring to Julius Erving.

The 3-point contest included the Golden State Warriors’ starting backcourt of reigning league MVP Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, as well as current Los Angeles Clippers shooting guard and former Magic shooting guard J.J. Redick.

I dedicate this dunk contest and the trophy to my late coach, Flip Saunders and the Saunders family.

Thompson scored 27 points in the final round, making his last eight shots to beat Curry and Phoenix’s Devin Booker.

One of those memorable dunks that Gordon made was when he grabbed the ball from the spinning mascot and dunked a 360 degree to start the round.

He became the fourth player to win back-to-back dunk titles, after Michael Jordan (1987-88), Jason Richardson (2002-03) and Nate Robinson (2009-10).

Barton, Drummond and Gordon are all first time competitors in the dunk contest but they are all freak athletes and will give LaVine a run for his money. That makes the Portland guard a busy man Saturday, as he is already entered in the field of the Skills Challenge.

“Zach’s an incredible dunker”, Gordon said.

Towns beat Boston Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas to win the Skills Challenge, further validating the evolution of the big man from a plodding post player to a playmaking force.

“I’m glad I was able to help the bigs come out with this trophy”, said Towns, the No. 1 overall pick in the June draft.