Raptors' Lowry gets another shot at all-star 3-point title
Replaces Golden State's Stephen Curry, Gordon headlines dunk contest
Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry will attempt to dethrone Golden State's Klay Thompson in the NBA's all-star 3-point contest.
The 3-time all-star was selected to replace Golden State's Stephen Curry, who won the 3-point title in 2015 and was runner-up to Thompson last year.
The NBA's all-star weekend runs Feb. 17-19 in New Orleans, LA. The 3-point, dunk and skill contests are on Feb. 18 with the game on Feb. 19.
Vertical Sources: Golden State All-Star Stephen Curry won't participate in 3-point contest at All-Star weekend. Toronto's Kyle Lowry is in.
—@ShamsCharaniaLowry will also participate in the all-star game with teammate DeMar DeRozan, who was selected as a starter for the first time in his career.
Let us take a moment to see how far <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KyleLowry?src=hash">#KyleLowry</a> shot this from... <a href="https://t.co/CjSvGuxxPk">pic.twitter.com/CjSvGuxxPk</a>
—@NBAThe rest of the field includes 2013 champion Kyrie Irving of Cleveland, Charlotte's Kemba Walker, Houston's Eric Gordon, Dallas' Wesley Matthews, Portland's CJ McCollum and Nick Young of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Thompson will try to become the event's first back-to-back winner since ex-Raptor Jason Kapono in 2007 and 2008.
Gordon headlines dunk contest
Aaron Gordon has unfinished business in the dunk contest.
The skywalking Orlando Magic forward is one of the four selections for this year's contest, along with DeAndre Jordan of the Los Angeles Clippers, Glenn Robinson III of Indiana and Derrick Jones Jr. of Phoenix.
Gordon finished second to Minnesota's Zach LaVine in a dunk contest for the ages last year. With LaVine opting not go for a third straight title this year, Gordon would likely be considered the favorite.
"He was one of those guys that elevated the competition," Gordon said on TNT, which unveiled the picks Thursday night. "He was half the reason why it was so special."
Jones Jr. may steal show
Jones Jr. would be the surprise selection. He's only appeared in three NBA games, logging 10 1/2 minutes of playing time. And his only basket so far in the NBA isn't a dunk — it was a layup against San Antonio on Dec. 15.
But dunk fans know that Jones Jr. may just steal the show.
"He has bounce," Gordon said. "Oh my gosh, he has bounce."
The field for the skills challenge will be New York's Kristaps Porzings, Sacramento's DeMarcus Cousins, New Orleans' Anthony Davis, Philadelphia's Joel Embiid, Boston's Isaiah Thomas, Utah's Gordon Hayward, Washington's John Wall and Phoenix's Devin Booker.