MALIK BEASLEY CAREER-HIGH 36 POINTS 🔥

 

STEPHEN CURRY, SABRINA LONESCU HEADLINE NBA ALL-STAR SATURDAY

USA TODAY Sports 

 Stephen Curry sensed he was in trouble as he neared the end of his round but suddenly flashed the ability that has helped him make a record 3,642 3-pointers in regular-season play.

It was good timing as WNBA standout Sabrina Ionescu put on a stellar shooting performance of her own. But Curry made 4 of 5 shots from the right corner to end his round and overtake Ionescu to win 29-26 in the special 3-point competition between the two prolific shooters during All-Star Saturday Night in Indianapolis.

The genesis for the Curry-Ionescu showdown came when Curry was talking to Golden State Warriors teammate Brandin Podziemski in a video about Ionescu's stellar performance in last year's WNBA All-Star 3-point competition.

Curry pondered a competition with Ionescu, and the latter made it clear on social media that she was up for the challenge.

Ionescu, who plays for the New York Liberty, started on the left side of the court and made nine of her first 10 shots.

RIVERS WINS NO. 1,099 AS BUCKS TROUNCE HORNETS 120-84 TO SEND CHARLOTTE TO ITS 10TH LOSS

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 MILWAUKEE (AP) — Doc Rivers won his 1,099th regular-season game to move into eighth place on the NBA's list, Damian Lillard scored 26 points in his return from a two-game injury absence and the Milwaukee Bucks cruised past short-handed Charlotte 120-84 on Friday night to send the Hornets to their 10th straight loss.

Malik Beasley made seven 3-pointers on nine attempts and finished with 21 points for Milwaukee, which improved to 2-5 under Rivers, who replaced Adrian Griffin. Rivers moved past Larry Brown on the regular-season victories list.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 15 points and 15 rebounds in just 24 minutes, and Bobby Portis added 18 points and seven rebounds.

The Bucks led by 28 points at halftime and increased their lead to as many as 42 in the second half.

Lillard missed the previous two games — both losses — with a sprained left ankle but showed no ill effects Friday and said he felt good. He shot 9 of 18 and added eight assists in 29 minutes, but he was most pleased with the way the Bucks played defense.