The first event of the 2019 NBA All-Stat Weekend did not disappoint, being capped off by a half-court winner. Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum pulled off a come-from-behind win over Atlanta Hawks rookie Trae Young to win the 2019 NBA Skills Challenge. Tatum was several steps behind Young in the final leg of the race, but heaved up a half-court 3-pointer that banked in. Check it out:
JAYSON TATUM FROM HALFCOURT TO WIN THE SKILLS CHALLENGE pic.twitter.com/B03ZOWrpX2
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) February 17, 2019
Both players were evenly-matched throughout the championship round, each perfectly planting their first pass through the hoop. The shifty Trae Young flashed his speed and gained a decent lead on his Eastern Conference foe. But Jayson Tatum had the perfect touch for the half-court miracle, knocking Young’s shot in the process.
Young should have seen it coming. One round earlier, Dallas Mavericks rookie sensation Luka Doncic nearly hit one that would’ve been the dagger too.
Trae Young beats Luka Doncic in a battle of the rookie guards pic.twitter.com/9npda9s3KS
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) February 17, 2019
Brooklyn Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie, who won last year’s Skills Challenge and was on the TNT broadcast, then challenged Tatum in next year’s Skills Challenge.
