Skills competition – dramatic triumph of Domantas Sabonis / News

Nuotr.: USA Today Sports-Scanpix

Nuotr.: USA Today Sports-Scanpix

Nuotr.: USA Today Sports-Scanpix

Nuotr.: USA Today Sports-Scanpix

Nuotr.: USA Today Sports-Scanpix

Indantas Sabonis, the leader of the Indiana Pacers, who ranked second in the NBA skills competition last year, has risen to the top this year.

For the second year in a row, the tall people, Sabonis and Nikola Vučevičius, met in the final of the skills competition. Last year, Sabonis was defeated by Bamas Adebayo in the fight for the award.

In the final, both basketball players made the pass for the first time, but Vučevičius had a minimal advantage. Both Sabonis and Vučevičius missed their first long throws, but in the end the Lithuanian 3-pointer was accurate and earned him the title of skills competition winner.

“I wanted to come here and have a good trip. I am very happy and I dedicate trophies to the fans and the family ”, Sabonis said after the victory.

In the first stage, the Lithuanian eliminated Julius Randle. Sabonis made a pass and an accurate 3-pointer for the first time.

In the semifinals, Sabonis continued the successful series and defeated Dallas Mavericks star Luka Dončičius. The Pacers forward again made both a goal pass and a triple for the first time. Slovenia got stuck on the pass, which they made only from the third attempt.

Vučevičius triumphed in the next pair of quarterfinals, beating Robert Covington of the Portland Trail Blazers. Both basketball players competed side by side, but the Montenegrin was the first to shoot a triple, hit him and reach the semifinals.

In the semifinals, the Magic forward eliminated Chris Paul. Both men made at least a few inaccurate 3s, but in the end, the Montenegrin shot broke the net.

All performances in the skills contest:

Message from Domantas Sabonis after the victory: