Four players remain in the NBA HORSE Challenge after a first round that saw Atlanta Hawks All-Star Trae Young, 2020 Hall of Famer Tamika Catchings, 2008 NBA Finals MVP Paul Pierce and Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Chris Paul knocked out of the tournament.
That sets up a final four that will include 2004 NBA Finals MVP Chauncey Billups taking on ambidextrous Utah Jazz point guard Mike Conley Jr. and athletic Chicago Bulls shooting guard Zach LaVine facing sharpshooting Chicago Sky All-Star Allie Quigley.
The semifinals and championship will air beginning at 9 p.m. ET April 16 on ESPN and streaming on the ESPN App.
MORE: How to watch the NBA HORSE Challenge
Trae Young vs. Chauncey Billups
Results
Billups (HOR) defeats Young
Billups analysis (Grade: B+)
“Mr. Big Shot” started slowly, earning two letters in his first four shots and falling behind HOR to nothing before he found his legs. From then on, Billups’ variety of 3-pointers — two of them bankers from the top of the key, one of them off one leg and the last from the corner out of bounds — proved too much for Young to match.
Young analysis (Grade: B-)
Among ESPN’s panel of writers, Young was the heavy pre-tournament favorite to win it all because of his distance shooting. As such, it was a surprise that he missed four 3-pointers on his way out in the opening round. With the score tied at HOR, Young missed his last two shots, an underhanded, one-handed free throw and a 3 off glass from the top of the key, sending him packing.
If I’m gonna lose, I’m gonna have to lose to a Legend 🤷🏽♂️ and a mentor of mine✊🏽 Good Game… but believe me, we running it back next time I come visit you in Denver @1MrBigShot Deal? 💯🤣 #ImReadyToPlayForealAgain
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) April 13, 2020
Tamika Catchings vs. Mike Conley Jr.
Results
Conley (H) defeats Catchings
Conley analysis (Grade: A)
Conley announced his presence as a serious contender to win this tournament, thanks to two big advantages: his off-hand dominance and an indoor gym in his Columbus home. Although primarily left-handed, Conley prefers to shoot floaters with his right hand, and he picked up four of the five letters on “off-hand” shots. It didn’t hurt that Conley was in controlled conditions indoors while Catchings was dealing with wind and other elements outside. However, Conley also showed off a classic HORSE trick shot, going over the backboard from behind on the run — with his off hand, of course.
Catchings analysis (Grade: D+)
HORSE doesn’t showcase the best aspects of the versatile game that landed Catchings in the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame, and a tough draw showed that Catchings’ off hand is not especially strong. When Catchings did have control of the game, her shots weren’t difficult for Conley to match, and he ended the game with only an H.
Here’s my next trick shot!! On my indoor court 😉🤣 @cleeee13 #AllINeedIsAnotherChance @NBA @WNBA @IndianaFever #FeverBeliever #HORSE pic.twitter.com/dIK6jnHlir
— Tamika Catchings (@Catchin24) April 13, 2020
Zach LaVine vs. Paul Pierce
Results
LaVine (flawless) defeats Pierce
LaVine analysis (Grade: A)
Although dunking is prohibited in this competition, LaVine still found a way to take advantage of the athleticism that made him the NBA’s dunk champion in 2015 and 2016, tapping the backboard with the ball and finishing on the other side of the rim twice and doing a left-handed layup getting above the rim without touching it. That earned two of Pierce’s letters, but LaVine also showcased his deep shooting ability and finished the game with a shot all the way off his concrete court and from the dirt.
Pierce analysis (Grade: D)
Shot-making was a key part of Pierce’s 10 career All-Star appearances, but it deserted him in this competition, as he knocked down just five shots and didn’t draw a single letter on LaVine.
That #Celtics home court 🔥🔥🔥@paulpierce34 #HorseCompetition
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 13, 2020
Chris Paul vs. Allie Quigley
Results
Quigley (HOR) defeats Paul
Quigley analysis (Grade: A-)
At one point during their competition, Paul remarked that all he was hearing from Quigley’s backyard hoop were swishes. Paul heated up late, opening the door for him to come back from an HORS-to-H deficit, but Quigley slammed it shut with a bank free throw. In addition to pure shot-making from the perimeter, the two-time WNBA 3-Point Contest winner showed off more classic HORSE tricks than anybody else involved in the competition, including a bank shot from the ground that drew one of Paul’s letters.
Paul analysis (Grade: B)
As compared to the other first-round losers, Paul put up a stiffer fight, drawing three letters on Quigley and denying her the winning shot with three matches after getting to HORS. Ultimately, a slow start cost Paul, and it must have been painful for a 90% free throw shooter to lose at the line when he was unable to bank home his attempt.
👀🤔but I can’t sit like that……😂😂 https://t.co/zyoVK6jjwc
— Chris Paul (@CP3) April 10, 2020