Stephen Curry beats Sabrina Ionescu by 3 in All-Star shootout

INDIANAPOLIS — Stephen Curry He could be considered the best shooter in basketball history. But Sabrina Ionescu He certainly showed it Saturday night as part of the NBA All-Star weekend.

He warriors of the golden state guard skirted the New York Liberty guard 29-26 in a three-point contest NBA vs. WNBA, the first of its kind.

Ionescu opened with seven straight shots before finishing with a total score of 26, which tied the highest score of any NBA player in the 3-point contest held Saturday night and won by milwaukee dollars‘ Damian Lillard.

Curry had perfect scores from both the left and right wing and reached the final score (his money ball score, in which each hit was worth two points) with 21 points. He missed his first shot but then made the last four to close with 29 points and the dramatic victory.

“I saw the first shelf… and I had memories of seeing her like that. [past] summer,” Curry said afterward. “It added a lot of pressure, for sure, and I just wanted to get off to a good start, adapt, and luckily I did enough to come out on top.

“But that was perfect. Great entertainment, great shooting, both sides, and an incredible 70 seconds for both of us.”

Immediately after the competition, Ionescu, 26, was looking for a rematch with Curry, 35.

“Obviously, Steph won for a reason and I’ll have to try to beat him next time,” Ionescu said.

TNT’s Ernie Johnson introduced the showdown from center court, dubbed “Stephen vs. Sabrina,” as if it were a marquee boxing match, complete with a heavyweight belt awarded to the winner. The concept of the event evoked memories of the 1973 “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match between Bobby Riggs and Billie Jean King, which King won in three sets.

However, while Riggs was famous for dismissing King’s (and other tennis players’) abilities, Curry was a gracious opponent.

“Sabrina and I talked about how cool the opportunity is to do something that’s never been done before in our game,” Curry said earlier Saturday. “And for her to have a presence on this stage will go a long way in inspiring the next generation of boys and girls who want to compete and see themselves in any of us.”

Ionescu reciprocated the sentiment.

“To be able to have this crossover and understand the respect that I’ve been able to receive from a lot of NBA players, just knowing that Steph wanted to do this too, in terms of respecting another shooter, I think it’s going to show a lot of kids, a lot of people that “maybe they didn’t believe or even watch women’s sports, that we can go out and put on a show.”

The idea came from Curry and Ionescu after she caught fire in the 3-point contest at the WNBA All-Star weekend in July, scoring 37 of a possible 40 points, including a streak of 20 consecutive 3-pointers. Curry praised her performance on social media, and the Liberty star returned the volley by suggesting the shootout with the NBA’s all-time leader in 3-pointers and two-time All-Star 3-point contest champion.

“There’s a lot of credit to them,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Saturday night. “I wish I could say the league came up with this idea in their lab. It was Steph and Sabrina, two friends who said, ‘Won’t this be great?’ “I know Steph cares a lot about women’s football.”

As much as Curry cares, perhaps the greatest show of respect he could offer would be to respect Ionescu as a competitor. So much so that he scouted her Friday practice session and tried to throw her off her game.

“He was there booing me,” Ionescu said. “Trying to get into my head.”

While Curry did not want to release the exact transcript of his taunts, he admitted the intent.

“I’m trying to apply some pressure, for sure,” he said.

Curry should have known that Ionescu is not the type to get nervous. He knew the Bay Area native before she became known at the University of Oregon as the National Player of the Year and the NCAA’s all-time leader in career triple-doubles.

“You see a different demeanor and a different type of killer instinct and focus,” Curry said. “I mean, skill is one thing, but mindset is a totally different thing that can’t be taught, and she’s proven that every step of the way.

“I knew that no matter how much preparation there was, no scenario would be too bright for her.”

Saturday’s stage was particularly different from the one Ionescu is used to competing in. The shootout was played on a digital LED court located atop a football field at Lucas Oil Stadium, although the dimensions were NBA regulation.

The NBA 3-point line is 23 feet, 9 inches from the basket. The WNBA line is 22 feet, 1.75 inches away. Ionescu said he chose to compete from a farther distance “to continue pushing the limits and level the playing field.” Ionescu used the slightly smaller WNBA ball instead of the NBA ball Curry used.

Aside from the championship belt Curry took home, which featured two goats affixed to gold panels on either side of the centerpiece, both Curry and Ionescu received $25,000 donations to their respective charities.

The pair seemed committed to hosting it again next year when the Warriors host the All-Star Game at the Chase Center in San Francisco and hinted that the two could team up with a partner to expand the event, perhaps even with University standout Caitlin of Iowa. Clark, who set the all-time NCAA women’s scoring record Thursday.

“It was very authentic for both of us to be here,” Ionescu said. “I’m obviously very grateful to make this dream come true that we both had a chance at, and to know that it’s changed the landscape of how people will view what we’re doing, and we’re very excited to see what the future holds.” “We hope more people have the opportunity to do things like this.”

Curry added: “For us to put on a show like that, it was perfect. As much excitement as you can generate in that short period of time with two great shooters in action.

“Very special. This will be something we will remember for a long time.”