Kings’ Kevin Huerter can’t find rhythm; Blazers star Damian Lillard wins 3-Point Contest
Kings guard Kevin Huerter finally got his shot at the 3-Point Contest during NBA All-Star Weekend. Now, he wants another one.
Huerter couldn’t hide his disappointment after finishing last in one of the marquee events on All-Star Saturday Night. Huerter prepared as best he could in the days leading up to the competition, but he was eliminated after scoring just eight points in the opening round.
“Obviously, I couldn’t find the rhythm,” Huerter said. “Everything is different when the lights turn on, for sure. The feel is different. You’ve got the crowd. You’ve got everybody watching you. I didn’t get off to a good start and I think that’s super important in this, and I wasn’t able to find it, obviously, the rest of the way.”
Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard won the contest with 26 points in the final round, outgunning Indiana Pacers guards Buddy Hield and Tyrese Haliburton. Hield finished second with 25 points. Haliburton, who had 31 points in a red-hot opening round, was third with 17.
Experience counts for something in this event. Lillard won it in his third trip to the 3-Point Contest. Hield reached the finals in 2019 before winning the contest in 2020.
Huerter struggled from the outset. He missed his first six shots before finally getting one to fall. He missed both of his three-point “Starry” balls and only made two two-point shots from his money ball rack.
“I think I put up a zero on my first rack,” Huerter said. “I don’t think I made one until my eighth shot of the competition and didn’t make any of the Star balls. I think those are important, the three-point shots, and obviously my money ball rack couldn’t save me much, so, just all around, couldn’t find my rhythm.”
Huerter is one of five Kings players participating in All-Star Weekend. Rookie Keegan Murray helped Team Pau win the Rising Stars tournament on Friday. Two-way center Neemias Queta was selected for Sunday’s G League Next Up Game. Point guard De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis were chosen to participate in Sunday’s All-Star Game, the first time the Kings have had two All-Stars since Peja Stojakovic and Brad Miller in 2003-04.
Huerter wasn’t pleased with his performance, but it was an experience he will never forget.
“Obviously, it puts a sting in how you remember it, for sure,” Huerter said. “I wish I had shot better, wish I had scored better, but I’ve had a lot of fun out here. … It went by so quickly for me. Obviously, it was a quick 70 seconds and, boom, you’re done, but just being out here, seeing a lot of guys around the NBA, getting a chance to be part of All-Star Weekend, is still fun to me.”
