Though the sports world is currently on pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some of basketball’s best current and former players got together to see whose jumper could prevail in the NBA’s HORSE challenge.
The competition was televised Sunday on ESPN, and Oklahoma City Thunder star Chris Paul was one of the contestants. He went up against Chicago Sky guard Allie Quigley and lost the quarterfinal, with the game-clincher coming on a free throw bank shot; Quigley only finished with H-O-R.
With the win, Quigley advanced to the semifinals, and she will face Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine in the semifinals. The semifinals will be televised Thursday on ESPN.
Paul shot outside at his home in California, and Quigley shot outside in Illinois. With both players being some of basketball’s top shooters, Paul and Quigley opened the game with some makes.
The first letter wasn’t earned until Paul missed a corner jump shot from the right side. Paul then quickly picked up an “O” after Quigley banked in a shot from the left side while sitting down.
Paul got Quigley to pick up her first letter with a regular free throw. Still, Quigley maintained her lead.
🏀 NBA HORSE Challenge 🏀@alliequigley takes down @CP3 to advance in the NBA HORSE Challenge presented by State Farm! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/SmITbzaqi3
— WNBA (@WNBA) April 13, 2020
She extended her lead when she sank a right-handed stepback from the right wing. Quigley put even more pressure on Paul when she made a bank shot from the right elbow. Paul missed, and he had H-O-R-S.
One of Paul’s most creative shots gave Quigley an H-O. He faced away from the hoop, and he held his left leg up in his hand. He then slightly turned to the hoop and made the shot with one hand.
Paul is a solid shooter, as he’s hit at a 36.2% clip from the 3-point line this season. Quigley is one of the WNBA’s top shooters, as she shot 44.2% from the 3-point line during the 2019 season. That was the third-highest mark of her career.
With the country still engaging in social distancing, having this competition was a cool way for fans to see some of their favorite players show their shooting strokes and shot creativity.
[lawrence-related id=431515,431501,431495,431476]