Trae Young, Chris Paul Upset as NBA-WNBA HORSE Competition Kicks Off

In the first matchup, NBA legend Chauncey Billups upset Atlanta Hawks All-Star Trae Young, who was considered a favorite in the event.

Billups picked up three letters, but he stormed back, hanging five straight letters on Young — who was playing on a driveway hoop in Norman, Oklahoma. Billups’ winner was a top-of-the-key 3-pointer off the glass.

The second quarterfinal pitted Hall-of-Fame-bound Tamika Catchings against the Jazz’s Mike Conley. The Utah guard won fairly handily, though he had a decided advantage that even he admitted afterwards helped him greatly: He has an indoor court at his Columbus, Ohio, home. Catchings was playing outdoors in a cold and windy Indiana.

The final matchup was also the closest (eight letters were dispensed), with WNBA sharpshooter Allie Quigley taking down Chris Paul, another player considered a favorite in the event. This matchup featured probably the most creative shots in the true spirit of HORSE, and also seemed to last the longest, with the two stars answering each other repeatedly.

Ironically, the shot that did CP3 in was a missed banked free-throw.

The semifinals and finals are slated to air Thursday at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN. Billups will be taking on Conley while LaVine faces Quigley.

State Farm will donate more than $200,000 on behalf of the participants to charities focused on coronavirus response efforts.

ESPN basketball analyst Brian Windhorst says NBA is spending a lot of time on a plan when the country starts to re-open after the coronavirus.