Zach Lavine Edges Out Aaron Gordon In Dunk Contest

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Zach LaVine and Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon shake hands after the dunk contest during the NBA All Star Saturday Night at Air Canada Centre.

So good that people forgot about the Splash Brothers' shootout in the 3-point contest that Klay Thompson won to prevent Stephen Curry's repeat, and the All-Star Game on Sunday night that will feature Bryant's final appearance. No one could have prepared for as many attempts as they attempted on Saturday.

Another year, another dunk contest without LeBron James.

"We were kind of mind-boggled a couple times because we got 49s and they were 50s", LaVine said.

Regardless, these two went at it all night long and put together the best head-to-head battle in the contest since the 1980s. Barton had a rough go in he second round, with just 30 points.

Few will remember that scrimmage.

Slam Dunk Contest: The contestants in this contest left me very puzzled.

They traded so many blows, they ran out of dunks. LaVine answered with a between-the-legs backwards two-handed dunk for the sixth 50.

The dunk contest was actually slow to build with Will Barton of the Denver Nuggets and Andre Drummond eliminated.

For his second dunk, Gordon called on Stuff, the Magic's furry green dragon mascot.

On one, Stuff rotated on a hoverboard with the ball in one outstretched hand, like a spinning Bob's Big Boy holding that hamburger.

Gordon's next try was from along the baseline.

Maybe LaVine and Gordon will come back next year and do it again. He unleashed a classic Statue of Liberty from the foul line for one of his flawless scores.

"I hope everyone's enjoying this handsome summer night", he said after a day in which Toronto's frigid temperatures made Moscow look like the Caribbean. Thompson also has extra incentive as apparently his dad told him he can't come home if he loses to Steph.

After impressing with their opening round dunks, the two sophomores put on a show that won't soon be forgotten during the final round. We might have 10 dunks in this LaVine/Gordon battle alone that might top those best-ever. You'll see former Suns Amare Stoudemire (in his #32 days), Jason Richardson (Warriors days) and Vince Carter (pre-CTLVCOF days) as well as the original free-throw line dunker, Michael Jordan.