Best first-round moments from the NBA HORSE Challenge

The first round of the NBA HORSE Challenge was an absolute delight, with upsets, personality, low production values and plenty of shot-making. Here are the best moments.

The NBA2K Player Tournament wrapped up Saturday night but ESPN was ready and waiting with another goofy spectacle — the NBA HORSE Challenge. The first round of the eight-player tournament, filmed live and remote from the players’ home courts, was a delightful spectacle compared to the relatively dry 2K experience.

We got to see players in their own element, moving their bodies in something approximating real basketball and actually interacting. The technology was pleasantly low-fi but you could see what was happening and, honestly, the conversation was the focus.

The semifinals and finals will air on ESPN on Thursday, April 16, featuring the first-round winners — Chauncey Billups (who beat Trae Young), Mike Conley Jr. (who beat Tamika Catchings), Zach LaVine (who beat Paul Pierce) and Allie Quigley (who beat Chris Paul). If you need a reason to tune in Thursday, here are the best moments you missed from the first round.

Chauncey Billups’ big comeback

If you had Trae Young pegged as the favorite in this one, you’re not alone. All 18 ESPN basketball personalities who contributed picks for the tournament had Young in the Finals, and 10 picked him to win it all. With his unlimited range, soft touch and boundless creativity he seemed like a natural pick — especially since he didn’t have to guard anyone.

Unfortunately, he was undone by the veteran savvy of Mr. Big Shot himself. After falling into a three-letters-to-none hole, Billups used an epic run to even the score.

https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1249479348253581312

From here, Billups used a one-handed, underhand free throw and a called banked-in 3-pointer from the top of the key to complete his comeback.

Paul Pierce tries to remember how to play basketball

The first-round matchup between Zach LaVine and Paul Pierce was a lot of Pierce limping around in his giant Adam Sandler shorts while LaVine did his best to get creative without leaning too heavily on his embarrassing athletic advantage.

https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1249493347984687107

I talked with Pierce for a quick Q&A in May of 2018, about a year after he retired. It was a promotional bit for the BENGAY “Sore Winners” campaign so I threw him some questions about how his body was holding up on the court now that it wasn’t his job anymore. His answer was that he hardly played at all anymore:

"I’ve only played a couple of times. Not much basketball, been playing my whole life. I mean I still workout, but not much basketball."

I would have no trouble believing him if he said he hadn’t touched a basketball from the moment he hung up the phone with me to the moment this HORSE game began, two years later.

Mike Conley Jr. has a JCC in his house

The rules of the tournament specifically stated that the players could use indoor or outdoor courts. Apparently the indoor point was for Mike Conley:

Everyone else played on outdoor courts, ranging in quality from Trae Young’s parent’s driveway to the relatively high-end set-ups of Billups and Pierce. Conley, on the other hand, has an indoor court that could put the facilities of a few D-I schools to shame. Can you imagine having access to this as a quarantine stress reliever? I wonder if it comes with equipped with the standard, slightly overweight guy in his late 50s with a knee brace and extra-handsy post defense?

All the weird stuff in the background

Zach LaVine’s has a 14-foot, no-backboard hoop?

The kid making himself dizzy?

Allie Quigley’s dog statue?