Curry edges Ionescu in 3-point shootout

WASHINGTON: Stephen Curry sank his last four shots from the right corner to defeat Sabrina Ionescu 29-26 in a 3-point NBA-Women’s NBA Challenge at NBA All-Star Saturday (Sunday in Manila) festivities.

Ionescu set the score to beat, matching the best numbers by any player in the NBA 3-Point Contest, only for Curry to rally late for the victory, then hug Ionescu as both celebrated a successful effort.

“I knew I had to get hot,” Curry said of his closing run to win the challenge champion’s belt.

The first-ever shootout of the sexes was a groundbreaking showdown between elite guards — Golden State’s Curry, the NBA’s all-time 3-point basket leader, and WNBA single-season 3-point record holder Ionescu of the New York Liberty.

“A night like tonight shows a lot of young girls and young boys that if you can shoot, you can shoot,” said Ionescu.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re a girl or a boy. I think it just matters the heart that you have and wanting to be the best that you can be.”

Both shot from NBA 3-point range, Curry with an NBA ball and Ionescu with a WNBA ball.

“This couldn’t have gone any better in the sense of us two taking the challenge in front of this stage. To deliver like that, like she said, the ball was unbelievable to watch,” Curry said.

“I don’t know if anybody can fill these shoes but this might need to be something we do more often.”

Ionescu challenged Curry after she made 37 of a possible 40 points in last year’s WNBA 3-Point Contest, the best score in any single round of a WNBA or NBA 3-point competition.

Curry hoped the matchup would inspire young talent to appreciate great shooting.