The NBA's HORSE Challenge is something of a low-tech filler for the sports void, as most of the country is under Stay-at-Home orders because of COVID-19. Each participant was isolated and played from socially distant areas: Billups from his home in Colorado and Young at his house in Oklahoma.
In some respect, Pistons icon Chauncey Billups could have been seen as a sacrificial lamb. Billups was one of two former NBA players in the eight-person field and was matched in the first round against Atlanta Hawks All-Star Trae Young, who was considered the betting favorite.
After a slow start, Billups pulled the upset, advancing to Thursday's semifinals against Mike Conley Jr.
"Like in 04, I was a huge underdog," Billups said via text message. "It felt good to once again surprise people."
Billups, 43, was nearing elimination, with H-O-R after Young was making almost all of his shots, including left-handed free throws and 3-pointers from the top of the key.
The tide turned when Billups made a one-dribble 3-pointer from his right leg. Billups followed with a long 3-pointer with both feet out of bounds and then added a bank-shot 3-pointer from the top of the key.
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That evened the game, and as the televised matchup went to a commercial break, Billups lamented on ESPN: "I'm old...I don't need any breaks."
Billups completed the comeback, making a free throw underhanded _ which Young missed _ and clinched it on another banked 3-pointer from the top of the key.
"That's the way to respect your elders," Billups joked after the final shot.
Young, 21, was the odds-on favorite to win according to Las Vegas sportsbooks. He was fourth in the league in scoring this season, at 29.6 points per game. He's known for his long 3-pointers and crafty shots.
Billups was better Sunday.
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"I tried the strategy of starting out close and he got it going so I didn't want to risk a long 3 today," Young said on ESPN. "It happens. Chauncey brought the wind over here."
The semifinals and finals will be televised Thursday night on ESPN.
