Nets’ Dinwiddie wins skills challenge

LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 17: Spencer Dinwiddie #8 of the Brooklyn Nets accepts the trophy in the 2018 Taco Bell Skills Challenge at Staples Center on February 17, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images/AFP

Spencer Dinwiddie of the Brooklyn Nets won the skills challenge to kick off NBA All-Star Saturday.

Dinwiddie, who played at Taft High in the Woodland Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, beat Lauri Markkanen of the Chicago Bulls in the final round.

The skills competition consisted of two players going head to head. They dribbled around pylons, passed the ball into a net, dribbled to the other end of the floor for a layup and then dribbled back to the other end to take a pull-up 3-pointer.

Eight players started the competition, with Dinwiddie and Markkanen advancing to the final.

Markkanen struggled passing the ball into the net, giving Dinwiddie a big lead. Dinwiddie dribbled down the floor and missed his first 3, but drained the next one to win.