LOS ANGELES -- NBA All-Star Saturday Night lived up to its billing at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, on February 14, 2026, delivering a pair of crowning moments that will echo through league history. Damian Lillard etched his name alongside Larry Bird and Craig Hodges as a three-time 3-Point Contest champion, while Miami Heat rookie Keshad Johnson threw down a series of jaw-dropping slams to capture the AT&T Slam Dunk title.

Lillard, the Portland Trail Blazers guard who has not appeared in a regular season game this year due to an Achilles tear suffered during last season's playoffs, showed no signs of rust from behind the arc. In the final round, he posted a blistering 29 points, edging Phoenix Suns sharpshooter Devin Booker, who scored 27. Lillard also dispatched Milwaukee's Kon Knueppel on his way to the finals, proving once again that distance shooting is an art form he has mastered like few others in NBA history.

The fact that Lillard accomplished this feat while still recovering from a serious injury made the moment all the more remarkable. As the final ball swished through the net, Lillard pumped his fist and pointed to the crowd, acknowledging the ovation from a packed house that recognized they had witnessed something special. He now stands alone with Bird and Hodges as the only three-time winners in the contest's storied history.

If Lillard provided the precision, Keshad Johnson brought the power. The San Leandro, California, native and Miami Heat forward soared through a field of four competitors in the two-round Slam Dunk format. Johnson's first-round highlight came when he leaped over rapper E-40 and threw down a one-handed slam with his free hand tucked behind his head, earning a score of 47.4 that put him atop the leaderboard.

The finals pitted Johnson against San Antonio Spurs rookie Carter Bryant, who thrilled fans with a between-the-legs dunk that earned perfect 50s from the judging panel of Brent Barry, Dwight Howard, Nate Robinson, and Dominique Wilkins. But Johnson answered with the dunk of the night, going between the legs and underneath the backboard for a spectacular finish that earned three 50 scores and a round-best 49.6. His closing attempt, a one-handed windmill from near the free throw line, scored 47.8, giving him a combined final-round total of 97.4 that proved insurmountable for Bryant.

The evening also featured the Kia Shooting Stars competition, where Team Knicks poured in an astounding 47 points to defeat Team Cameron's 38. The victory extended a remarkable season for the New York Knicks franchise, which had already captured the Emirates NBA Cup in December.

In the Rising Stars game earlier in the weekend, Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe earned MVP honors after leading Team Vince to a tight 25-24 victory over Team Melo, showcasing the next wave of NBA talent.

All eyes now turn to Sunday's main event, the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, which debuts a new USA vs. World format. Two American squads, USA Stars and USA Stripes, will face off against a loaded Team World roster featuring Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, and Victor Wembanyama in a round-robin tournament. LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Kawhi Leonard headline the USA Stripes roster, while younger American stars like Scottie Barnes, Cade Cunningham, and Tyrese Maxey represent the USA Stars.

After a Saturday night that blended history with highlight-reel athleticism, the stage is set for what promises to be an All-Star Sunday to remember at the Intuit Dome.