Former Piston Chauncey Billups upsets Hawks' Trae Young in HORSE Challenge, advances to semifinals

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.

Rod.Beard@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @detnewsRodBeard