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All-Star Saturday Night Preview

Denver Nuggets players Emmanuel Mudiay and Will Barton will participate in two separate events during All-Star Saturday Night from 7:30-10:30pm at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.

Three exciting events make up All-Star Saturday night, starting with the Skills Challenge, the Three-Point Contest and ending with the Slam Dunk Contest. Mudiay will race the clock in the Skills Challenge, while later in the night Barton will be dunking center stage.

Mudiay:
Mudiay was added to the Skills Challenge just a few days ago as a step-in for injured Houston Rockets’ point guard, Patrick Beverley. Beverley was the 2014-15 champion of the Skills Challenge last year, but will sit out during the 2016 competition due to his left ankle sprain.

Mudiay will be the second player in Nuggets history to ever appear in the Skills Challenge. Earl Boykins had previously represented Denver in both the 2004 and 2005 Skills Challenges.

Mudiay was the 7th overall pick of the 2015 NBA draft for the Denver Nuggets. The 19-year-old has appeared in 40 games for Denver, averaging 11.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 5.9 assists. At 6-foot-5 and weighing 200 pounds, his size only adds to the number of reasons why this DR Congo native currently holds the No. 1 position for assists out of all NBA rookies. He also sits in 2nd place for average minutes per game (30.2), 4th place for steals (1.08), and 8th for blocks (.58).

2016 Skills Challenge Participants:
Emmanuel Mudiay, Denver Nuggets
DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings
Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans
CJ McCollum, Portland Trail Blazers
Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
Isaiah Thomas, Boston Celtics
Jordan Clarkson, Los Angeles Lakers

Barton:
Will Barton is set to make his All-Star debut in the Slam Dunk Contest during All-Star Saturday night. He will be one of four NBA players to showcase their dunk skills in one of the most highly rated events of All-Star Weekend next to the All-Star Game itself.

The Slam Dunk Contest is a test of athleticism, talent and style; providing fans with the thrill and excitement for which All-Star Weekend is known.

Barton will be the 7th Denver Nuggets player in history to participate in the Slam Dunk Contest since the competition’s inauguration into NBA All-Star Weekend in 1976.

The University of Memphis alumnus was selected 40th overall by the Portland Trailblazers in the 2012 NBA draft, and made his way to Denver via trade in 2015. In his first season with the Nuggets, Barton is averaging 15.5 points per game, six rebounds, and 2.3 assists: all career highs.

The recently turned 25-year-old has impressed the Nuggets coach, opposing teams, and most of all, himself, this season. With his knack for generating energy on the court and his picturesque-animated dunks, he will no doubt provide fans with the excitement they seek during the All-Star Dunk Contest.

2016 Slam Dunk Participants:
Will Barton, Nuggets
Zach LaVine, Timberwolves
Aaron Gordon, Magic
Andre Drummond, Pistons