Stephen Curry wins his first 3-point shootout championship (Ball Don’t Lie)

It has become popular, considering the NBA's marked improvement in 3-point marksmanship, to call the 3-point shootout the marquee event of not only the All-Star Saturday night lineup, but the entire weekend. This year's competition didn't bust any records, and it did have some NBA-influenced mitigating factors, but the contest did follow through on its promise. Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry hit for 27 points in the final round in a fantastic display to win his first Shootout trophy. With a lineup featuring the NBA's leading scorer, last year's All-Star Game MVP , a player who recently set a record for points in a single quarter , last year's champion , two MVP candidates, and perhaps the greatest 3-point shooter ever , the shootout figured to be a sound draw. [Slideshow: Best photos from NBA All-Star Saturday night ] By nature of the talent behind this group, however, James Harden (the league's leading scorer and an MVP candidate), the defending champion Marco Belinelli, Los Angeles Clippers sharpshooter J.J. Redick (who in a rare instance had two makes waved off after he stepped on the 3-point line, costing him three points), and even Kyle Korver (on pace to...