Patrick Beverley wins NBA All-Star Skills Challenge

Patrick Beverley won the NBA All-Star Skills Challenge, unseating rival and two-time champion Damian Lillard, who declined to defend his title.

Beverley was a late addition to the event as an injury replacement and is a bit of a surprising winner, since he's known more for his tenacious and frustrating defense than his well-rounded offensive game. But he's fast, and he owns a 36.5 percent career mark from outside, both of which matter a great deal in this format.

Unlike previous years where the best times moved on, this year's event saw the eight combatants go head-to-head, on the court at the same time, in a bracket format. The obstacle course requires players to dribble, pass, shoot and perform a layup in the fastest time possible, something that benefits a well-rounded guard with terrific open-court speed, like a Kyle Lowry or a Jeff Teague.

Beverley took down Isaiah Thomas in the first round and proceeded to make huge come-from-behind gains to topple Teague in the semifinals and then Brandon Knight in the finals, hitting his first 3-point attempt in each case.

Even after the impressive performance, teammate James Harden wasn't willing to show his point guard any love.

Teague and Thomas were considered the favorites coming in, but the odds suggested that the contest was more or less wide open to the entire field.

John Wall was originally slated to be a part of the competition, while two-time defending champion Lillard declined to defend his crown.

The event was a lot more fun than in years past due to the head-to-head format. Consider Anthony Davis impressed.