TORONTO — As the Toronto night was approaching below-zero temperatures, two 20-year-olds reignited the Slam Dunk Contest inside Air Canada Centre, and the buzz continued into Sunday as the opening tip of the All-Star Game approached.

Zach LaVine of the Minnesota Timberwolves edged Aaron Gordon of the Orlando Magic on Saturday night to win his second consecutive title. But the duel that transpired between the two gifted young stars was perhaps the best dunk show in league history.

LaVine and Gordon reached the final and each responded with three consecutive dunks that were scored 50s by the Hall of Fame panel of judges. Gordon executed two dunks using the Magic mascot, one grabbing the ball off the top of the mascot’s head and passing the ball under his legs while still having time for a dunk.

LaVine countered with a series of acrobatic dunks, including the winner when he soared from the free throw line, whipped the ball between his legs, and then dunked.

There were those who believed it should have been declared a draw, while Gordon admitted he hadn’t prepared for so many dunks.

“If I knew it was going to be like that, I would have prepared better and we would have been here dunking all night, going back 50 after 50 after 50 after 50,’’ Gordon said. “We would have been here all night. I didn’t know it was going to be like that. I was just hoping Zach was going to miss, and it wasn’t going to happen. You could see my facial expressions when Zach dunks it, it’s like OK, that’s a 50. Like I know we’re going to have to dunk again.’’

LaVine, a second-year swingman, wowed the crowd last year in Brooklyn with his array of eye-popping dunks. And he was perhaps even better this year, helping reinvigorate a dunk contest that has been heavily criticized for lack of excitement.

That has not been the case the past two years.

“Everybody’s probably going to say something about [Michael Jordan] and all them and Dr. J. [Julius Erving]. But in my personal opinion, man, we did some things that nobody else did,’’ LaVine said. “Like half the dunks we did were like professional dunker dunks, and it takes them four or five times to try it and make it, and we did it on the first try. It was crazy. In my opinion, yes [it was the best contest of all time].’’

Feel-good story

Marcus Smart took a small bite of the All-Star Weekend, participating in the Rising Stars Challenge on Friday before heading back to his native Texas on Saturday to spend time with his family. Last season, Smart may have been a candidate for the Rising Stars Challenge, but he battled injuries during his first season.

“It felt good to be out here,’’ Smart said. “You’ve got a lot of young talent out there. They were having fun together, it’s a special time. You’ll never see this exact group of guys together on a team like this again.’’

Smart has been a key part of the Celtics’ recent resurgence, averaging 10.3 points per game since Jan. 1, and his defense and intensity have added to the team’s versatility.

With 27 games left, Boston has a chance to claim the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, trailing the Toronto Raptors by 4½ games.

The Celtics begin the unofficial second half Friday at Utah, and Smart is eager to restart.

“I’m ready to get back out there and play for real, when it counts,’’ Smart said. “It will feel good to get back as a team and start the season again on a good note. I’m fortunate to be on a team that has a winning record and is playing really well, and a lot of these guys [in the Rising Stars Game] don’t have that opportunity and this is their chance to establish themselves.’’

Kobe tribute

The entire weekend has essentially centered around Kobe Bryant, who played in his 18th and final All-Star Game and has been lauded by fellow All-Stars, NBA legends, and former teammates. Bryant was humbled.

“This is pretty cool,’’ said Bryant, who had 10 points in the West’s 196-173 win. “I’m looking around the room and seeing guys that I’m playing with that are tearing the league up that were like 4 during my first All-Star Game. It’s true. I mean, how many players can say they’ve played 20 years and actually have seen the game go through three, four generations, you know what I mean? It’s not sad at all. I mean, I’m really happy and honored to be here and see this.’’

Toronto swingman DeMar DeRozan, who grew up in Compton, Calif., said Bryant is a basketball role model.

“He meant everything. Growing up in LA and watching the Lakers and being a Lakers fan. Watching him grow into the player he is now when I was a kid, now playing in his last All-Star Game and seeing it in person, it’s definitely crazy,’’ DeRozan said.

Gary Washburn can be reached at gwashburn@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @GwashburnGlobe.