Was Hawks' Collins robbed in slam dunk contest?

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Photo credit © pool photo-USA TODAY Sports

Was John Collins robbed in NBA All-Star Saturday Night's Slam Dunk contest over the weekend?

The Atlanta Hawks second-year forward was center stage in Charlotte over the weekend. However, he did not make it out of the two-dunk first round to advance to the finals.

Collins competed alongside Miles Bridges (Charlotte Hornets), Dennis Smith Jr. (New York Knicks) and Hamidou Diallo (Oklahoma City Thunder).

In Collins first attempt, he grabbed the backboard with his left hand and curled under the basket to slam with his right:

John Collins grabs the backboard and slams home the reverse for a score of 40! #ATTSlamDunk #StateFarmSaturday on @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/v6rhZvO1S2

— NBA (@NBA) February 17, 2019

The dunk earned Collins a 40 out of a possible 50 points, a score those on Twitter thought was way too low:

John Collins was robbed on dunk #1. #SlamDunk #AllStarSaturdayNight #NBAAllStar

— IN THE ZONE Sports (@ITZSportsShow) February 17, 2019

8's?!?!?!? JOHN COLLINS GOT ROBBED!! THAT DUNK HAS NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE SMH #NBAAllStar

— Muneeb Chaudhri (@Muneeb_AC) February 17, 2019

They robbed John Collins. Dennis Smith missed that attempt twice and got a higher score that’s bogus

— I Am Legend (@southsideshaine) February 17, 2019

Did the judges rob John Collins on this dunk?? pic.twitter.com/LwCYEnPPnB

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) February 17, 2019

Collins was third after the first round.

In his second attempt, Collins brought out five men dressed as Tuskegee Airmen along with a plane meant to resemble Kitty Hawk.

Just the way John Collins drew it up ... ✈️--#Shaqtin pic.twitter.com/15HJapEKjt

— Shaqtin' a Fool (@shaqtin) February 17, 2019

The dunk earned Collins a 42 out of 50 despite clipping the plane.

John Collins got robbed...great creativity

— MarkJonesESPN (@MarkJonesESPN) February 17, 2019

Diallo's Shaq dunk was impressive and easily the best dunk of the night. But the judges were trash. Robbed John Collins big time, who knows what Collins had prepared for the second round

— Dino Pavleka (@dino_ATL) February 17, 2019

Today’s Tea:) ) )) ( ) )_(___(____)____(___(__ _\ John Collins / |\ was robbed / |\ in the dunk /____|\ Dunk /\ contest /\________/

— ATL Sports Fan (@BChill728) February 17, 2019

Yup. John Collins was extremely robbed in this dunk. Defintely not a 40. Very creative. Very underrated.#ATTSlamDunk #dunkcontest #SlamDunkContest #NBAAllStar #NBA https://t.co/szqMdrqZ4V

— M Night Masilungan (@MrMikeSeaver) February 18, 2019

Collins 82 total points was not enough as he and Hornets’ Miles Bridges were both eliminated.