Nowitzki, Terry in NBA's 3-Point Shootout (AP) Updated: 2006-02-09 09:22
NEW YORK - Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry were selected Wednesday to
participate in the NBA's 3-point Shootout, pitting the Dallas teammates against
each other and four other competitors during the All-Star weekend in Houston.
Defending champion Quentin Richardson of the New York Knicks, 2001
winner Ray Allen of Seattle, Chauncey Billups of Detroit and Raja Bell of
Phoenix are the other participants. The contest is Feb. 18, a night before the
All-Star game.
Richardson won the event last year while playing for Phoenix, but he has
struggled this season for the Knicks. He was shooting just 31.3 percent from
beyond the arc entering Wednesday.
He will try to become the first repeat winner since Peja Stojakovic in
2002-03.
As Terry walked off the court after the Mavericks practiced Wednesday in
Dallas, he saw Nowitzki in the corner taking shots from long range.
"Hey bro', what are you doing?," Terry asked Nowitzki. "What is this?"
"I'm getting ready," joked Nowitzki, who was really going through a routine
shooting drill.
Nowitzki is shooting a career-best 43 percent (69-of-162) from 3-point range.
Terry has made 41 percent (95-of-230) of his long-range shots.
"We'll be looking at each other, and hopefully we'll meet in the finals,"
Terry said.
"It's about having fun, and hopefully one of us will bring the trophy to
Dallas," Nowitzki said. "If somebody beats me, it better be Jet."
The winner will get $35,000, with $22,500 going to the runner-up and the
third-place finisher earning $15,000.
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