Nowitzki finally wins 3-point shooting contest
After coming close twice previously, Mavs star beats Arenas, Allen
 Sue Ogrocki / AP Dirk Nowitzki of the Mavs shoots during the NBA's three-point competition Saturday. Nowitzki made 15 of 25 shots in the final round to win. |
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NBA 3-point results |
First round Previous winners |
HOUSTON - Dirk Nowitzki barely escaped the first round. A few minutes later, he was finally the 3-point champion.
Nowitzki won the title Saturday night after coming close twice before, beating Gilbert Arenas and Ray Allen at All-Star weekend.
With Dallas teammate Jason Terry and Mavericks owner Mark Cuban looking on from the sideline, the 7-foot German finished with 18 points. Arenas had 16 points and Allen, the 2001 champion, had 15.
Nowitzki finished second in the 3-point contest in 2000 and third the next year. He got off to a quick start in the finals Saturday night, making eight of his first 10 shots and going 15-of-25 in the final round.
“That’s kind of my game,” Nowitzki said. “I’m going to shoot it first and everything else is second.”
Terry failed to advance with his first-round total of 13. Defending champion Quentin Richardson of New York and Detroit’s Chauncey Billups each finished with 12.
Nowitzki almost missed the cut himself. His final make of the first round barely counted, tying him with Arenas for second with 14 points. Replays showed the ball was still in his hands when time expired, but there is no review in the contest.
“I looked at the clock, I tried to hoist them up there as quick as I can,” Nowitzki said. “I don’t know if it should have counted.”
He got some help in the finals from Terry, who did his best to influence the outcome from his courtside seat.
“He was rooting for me all the way,” Nowitzki said. “When the guys were shooting in the final round and he was out, he was heckling them from behind.”
Allen made all five balls on his fourth rack in the first round and finished with 19 points but struggled in the middle of the finals, missing all five shots on his fourth rack.
Arenas was only selected Friday into the field. He replaced Phoenix’s Raja Bell, who was excused because of a family illness.
It was the second time Arenas was a replacement for this All-Star weekend: He replaced injured Indiana forward Jermaine O’Neal on the Eastern Conference roster.
Nowitzki won $35,000 — and according to two of the competitors, the title of the NBA’s best outside shooter.
Terry said Friday the winner had the right to that boast, and Arenas agreed Saturday afternoon.
“You got a whole year to brag that you’re the best shooter, no matter what happens,” he said.
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