Atlanta Hawks' Kyle Korver (26), who extended his NBA record of 109 consecutive 3-point baskets, reacts as he sinks a 3-point basket to put the team up 119-114 late in the second half of their NBA basketball game at Philips Arena in Atlanta, on January 20, 2014. Atlanta won 121-114. UPI/David Tulis |
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NEW YORK, Feb. 13 (UPI) -- Nylon nets may be all but a pile of ash on the court after Saturday's three-point contest at Brooklyn's Barclays Center. The evening event is loaded with sniping stars including: Golden State Warriors' "Splash Brothers" Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry, Atlanta Hawks' Kyle Korver, Houston's James Harden, Cleveland's Kyrie Irving, Portland's Wesley Matthews, Los Angeles Clippers' J.J. Redick, and San Antonio's Marco Belinelli, who attempts to defend his title.
Korver is shooting an impossible 53.2 percent from three-point range this season and having one of the best shooting seasons in NBA history.
''It seemed like there was a three- or four-year stretch where they were just getting random dudes, like, 'Oh, you're coming to All-Star weekend? You can be in the 3-point contest!''' Redick told Yahoo!. ''I was hoping this year they wouldn't invite (Nets center) Mason Plumlee, and they didn't. The field is great on paper. I do feel like it's the best competition ever. It has that feel.''
Curry, the midseason favorite for MVP, became the fastest player in NBA history to make 1,000 three-pointers on Jan. 7 against the Indiana Pacers. Curry reached the feat 88 games faster than previous leader, former Orlando Magic sharpshooter Dennis Scott.
Irving won the event in 2013 and is shooting 41.3 percent from downtown this season.
Harden is shooting 45.5 percent from distance and averaging a career-high 27.4 points per game. Matthews is hitting 39.8 percent of his three-pointers, Redick is hitting 39.6 percent, and Belinelli is hitting 38.1 percent.
According to the sportsbook Bovada, Korver has 11/4 odds to win the contest, followed by Curry's 13/4, Thompson's 4/1, and Irving's 7/1.
According to OregonLive, the format consists of "two rounds with each player having one minute to shoot five racks of five balls from five different locations around the three-point arc. There are four racks that contain four orange balls worth one point each and one multicolored "money" ball worth two points. The fifth rack, which the shooter can place at the location of his choice, has all money balls, worth two points each. The maximum possible score is 34. The top three scorers from the first round advance to the final round."
The Foot Locker three-point contest airs at 8:30 p.m. on TNT.
