WASHINGTON – Ray Allen got his act together just in time.
The Milwaukee Bucks guard and part-time thespian recovered from
some sloppy footwork to hit 10 straight shots late in the final
Saturday and win the 3-point shootout at All-Star weekend.
Allen, holding his follow-through motion after many of his
arching attempts, went 16-of-25 to total 19 points as the last of
the three finalists on court.
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Past winners
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1986 – Larry Bird, Boston
1987 – Larry Bird, Boston
1988 – Larry Bird, Boston
1989 – Dale Ellis, Seattle
1990 – Craig Hodges, Chicago
1991 – Craig Hodges, Chicago
1992 – Craig Hodges, Chicago
1993 – Mark Price, Cleveland
1994 – Mark Price, Cleveland
1995 – Glen Rice, Miami
1996 – Tim Legler, Washington
1997 – Steve Kerr, Chicago
1998 – Jeff Hornacek, Utah
1999 – No contest.
2000 – Jeff Hornacek, Utah
2001 – Ray Allen, Milwaukee
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He edged Kings forward Peja Stojakovic, who had 17 points, with
Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki third with 10. Stojakovic teamed with
Monarchs guard Ruthie Bolton-Holifield to win the 2ball title less
than an hour before.
"It's nerve-racking out there," said Allen, who starred
alongside Denzel Washington in the Spike Lee film "He Got Game"
in 1998. "You have a capacity arena cheering you on or rooting
against you. The pressure's there. I was nervous, I'm not going to
lie."
Each player had a minute to put up as many shots as he could
from five spots behind the 3-point line. Each basket counted for a
point, with every fifth ball -- red-white-and-blue like in the old
ABA -- counting double.
Allen, a member of the U.S. Olympic team last year in Sydney,
opened the final by sinking only three of his first nine attempts,
hampered in part by stumbling over the wheels at the front of the
rack holding the balls.
But he had things turned around by the next-to-last rack, where
he went 5-for-5 as part of his 10-for-10 streak. Allen picked up
$25,000 for his victory; he finished third behind the now-retired
Jeff Hornacek in the All-Star 3-point contest last year at Oakland.
Stojakovic got vociferous support from Sacramento teammates
Chris Webber and Vlade Divac, who were seated at courtside.
"He had Vlade and Chris there for him," said Allen, 17th in
the NBA with a 21.3-point scoring average, "so I had to shake off
the haters for a minute. They already were booing me down."
Allen, who has made 99 of 234 3-pointer attempts this season
(42.3 percent) for the Central Division-leading Bucks, also led the
eight participants in the first round with 20 points.
"Ray did a pretty good job, especially in the final round,"
Stojakovic said. "It was tough to beat him. He's a real
professional."
Utah's Bryon Russell finished last with 10 points, while New
York's Allan Houston was booed by the crowd after scoring 11.
Others eliminated from the eight-player field in the first round
included Seattle's Rashard Lewis (12 points), Dallas' Steve Nash
(14), and Orlando's Pat Garrity (15).
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ALSO SEE
Sacramento duo wins disorganized 2ball event
Sonics' Mason tops young field in dunk contest
Super soph: Szczerbiak nabs Rookie Challenge MVP
NBA 2001 All-Star Game video
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