Kings' Peja Crowned Shootout Champion

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 9 (Ticker) -- Chuck Daly was right. Americans better start
practicing their shooting.

Yugoslavia's Peja Stojakovic gunned down a game Wesley Person in overtime of
the 1 800 CALL ATT Shootout, becoming the first foreigner to win the All-Star
Weekend event and staking his claim to the unofficial title of best shooter
in the NBA.

That was evident Saturday night as Stojakovic and Canada's Steve Nash advanced
to the final, while five Americans were eliminated in the first round,
including defending champion Ray Allen of the Milwaukee Bucks.

"I finished second last year and I got another shot," Stojakovic said. "It
actually paid off."

It marked the second straight year that a pair of foreigners reached the final
round. Last year, it was Stojakovic and Dirk Nowitzki of Germany.

"I don't know. You should tell me (what it means)," Stojakovic said. "You go
back and tell me what people think about it. I just came over here. I didn't
think about winning the 3-point contest. I just came over here to have a good
time."

Stojakovic was edged out by Allen last year but would not be denied this year.
In the final round, he made nine of his last 10 shots and posted a score of 19.
But Person, a guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers, tied him, forcing a 24-second
mini-round.

A 45 percent shooter from the arc, Stojakovic got up 12 shots, making seven
for nine points. Person shot 11 times, making four for five points.

"I'm pleased with the way I shot the ball tonight," Person said. "He made a
couple more shots than I did. Got to give him credit."

Nash had been eliminated, but just barely. The All-Star point guard of the
Dallas Mavericks scored 18 in the final round after surviving the opening
round.

Some of the Americans were awful. League 3-point percentage leader Steve Smith
of the San Antonio Spurs missed 10 straight shots at one point and managed a
total of eight. Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce sported shiny green
sneakers but they did not help him as he also had eight.

Stojakovic and Person were the first two shooters and provided a preview of
what was to come. Stojakovic opened with 20 points and Person threw in 21.

Allen went last in the first round and needed to beat Nash's total of 15. He
made seven in a row during one stretch but finished poorly and came up a
point short.

"They are great shooters," Stojakovic said. "I was lucky that I went first. I
was still warm from the warm-up."

FIRST ROUND (Top three advance)

Wesley Person, Cleveland, 21 points
Predrag Stojakovic, Sacramento, 20 points
Steve Nash, Dallas, 15 points
Quentin Richardson, Los Angeles Clippers, 14 points
Ray Allen, Milwaukee, 14 points
Mike Miller, Orlando, 10 points
Paul Pierce, Boston, 8 points
Steve Smith, San Antonio, 8 points

FINALS

X-Predrag Stojakovic, Sacramento, 19 points
Wesley Person, Cleveland, 19 points
Steve Nash, Dallas, 18 points

X-Stojakovic defeats Person, 9-5, in overtime