NBA Three-Point Shooting Contest 2014 - Live Stream, TV Schedule, Roster & Predictions; Who Will Win?
Eight of the NBA's best shooters will take the spotlight during Saturday's Foot Locker Three-Point Contest as NBA All-Star Weekend 2014 rolls on at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, La.
Cleveland Cavaliers star point guard Kyrie Irving vowed to defend his title, but he is not expected to have a walk in the park as the other seven contestants vowed to dethrone the reigning three-point shooting king.
Irving will be challenged by these Eastern Conference contestants - the Orlando Magic's Arron Afflalo, the Washington Wizards' Bradley Beal, and the Joe Johnson of the Brooklyn Nets.
On the other side, Western Conference sharpshooters will also be vying for the title, including the San Antonio Spurs' Marco Belinelli, the Portland Trail Blazers' Damian Lillard, the Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry, and the Minnesota Timberwolves' Kevin Love, who won the event in 2012.
The 2014 All-Star three-point shootout will have the same format as last year's contest. Players from the same conference will go at it against each other in the first round. The best shooters from each conference will advance to the finals for a head-to-head showdown to determine this year's champion.
All eyes will be on Irving as he tries to earn back-to-back titles, but Warriors shooting guard Stephen Curry is considered the favorite to win the three-point shooting crown this year.
Curry, who set the NBA single-season record with 272 three-pointers last season, has been shooting lights-out this season, converting 171 three-pointers on an impressive 41.5-percent clip from downtown.
Even President Barack Obama is convinced that Curry is the best shooter in the NBA today, and if you want to know why, the video below will give you a glimpse of Curry's shooting prowess this season.
Love is also expected to give Irving a run for his money on Saturday night. The 25-year-old All-Star, who is the only forward among the contestants, is shooting just 37.0 percent from beyond-the-arc this season, but the six-year veteran has already proven that he can win the event.
Lillard, who will be very busy on Saturday as he is scheduled to participate in three All-Star Weekend events, has 149 three-pointers this season, which makes him one of the the dark horses in the event.
Predictions
Eastern Conference winner: Kyrie Irving
Irving is shooting just 36.9 percent from the three-point region this season, but Johnson, Beal, and Afflalo are not posting great numbers as well. It should also be noted that Irving converted nine three-pointers in Cleveland's last three games before the break, including a 4-for-4 shooting against the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday.
Western Conference winner: Stephen Curry
Love has thrived in this kind of situation before, but Curry is just too confident and too good this season.
Winner: Stephen Curry
TV Schedule, Live Stream
Fans can catch the three-point shootout live on TNT as part of the 2014 All-Star Saturday Night festivities that is scheduled to start at 8:30 p.m. EST. Live stream will be available through TNT Overtime.