NBA 3-Point Contest 2013: Participants, Odds and Predictions

The Three-Point Contest is one of the most underrated events of the NBA’s All-Star Weekend. 

In 2013, it should be downright thrilling as six of the best long-range shooters on the planet gather to determine who is the top sniper in the game. It's impossible to tell who will emerge victorious, but we're going to do our best to make an accurate prediction.

Let’s take a look at the participants, the latest odds, where to tune in to watch the event, predict the winner and more.    

Start Time: Saturday, Feb. 16, at 8:30 p.m. ET

TV: Coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET on TNT

Where: Toyota Center

Live Stream: TNT Overtime

Mobile: NBA Game Time

Participants and 2012-13 Three-Point Shooting Percentages

*Percentages accurate as of Thursday, Feb. 14, at 8 a.m. ET

East

Paul George, Indiana Pacers (38.6 3PT%)

Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers (42.5 3PT%)

Steve Novak, New York Knicks (44.7 3PT%)

West

Ryan Anderson, New Orleans Hornets (40.2 3PT%)

Matt Bonner, San Antonio Spurs (44.6 3PT%)

Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors (44.7 3PT%)

Odds (via Bovada.lv)

Stephen Curry (GS) 5/2

Steve Novak (NYK) 5/2 

Kyrie Irving (CLE) 4/1

Ryan Anderson (NO) 4/1

Matt Bonner (SA) 5/1

Paul George (IND) 15/2   

Objective

In order to win the three-point shootout, you must be the most consistent, accurate shooter in the competition.

This is proven at five shooting stations around the three-point line, each with four regular balls worth “one” point each and one money ball at end worth “two.” One minute is allotted to each competitor to make as many shots as possible, with the highest score winning.

However, there is a new wrinkle this year as the Eastern Conference is now locked into competition with the West throughout the duration of All-Star Saturday Night.

After the first round, the top scorer from the East will face the Western Conference’s sniper with the highest point total in the first round. The player with the lowest Round 1 score will go first and a champion will be crowned after both have shot their way around the arc.

Prediction

With so many deadeye shooters in the 2013 Three-Point Contest, it’s hard to narrow it down to just one winner. We’ll take a crack at it, starting with picking conference representatives for the final round.

For the East, we’re going with Kyrie Irving. It just seems like this is the sophomore guard out of Duke’s year, and anything is possible for the young man.

He’s shooting a blistering 42.5 percent from long range, which is quite incredible given his PG duties for the Cleveland Cavaliers and role as primary facilitator and scorer.

If the 6’3” guard can shoot that high a percentage with some of the best defenders draped all over him, we imagine he’s going to kill it from deep.

Out West, we love Matt Bonner coming out of nowhere and lighting it up in Round 1. The “Red Rocket” is averaging a ridiculous 44.6 percent beyond the arc, but with a relatively low sample size (he has only connected on 37-of-83 attempts.)

However, he truly wants to be in this event and will be looking to win in his inaugural appearance. After teammates and Spurs fans took to Twitter to promote the #LetBonnerShoot campaign to help him get here, it would be a shame to let them down by flaming out in the first round.

When it comes down to Irving versus Bonner, we’re once again backing San Antonio’s 6’10” marksman. Because Irving is competing in the actual All-Star Game itself and is involved in a number of other high-profile events during his time in Houston, we feel his heart isn’t in it the way Bonner’s is.

The Red Rocket is only here for business, and the Spurs sharpshooter is certainly going to take care of it come All-Star Saturday Night.