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OAKLAND, Calif. -- Jeff Hornacek, long one of the NBA's best
shooters, connected again Saturday night as he and Utah teammate
Natalie Williams won the 2-ball contest.
Hornacek sank a 19-foot, 9-inch shot worth seven points just
before time expired to break a tie as Utah edged the Phoenix team
of Jason Kidd and Jennifer Gillom 68-61 for the title.
Hornacek sank six of eight shots in the final round for 42
points and Williams hit five of seven for 26. Kidd made five of
eight for 30 points and Gillom five of seven for 31.
"Leave it up to Jeff to make that shot. You might as well
forget it," said Kidd, whose team went first in the final round.
Under the rules, teams comprised of one player from the NBA and
another from the WNBA in the same city alternate shots from
different spots on the floor during a 60-second round. Two of the
eight teams then advance to the final round.
Phoenix edged out the Detroit team of Grant Hill and Jennifer
Azzi 62-59 to make the finals.
Utah used a two-shot strategy in both rounds as Hornacek stayed
on the left side of the court for the 19-9 shot worth seven points
and Williams on the other side from 17-5 for a 6-point shot.
"We planned it and had a strategy for the beginning and at the
end," said Williams, who made a tying shot just before Hornacek
hit the winner. "He's a great partner. I just wanted to hold up my
end and I think I did. I knew Jeff would make his shot, he's the
money man."
The highest valued shot is eight points for a shot from 24 feet,
six inches, the lowest a layup for two points.
Other teams entered were Steve Francis and Cynthia Cooper of
Houston, Derek Fisher and Lisa Leslie of Los Angeles, Allan Houston
and Becky Hammon of New York, Jason Williams and Yolanda Griffith
of Sacramento and Richard Hamilton and Chamique Holdsclaw of
Washington.
Cooper won the first competition in 1998 when she teamed with
the now retired Clyde Drexler.
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ALSO SEE
Brand, Francis lead way in Rookie Challenge
Hornacek defends shootout title in final season
NBA All-Star Game 2000
Sizing up the 2ball competition
Around the Rim in Oakland, Saturday
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