It might seem like a post-practice shootout between James Jones and Mario Chalmers.
The only difference is the two Miami Heat guards will be doing it in front of a packed house.
Jones and Chalmers were named two of the six contestants for the 3-point shooting contest Feb. 25 during All-Star Weekend in Orlando. Also competing will be Ryan Anderson of the Magic, All-Stars Joe Johnson of Atlanta and Kevin Love of Minnesota, and New Jersey’s Anthony Morrow.
Jones claimed the event last year in Los Angeles, marking the third time in five years a Heat player had won. Jason Kapono did so in 2007 and Daequan Cook won in 2009. Miami also had Glen Rice win in 1995.
Having a third of the field certainly helps the chances of another Heat player hoisting a trophy. Chalmers is shooting 46.3 percent on 3-pointers for the season and Jones is at 40.4 percent.
Jones has attempted only 47 this season and likely is in the contest only because he is defending champion. Heat guard Mike Miller leads the team at a staggering 52.1 percent, but he’s taken only 48 on the season after missing 12 games due to injury.
Anderson is shooting 42.1 percent from behind the arc. He’ll try to become Orlando’s first winner in the event that began in 1986, three years before the Magic and two years before the Heat entered the NBA.
Among the other three, Morrow is shooting 42.3 percent, Love 36.1, and Johnson 35.6.
Chris Tomasson can be reached at christomasson@hotmail.com or on Twitter@christomasson
