[Underdog]

Nowitzki back in Shooting Stars competition, looking for a repeat

All those half-court shots that the Mavericks heave at the end of practices and shootarounds - all for fun and a few hundred-dollar bills at stake - are going to come in handy next week for Dirk Nowitzki.

He's going for a repeat this year in the Haier Shooting Stars competition during All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 19.

Team Texas will have a little different look, however, with Roneeka Hodges of the San Antonio Silver Stars replacing Becky Hammon . Kenny Smith, a two-time NBA champion with Houston and current TNT analyst, will round out the Texas threesome.

The Shooting Stars requires each team to make shots from varying spots on the floor, including a half-court shot.

The home team from Los Angeles, which won the inaugural event in 2004, includes the Lakers' Pau Gasol , the Los Angeles Sparks' Tina Thompson and Rick Fox , an NBA TV analyst and former Laker.

Team Atlanta features the Hawks' Al Horford , the Atlanta Dream's Coco Miller and NBA TV analyst Steve Smith, a former Hawk.

Team Chicago has the Bulls' Taj Gibson , the Chicago Sky's Cathrine Kraayveld and Steve Kerr, who won multiple championships with the Bulls during Michael Jordan's heyday.

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