Arenas Is Joining the Three-Point Shooting Party

HOUSTON, Feb. 17 -- For a player who wasn't originally invited to the party and instead planned to watch "Bambi II" this weekend, Washington Wizards point guard Gilbert Arenas won't have too much time to rest after he was asked to replace Phoenix's Raja Bell in the three-point shootout Saturday night at Toyota Center.

Arenas is in Houston only because Commissioner David Stern selected him as an injury replacement for Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal. Now, Arenas has plans for Saturday night and Sunday night.

Bell was excused from the competition because of a family illness. Arenas will be competing against defending champion Quentin Richardson of the New York Knicks, Seattle's Ray Allen (the 2001 winner), Detroit's Chauncey Billups, and the Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry. "I'm really excited," said Arenas, who was asked to participate shortly after 7 p.m. Friday while doing a photo shoot for Adidas. "This is great."

Arenas is shooting a career-low 34.3 percent (113 of 329) and ranks 80th in the league from three-point range. He participated in the skills competition last season, finishing in last place. He is looking for a better showing in the three-point contest. "I'm hoping to have a very good showing for the fans," Arenas said.

Iguodala Leads the Way

Philadelphia 76ers second-year guard Andre Iguodala had nine dunks and scored a game-high 30 points to lead the sophomores to a 106-96 victory in the Rookie Challenge on Friday night.

Iguodala's performance had some wondering whether he'd have anything left for the slam dunk competition on Saturday.

"I got a couple of things up my sleeve," said Iguodala, who was named the game's most valuable player after connecting on 4 of 5 three-pointers.

Houston guard Luther Head scored 18 points to lead the rookies. . . .

Eastern Conference Coach Flip Saunders is expected to start New Jersey Nets forward Vince Carter in place of Jermaine O'Neal for the All-Star Game.

Hall of Fame Candidates

Former NBA stars Charles Barkley, Dominique Wilkins and Joe Dumars, Connecticut women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma and ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale were among the 16 finalists announced for election into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame for 2006.

The announcement was made in Houston, where Barkley, the 1993 league's most valuable player, finished his 16-year career with the Rockets. Barkley said he had only returned to Houston twice since he retired; the first time was for the Hurricane Katrina relief game in September.

"I'm glad to be back in Houston. Great city," Barkley said. "Guys treated me fantastic, even when I couldn't play my last couple of years."

Other notable finalists include former NBA player and Virginia standout Ralph Sampson, Washington native Adrian Dantley, Chet Walker, coaches Don Nelson and Gene Keady, and contributor David Gavitt. The Hall of Fame class will be announced on April 3 in Indianapolis, and enshrinement ceremonies will take place in Springfield, Mass., the weekend of Sept. 7-9.