When Steve Smith was a young, trash-talking, up-and-coming star playing for the Heat in the early '90s, he was known for his trademark hesitation baseline move that froze defenders as he coasted past them for a layup.

Now, nearly 10 years and three teams later, Smith, 32, is still brash, but more because of his record-pace shooting percentage from beyond the 3-point arc than for his less-frequent moves to the basket. Through 44 games with the San Antonio Spurs (who take on the Heat tonight), Smith has made 81 of 153 treys for a league-leading 52.9 percent.

The single-season 3-point percentage record holder is Trail Blazers guard Steve Kerr, who made 52.4 percent (89 of 170) in the 1994-95 season for the Chicago Bulls.

During his five seasons in Chicago, Kerr (who was involved in the offseason trade, along with Derek Anderson, that sent Smith from Portland to San Antonio) often was left alone while defenders focused on Scottie Pippen or Michael Jordan. Smith is getting lots of open looks from the perimeter while the opposition surrounds 7-footers Tim Duncan and David Robinson in the paint.

"Once you're halfway through a season and you're really rolling, if you starting thinking, `Man, I've got to shoot a good percentage,' inevitably you're going to miss," said Kerr, who also holds the career percentage 3-point mark at 46. "The best way to shoot is when you're not thinking of anything and you're just firing, but that's never been a problem for Steve."

Heat forward Brian Grant, who played with Smith in Portland two years ago, knows that confidence plays a huge role in shooting success.

"[In Portland] he didn't have a sense of his role because it changed night to night," Grant said. "He didn't have the confidence to put it up without thinking, `I'm coming out if I miss a few.' Now, he's relaxing and he's filling it up."

Heat guard Eddie Jones, who has also been deadly from 3-point range lately (29 of his past 59), knows he can't afford to give Smith any freedom.

"When a guy's shooting like that, you've got to play him like he's Reggie Miller," Jones said. "You can't give him open looks. You got to get up on him."

Smith, who tied the all-time mark for made 3s in a quarter (and half) when he made seven for the Hawks against the Sonics in 1997, made 8 of 8 against Portland earlier this season.

"It has been good here," said Smith, a career 35.6-percent 3-point shooter whose previous high was 40.1 percent for the Heat in 1992-93. "We get a lot of open shots here with Tim and David getting doubled. With Tim drawing so much attention, it makes it easier on all of us."

Sluggish Zo will try to go

Heat center Alonzo Mourning expects to play tonight but said he still feels sluggish from the effects of the antibiotics he has been taking to combat the flu.

"I hate to step back when things were going well, but I've got to deal with it," Mourning said. "You can't turn this into no crying. I've got to take care of my body and do the right thing."

Mourning said he would've preferred to rest during the All-Star break but was still honored by his seventh selection.

"Once you've been to one, you've been to them all," he said. "It's an honor to be on that stage and to be considered one of the best 24 players in the world at that time."

Heat coach Pat Riley and Mourning said that Jones deserved to make his fourth All-Star team, but Jones didn't mind the snub. "If you're below .500 I don't think you deserve to be there," Jones said.