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How a circus performer and his beloved Chihuahua became the NBA's 'premier' halftime act

LAS VEGAS — Christian Stoinev was born and raised to entertain crowds: The fifth-generation circus performer grew up with the Big Apple Circus in New York City and began mastering his hand balancing act before he was a teenager. But when the 27-year-old basketball obsessive heads to center court to wow NBA crowds with his halftime act, he knows he isn't the main attraction.

That honor belongs to Percy, a golden Chihuahua that pops out of a box midway through the performance to climb Stoinev's body and perch on his feet during handstands. While Stoinev works through his complex moves like a gymnast on a pommel horse, the tiny dog, which performs under the name "Scooby," mugs for the crowd by waving his front paws.