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Three Best Bets for NBA All-Star Weekend

Eric Rosales

by Eric Rosales in NBA Basketball

Updated Mar 31, 2021 · 10:08 AM PDT

Aaron Gordon
Aaron Gordon is headed to the Denver Nuggets (Photo by Ringo Chiu/Zuma Press/Icon Sportswire)
  • Duncan Robinson leads the way for our top bets during NBA All-Star Weekend
  • What does Aaron Gordon have in store for his final dunk contest?
  • Read below for our best three bets to make during NBA All-Star Weekend

Basketball’s brightest will converge on Chicago, for what is expected to be one of the best and most important NBA All-Star Weekend’s ever. You can expect emotional and super-charged tributes for both David Stern and Kobe Bryant, and with that, some extra vigour and competition on a grand stage.

That’s what we’re here for: to provide the best bets for you to consider during All-Star weekend, with action beginning Friday night (Feb 14), with both the Celebrity and Rising Stars game. It continues Feb. 15 for NBA All-Star Saturday night, featuring the Skills Challenge, 3-point Contest and the Slam Dunk Contest. It culminates with the big game on Sunday night.

There are so many great bets, we had to sneak in an extra line worth considering. We begin from beyond the arc, where the most notable star in the field won’t be competing.

Odds to Win NBA 3-Point Contest

Player Team Odds
Duncan Robinson Heat +300
Davis Bertans Wizards +350
Trae Young Hawks +425
Devin Booker Suns +500
Joe Harris Nets +500
Buddy Hield Kings +700
Devonte’ Graham Hornets +1000
Zach LaVine Bulls +1000

* Odds from Feb 13.

Analysis: Damian Lillard was the favorite for this event prior to tweaking his groin in Wednesday’s loss to the Grizzlies, which will force him out of both the All-Star Game and the three-point contest. It will not, however, preclude him from going Dame D.O.L.L.A. in Chicago, as he’s still scheduled to perform in his side gig as the league’s best rapper.

Duncan Robinson is now the betting favorite for the event. He was a non-factor in his rookie year, but is now one of the premier marksmen in the NBA. He’s hit 191 threes this season, and shooting it at a 43.8% clip. He trails only JJ Redick in shooting percentage of players who have hoisted at least 300 attempts from beyond the arc.

Miami is also a three-point contest factory, tied with the Bulls and Celtics for most team wins of the event, with four. That is a little misleading though, as Larry Bird and Craig Hodges have three wins apiece, while Miami has had four different winners. There hasn’t been a back-to-back winner since Jason Kapono in 2007 and 2008, so trying to back Joe Harris repeating is tough.

The middle of the pack presents value with both Trae Young and Devin Booker each with a little bit to prove – Young getting criticized for being named an All-Star starter even though his Hawks are brutal, and Booker just getting to Chicago due to Dame’s injury.

A long shot worth noting is the home team’s Zach Lavine, who will be the only current Bull participating in any part of the weekend.

The pick: Robinson (+300)

Rising Stars Prop Bets

Prop Yes Odds No Odds
Player to score more than 46 points? +1000 -2500
Will a player record a triple-double? +700 -2000

Analysis: Trying to pick an MVP of this game is no easy task, so let’s stick to some props. Kevin Durant is still the standard-bearer for scoring in this game, dropping 46 on 17-for-25 shooting in 2009. In the following decade, only two players (Russell Westbrook and Kenneth Faried) have even hit the 40-point plateau.

The reason? Apart from being an awful game to watch, there are talented players, no defense, and everybody wants to get shots up. With all these youngsters clamouring to make their mark, you’ll be hard pressed to find even one star to challenge that mark. Young is the only player on either roster who has scored more than 46 points in a game, while Luka Doncic and Devonte’ Graham are the only players who have even hit the 40-point threshold.

We’re also still waiting for the first triple-double in Rising Stars history, and this might be the best year for history to be made. Doncic is tied with LeBron James for the most triple-doubles in the NBA this season with 12, and his game is all about filling the stat sheet. Young, meanwhile, fell just three boards short of the feat a year ago. Rebounds will be the issue again, but his assist total should be just fine feeding Zion Williamson. If there’s a longshot tossing some dollars at, this is it.

The pick: Score 46 or more? No (-2500) / Triple-double? Yes (+700)

NBA Slam Dunk Contest Odds

Player Team Odds
Aaron Gordon Magic +140
Derrick Jones Jr Heat +175
Pat Connaughton Bucks +400
Dwight Howard Lakers +500

Analysis: That Gordon is only at +140 is shocking: his performance in Toronto in 2016 is literally the stuff of legend. He was injured in 2017 and was a non-factor, but with this being his final time in the dunk contest, I can’t wait to see what nonsense he executes.

 

Derrick Jones proved to be a spectacular skywalker as he made a name for himself in 2017, and based on that performance, he should find his way into the final. He’s also been going poster-crazy this season and looks ready to compete.

It’s been a dozen years since Dwight Howard hoisted the trophy, and while the Kobe inspired dunks are coming, I don’t think it will be enough to stop Gordon.

The pick: Gordon (+140)


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