For the first time since 2017, the NBA All-Star Game will go back to the Eastern Conference facing the Western Conference as the festivities take place in Indianapolis. 

The NBA experimented with two stars as captains and drafting teams the past six years, but the league has reverted back to the traditional conferences squaring off for this season’s edition. 

The West enters Sunday’s game as a slight 2.5-point favorite, led by Lakers’ superstar LeBron James, two-time MVP Nikola Jokic of the Nuggets, Mavericks’ guard Luka Doncic and Suns’ forward Kevin Durant. 

The East showcases Milwaukee stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, along with Boston’s Jayson Tatum and hometown star Tyrese Haliburton of the Pacers. 

The one thing that is normally true in these All-Star games is defense is optional, capped off by a 184-175 win by Team Giannis over Team LeBron last season in Salt Lake City. 

This year’s total is 364.5 as the most recent All-Star Game to reach this total was the last one involving East-West in 2017, with the West prevailing, 192-182. 

As far as MVP odds for the game go, Antetokounmpo is the favorite at +650, followed by James at +700 and Haliburton sitting at +800. 

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Betting on the NBA?

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Russell Westbrook was the last player to win All-Star Game MVP honors in back-to-back years back in 2015 and 2016, and Tatum looks to duplicate that feat at +900 odds. 

Let’s back the West here as a slight favorite — which also showcases the likes of Suns’ guard Devin Booker, Warriors’ star Stephen Curry, Lakers’ forward Anthony Davis, and the Clippers’ duo of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George off the bench. 

The play: Western Conference -2.5. 

The 2024 NBA All-Star Game tips off tonight (8:00 p.m. ET, TNT), with the East facing the West once again. And while All-Star games aren’t known as the most popular betting events of the sports calendar year, plenty of value opportunities exist for tonight’s star-studded exhibition in Indianapolis. 

This column will run the gauntlet of player and game props, unveiling our picks for the top scoring, three-point shooting, rebounding, and assist props of the night as well as the 2024 NBA All-Star MVP.

The biggest no-no in sports betting is blindly betting the OVER on your favorite superstar. It’s imperative to assess every bet’s value and determine if an OVER or UNDER is worth betting one way or the other.   

If an over/under projection seems overly inflated for a veteran star, we will bet the UNDER or simply fade the prop. If we find one that seems like a solid value, we will attack it with a modest bet. If an MVP sleeper has fantastic plus odds, we will get in some action in the hopes of a big pay day. 

Let’s get into our favorite player and game props for the 2024 NBA All-Star Game. Good luck, have fun, and enjoy the star-studded night!

NBA All-Star prop bets 2024: Odds, best bet for MVP

Odds courtesy of BetMGM, an authorized gaming operator of the NBA. Showing +4000 or shorter.

Player	Odds
Giannis Antetokounmpo	+600
Tyrese Haliburton	+600
LeBron James	+800
Steph Curry	+800
Jayson Tatum	+900
Luka Doncic	+1100
Damian Lillard	+1200
Kevin Durant	+1200
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander	+1200
Anthony Edwards	+1400
Devin Booker	+1500
Donovan Mitchell	+2200
Jalen Brunson	+3000
Paul George	+4000
Anthony Davis	+4000

A different NBA All-Star Game MVP has been announced in each of the past six seasons. Jayson Tatum, a young perennial MVP candidate, balled out last year with an All-Star record of 55 points. Could one of these younger faces who has never won this award step up and take down the Kobe Bryant Trophy? Here’s our best bet, top value pick, and favorite sleeper for the award. 

Best bet: Tyrese Haliburton (+600)

The guy who Knicks broadcaster and former NBA player Wally Szczerbiak called a “fake All-Star” last year has morphed into arguably the best point guard in the Association. Now he gets a chance to show the world on his home floor that he’s the Most Valuable Player of all the All-Stars.

It’s too good of a narrative to pass up, and we think there’s a great chance Hali will be gunning for this one from the jump. He has been involved in multiple facets of All-Star Weekend, attending the Celebrity Game and Rising Stars on Friday and then competing in the Three-Point Contest and Skills Challenge on Saturday.

Haliburton’s the Indy ambassador, and he’s our pick for 2024 All-Star MVP. 

Best value pick: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+1200)

Wouldn’t it be cool if SGA won All-Star MVP and league MVP in the same season? It’s quite possible, as nobody has been hotter than the Canadian stud this year. He’s the league’s top scorer and he’s been doing it all for the Thunder, one of the best teams in the West. We like the value here, as we often see younger studs going for the top prize of All-Star Weekend. 

Best sleeper: Jalen Brunson (+3000)

We saw how emotionally touched Brunson was when he discovered that he had been selected as an All-Star. The young point guard has come a long way, from bench contributor on the Mavericks to franchise player on the New York Knicks. Don’t be surprised if he tries to add some hardware to his trophy case tonight with the NBA All-Star MVP. 

NBA All-Star prop bets 2024: Top scorer props

Three long shots to score 35+ points (non-parlay): Anthony Edwards (+620), Devin Booker (+620), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+980)

Here’s a fun way to bet some long shots in a play for a big payday that won’t set you back much if none of them hit. Put $12 individually (not parlayed) on each of these young studs to drop 35 — a total stake of $36 — and if any of the three All-Stars hit that mark, we’ll walk away with a net profit of between $50 and $93. 

Here’s why we like these three stars in particular: all three are scoring machines who have never won an NBA MVP of any kind before (league, All-Star, or Finals). All three are young — Ant is 22, SGA is 25, Book is 27 — and all three seem innately conscious of their legacies. 

Ant should be in the league MVP discussion as the best offensive player on the best team in a loaded West. Book recently started going nuclear to ensure he made the All-Star team as a reserve, and he dropped 20 points in his last ASG. SGA is second on the MVP odds boards behind two-time MVP Nikola Jokic. If we’re going to get a new MVP, it could very well be one of these three.

Donovan Mitchell points: 20+ (+122)

Mitchell has enjoyed a phenomenal run, and we’re starting to think he deserves more consideration on the MVP odds futures market. Cleveland has launched up to second in the East after winning 18 of its past 20 games, a run for which the All-Star guard has been the main catalyst.

Over the Cavs’ 22 games since the end of December, Spida has averaged well over 29 points per game and posted 34-plus six times. Now he gets a fourth crack at All-Star MVP, which he has gone for in the past. In Spida’s three ASG appearances, the veteran shooting guard has averaged 20.7 points, 6.0 assists, and 4.3 assists. Twenty points at +122 is worth a bet.

Tyrese Maxey points: 15+ (+176)

As Haliburton has over the last 11 months, Maxey has enjoyed a full breakout at the age of 23. The star 76ers guard has exploded for averages of 25.7 points, 6.4 assists, and 3.7 rebounds while shooting lights-out from all three scoring levels. 

Maxey is as hot as ever since the calendar flipped to February, as he posted his second 50-point performance of the season on Feb. 1 and most recently dropped a casual 30 on the Heat. Don’t be surprised if the supremely confident point guard goes HAM under the bright lights this Sunday night.

Other scoring props we like: Steph Curry three-pointers: OVER 6.5 (+105); Damian Lillard three-pointers: OVER 6.5 (+120); Devin Booker three-pointers: UNDER 3.5 (-155)

NBA All-Star prop bets 2024: Assists

Best bet: LeBron James OVER 5.5 assists (+100)

At 39, LeBron likely has little to no interest in scoring the most points in an All-Star Game or winning MVP. King James will be just as content dishing to his teammates and serving as a top facilitator to help the West prevail in the first season of East vs. West since 2017.

LeBron’s the modern GOAT and one of the best passers in the game, so we love the plus odds on a relatively modest assist prop. He might even mess around and lead the game in dimes. 

Other assists props we like: Luka Doncic OVER 5.5 assists (+105)

NBA All-Star prop bets 2024: Rebounds

Best bet: Giannis Antetokounmpo OVER 9.5 rebounds (-150)

This is light work for the Greek Freak, hence the juiced-up odds of -150. As one of the bigs who really loves being a part of the All-Star Game, we wouldn’t be surprised in the least if Giannis collects double-digit boards.

This is the highest-scoring season we have seen in the NBA in a long time, and more three-pointers have been launched to this point in the season than ever before. There will be boards, and Giannis will more than likely grab 10 of them. 

Other rebounding props we like: Anthony Davis OVER 4.5 (+100)

When the calendar finally turns from football, the NBA rewards us with an exhibition game. Yes, it is an exhibition game with all the biggest stars in the sport, players having sheer fun for a night, showcasing alley-oop combinations we otherwise fear to dream of even in free agency. But an exhibition game, nonetheless.

NBA odds surrounding the NBA All-Star Game creates a pile of betting opportunities, the Overs the obvious instinct given the egregious lack of defense from both the West and the East. But what angle specifically should be targeted?

Let’s find a distinct preference in my free NBA picks as I preview the NBA All-Star Game on February 18.

NBA All-Star Game odds

Odds courtesy of FanDuel as of February 18, 2024.

NBA All-Star Game format

After altering the All-Star Game format in recent years, the NBA is returning to its classic format of four 12-minute quarters and traditional scoring. It will also be East vs. West rather than two teams based on a draft from what we’ve seen in previous years.

NBA All-Star Game best bet 

Before beginning this handicap, two player props were in mind to target. Unfortunately, sportsbooks are not offering a prop on how many threes Karl-Anthony Towns will make.

The Timberwolves’ big man was one money ball away from winning his second 3-point contest last night. Since Jan. 1 — simply an easy cutoff date — he has shot 46.8% from deep. The All-Star Game’s habit of encouraging players to take shots from three or five or eight feet beyond the arc would fit Towns’ usual play just fine.

But the closest we can come to that suggest bet is Towns to score at least 15 points at +138 at FanDuel. Note: That cannot be parlayed with any other All-Star Game thought.

The other player prop considered before even opening up any sportsbooks, however, is available, and it is available at a reasonable number.

Only one player passes the ball more prolifically these days than Trae Young does, Tyrese Haliburton’s rapid ascension taking some shine off Young’s usual numbers. Tyrese Haliburton averages 14.7 assists per 100 possessions this season, a full pass more than Young’s 13.7.

Young balances that out by scoring two more points per 100 possessions, but one might wonder if Young is quietly bothered by Haliburton knocking Young off the mantle as the league’s best high-pace point guard.

Young was not initially selected as an All-Star, arguably a direct result of Haliburton becoming a starter, along with Jalen Brunson’s continued development, Tyrese Maxey’s improvement, and Donovan Mitchell’s comfort in Cleveland. Young is no longer the young point guard of note in the East, and that downgrade is deserved, given Atlanta’s continued struggles.

But among those names, the All-Star game may be best suited for Young. Brunson’s delightful fundamental game will be an ill fit tonight. Aside from a few highlight-worthy dunks, Mitchell may also be an awkward piece tonight. Maxey should have to pay some dues and ride the bench for most of this scrimmage.

That leaves Young. Someone known for his passes, someone possibly eager to reclaim some status, someone who embraces the showmanship of this exhibition better than anyone else in the NBA aside from Luka Doncic and perhaps Anthony Edwards.

Betting on Haliburton’s assists prop tonight would make sense if it were not so lofty, set at 10.5. In front of his home crowd, of course Haliburton should put on a show, but who knows what the rotations will look like. Furthermore, there are actually fewer assist chances per possession for guards in this game than usual, given how often big men will take the opportunity to advance the ball and elicit hijinx.

Young’s more reasonable number of 7.5 assists makes far more sense, a number he would usually reach in just about 55 possessions.

There will be many more trips up and down the court than that tonight, all stats skewed by the exhibition nature of this comedy. Young should convert enough of them to remind the NBA and its fans that he should have been an All-Star all along.

My best bet: Trae Young Over 7.5 assists (-113 at FanDuel)

NBA All-Star Game MVP Odds 

Few players have dominated the NBA’s mid-season classic quite like King James. The 39-year-old superstar has averaged 22.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists in his previous 19 All-Star game appearances and was named All-Star Game MVP in 2006, 2008, and 2018. Oddsmakers believe a fourth trophy is well within his reach.

Past NBA All-Star Game MVP Winners 

NBA All-Star Game trends

• Bob Petit and Kobe Bryant share the most All-Star Game MVPs all-time with four apiece. 
• Jayson Tatum holds the record for most points scored in an All-Star game with 55 in 2023. 
• Sunday will mark LeBron James’ 20th All-Star selection, breaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most all-time. 

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NBA All-Star weekend concludes with the Western Conference taking on the Eastern Conference in the NBA All-Star Game. After a six-year span of the format being changed to two teams led by players, the conferences will duke it out again for the first time since 2017.

The best NBA betting sites all favor the West by a couple of points. I think you can confidently bet on the Western Conference moneyline in this matchup while covering the -2.5 point spread. The moneyline odds for the West covering are BetMGM at -115.

2024 NBA All-Star Game Odds on BetMGM

2024 NBA All-Star Game Prediction: Analysis

(Sunday, 8:00 p.m. ET, TNT/ESPN)

With all due respect to the Eastern Conference, the Western Conference has an immense advantage based on pure talent. That’s not to say the East doesn’t have talented players, but the Western Conference lineup is as good as any lineup I’ve ever seen.

Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo are the best players on each team. While you can argue Doncic or Gilgeous-Alexander are better on the West, there’s nobody else on the East you can try and compare to be better than Antetokounmpo.

Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton are the two other players in the East who can be seen as complete players. After that, there is some sort of flaw in the games of everyone else such as Trae Young, Tyrese Maxey, and Scottie Barnes.

In the West, LeBron James and Kevin Durant are still playing as good as ever. Stephen Curry remains one of the truly elite guards despite him getting up there in age. Anthony Davis, Paul George, and Kawhi Leonard have all been sensational thanks to good health.

The likes of Young, Maxey, Paolo Banchero, Scottie Barnes, and even Donovan Mitchell (Still only 27 years old) are going to be All-Stars for years to come. But the West has a massive experience advantage that has a lot of players who have more chemistry playing together through previous All-Star or international games.

» READ MORE: Full sports betting coverage from The Philadelphia Inquirer

2024 NBA All-Star Game Prediction: Pick

The reason the NBA shifted the All-Star format in 2018 was due to the West winning six of the previous seven All-Star games. One of those wins even came in a blowout 26 point win. Durant, James, Curry, and Leonard, were on some of those teams.

This game figures to have little defense being played, which is customary in All-Star games. The lowest point total scored in an All-Star game since 2014 is 145, with the highest scores being 196 and 192 by the then Western Conference team.

The lack of Embiid will loom large in this game too, as he and Jokic would’ve been a fascinating battle to watch. Instead, Bam Adebayo will likely start at center unless the East deploys a small ball lineup with Antetokounmpo playing as a big.

The West is loaded with more scorers who can take you one on one. In a game with little defense to speak of, that will prove to be the key difference maker.

2024 NBA All-Star Game Rosters

The Inquirer is not an online gambling operator, or a gambling site. We provide this information about sports betting for entertainment purposes only.

We head into Saturday for NBA All-Star Weekend, as we have multiple contests to sort through.

The festivities begin with the KIA Skills Challenge at 8 p.m. ET on TNT followed by the Starry 3-Point Contest.

NBA All-Star Weekend picks

Kia Skills Challenge

(8 p.m. Eastern, TNT)

This competition features three teams (Pacers, Top Picks and All-Stars) competing in a three-round format.

Pacers participants: Tyrese Haliburton, Bennedict Mathurin and Myles Turner 

Top Picks participants: Paolo Banchero (Magic), Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves) and Victor Wembanyama

All-Star participants: Scottie Barnes (Raptors), Tyrese Maxey (76ers) and Trae Young (Hawks)

The first round involves a team relay race where you have to make a pass, dribble down the court, make a short jump shot, a 3-pointer and finish with a layup. 

Round 2 is a passing competition where the players must pass the basketball into buckets worth different points.

Lastly, the third round is a shooting competition where the team uses one ball to shoot from different spots on the floor.

100 Challenge Points will go to the winners of the first and second rounds, while 200 will be awarded to the third-round winner.

The All-Star team features three guards, while the other two teams have some frontcourt players who could struggle with the speed and pace of the competition. 

I want the better shooting team for the third round, which will be worth more points. 

If the competition comes down to which team can hit a 3-pointer to win, the All-Stars have the better overall perimeter shooters, and with their odds at +180, they’re well worth a look.

Pick: Team All-Stars (+180, BetRivers)

Starry 3-Point Contest

(8 p.m. ET, TNT)

Although I’m still undecided on an outright winner for the 3-point contest, I’m ready to fire away on Markkanen to go over his projection, which is set at 19.5. 

Markkanen will compete in this event for a second straight year after missing out on the 2023 finals, finishing tied for fourth with 20 3-pointers.

This competition can always be a bit intimidating for first-time entrants, but Markkanen should benefit from his experience. 

Frontcourt players have had success in this event, with Karl-Anthony Towns recently winning in 2022.

Markkanen is having his best shooting year from the perimeter with a 40.3% mark. 

Donovan Mitchell is the only other player with a projection lower than 20.5 3-pointers, and he’s shooting 36.1% from beyond the arc. 

Thus, this prop feels mispriced, so I like Markkanen’s chances to go over his prop.

Pick: Lauri Markkanen over 19.5 3-pointers (-122, Caesars)

2024 NBA Dunk Contest odds

Max McClung (-225)

Jacob Toppin. (+500)

Jaylen Brown (+525)

Jaime Jaquez Jr. (+800)

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Betting on the NBA?

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Dunk Contest odds have been pulled from many sportsbooks moving up down and sideways at opening as bettors came in hard on last year’s champion Max McClung.

One of the earlier opening numbers for the dunk contest had McClung as the favorite at +150, but that number ballooned to as high as -225. 

Perhaps even more than the All-Star Game itself, an NBA All-Star Weekend’s verdict is defined by the success — or failure — of the Slam Dunk Contest. There were the Halcyon days when the NBA’s superstars like Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, and Vince Carter competed, and thrilled during Saturday night’s feature event.

Recent years have been leaner, with the league reaching deep into NBA (or G-League) rotations for suitable and willing participants, including last year’s winner and defending champion Mac McClung. But Jaylen Brown becomes the first All-Star participant in the Slam Dunk Contest in several years does add to the drama for Saturday, February 17.

I walk you through the format, rules, and NBA odds for my best NBA Slam Dunk Contest betting picks below.

NBA Slam Dunk Contest odds

Odds courtesy of bet365 Sportsbook, February 17, 2024.

NBA Slam Dunk Contest rules

Before wagering on the Slam Dunk Contest, be sure to familiarize yourself with the latest rules for the 2024 edition:

• Four players will compete in a two-round competition.
• Five judges will score each dunk based on a score ranging from 40-50. 
• The two dunkers with the highest combined scores from their first two dunks advance to the finals.
• The final round will consist of two dunks by each dunker, with the highest composite score being crowned the champion.
• In the event of a tie, there will be one additional round of dunks. If the event is still tied, then the judges will be empowered to declare a winner by majority vote.

NBA Slam Dunk Contest favorites

Mac McClung (-275)

Mac McClung is attempting to become the first participant to win back-to-back dunk contests since Zach LaVine in 2015-2016. 

McClung’s very inclusion is controversial, as while he’s the reigning champion, he is not on an NBA roster. Last season he was briefly called up by the Philadelphia 76ers from their G-league team to at least make him an NBA player in name, this season there doesn’t seem to be any attempt at a similar legitimizing act.

Still, there’s no arguing with the results. Mac is a massive favorite and his edge in the odds is only growing having moved from -200 to -275 from Thursday to Friday afternoon. He has a ridiculous 43.5-inch vertical and has shown the necessary creativity to dominate the event.

Jaylen Brown (+550)

Jaylen Brown deciding to enter this year’s contest injected the entire affair with a level of legitimacy and overall juice that was sorely needed. Brown is an All-NBA caliber player on the league’s best team and one with serious hops to boot. 

But can he actually win?

Brown is clearly the best overall athlete of any of the participants and he also has the most NBA experience, name recognition, and level of fandom. The latter points won’t matter if he can’t hit his dunks, but they could be the difference in a tight competition against the lesser names in the contest.

Jaime Jaquez Jr. (+800)

It’s hard to know what to make of Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s inclusion in Saturday’s event. Jaquez has been one of the most impressive rookies in a stacked draft class, in no small part because he plays a mature, crafty style, not unlike his Miami Heat teammate Jimmy Butler.

But also like Butler, he plays mostly below the rim in the NBA. 

Still, he does have a history of being an impressive dunker at the lower levels. He beat KJ Martin in a dunk contest in high school and flashed some serious hops and creativity in the process. If he still has that level to his game, he could surprise some people.

Jacob Toppin (+850)

If you’re getting a minor sense of deja vu when reading Jacob Toppin’s name on the program, you’re not alone. Jacob is a deep bench forward to the New York Knicks, and brother to former Knicks player and 2022 Slam Dunk Contest winner, Obi Toppin.

I would expect that Obi, as a former champ and current Indiana Pacer, will make an appearance in Jacob’s dunk attempts. Jacob is alleged to be a better dunker than Obi, but in terms of what it takes to dunk a basketball, Obi is one of the best athletes in the Association. 

Jacob has some nice highlight dunks in the G-League this season, but he hasn’t shown that level of talent in the NBA as of yet. All of which makes him perhaps the most difficult participant to forecast.

NBA Slam Dunk Contest pick

The odds are not particularly enticing, but it’s hard to pick against a professional dunker in McClung. While Brown, Toppin, and Jaquez Jr. will have been brainstorming dunks and practicing a potential routine for a few months (if that) McClung has a deep reservoir of potential dunks to pull from.

McClung didn’t miss a single attempt on any of his four dunk attempts and only received one rating below a perfect score. He’s not going to be intimidated by the stage, he’s going to come in with confidence and earned anticipation.

He’s talked ahead of time about trying three dunks that have never been done in a Slam Dunk Contest before. That creativity works to his advantage, as to repeat as a champion he’ll need to innovate and stand out even from his previous work.

For what it’s worth, I do think there is some value to taking Brown as a hedge at +550. But with my best bet, I’m backing Mac.

Best bet: Mac McClung (-275 at bet365)

Past Slam Dunk Contest winners

McClung is seeking to become the first repeat winner since Zach LaVine in 2016. Overall, perimeter players have captured nine of the past 10 Dunk Contest titles, a figure that will hold with no big men participating in this year’s contest.

Players who have won multiple Dunk Contests

LaVine’s multiple-overtime triumph over Aaron Gordon in 2016 remains the gold standard for modern dunk contests, reminiscent of Jordan and Wilkins’ battle in 1988. 

Slam Dunk Contest trends

• Michael Jordan, Jason Richardson, Nate Robinson, and Zach LaVine are the only players in history to win the Slam Dunk Contest in back-to-back years. With a win, McClung would be the fifth.
• At age 18, Kobe Bryant is the youngest player to win the Slam Dunk Contest (1997).
• John Wall is the last player to make an All-Star team and win the Slam Dunk Contest in the same year (2014).

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The NBA All-Star Game offers a variety of prop bet options for those looking to bet on the fun exhibition game. Let’s take a look at our top picks.

Go premium to view top prop bets based on Cover Probability, Expected Value & Star Rating

Best 2024 NBA All-Star Game Prop Bets

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook | All wagers are for 1 unit
By Jason Radowitz

Top 2024 NBA All-Star Game MVP Bet

Luka Doncic

This is Luka Doncic’s time to shine. He’s leading the league in scoring with 34.3 points per game. He’s also shooting 49.1% from the field and is a terrific rebounder and passer. He can do it all on the court.

Doncic is making his fifth All-Star Game appearance this year. At times, he’s taken a backseat to other players. However, he’s already playing with Nikola Jokic, who rarely shoots in the All-Star Game. He’s also playing with LeBron James and Kevin Durant, two players who have been playing in this game for over a decade.

With Doncic on the floor without Steph Curry, Devin Booker, and Anthony Edwards for most of the game, it feels like this is Doncic’s time to shine.

I’ve got the Western Conference winning this game because the Eastern Conference has two significant injuries, including Joel Embiid and Julius Randle. The Eastern Conference also has four players making their All-Star debuts this year.

Therefore, Luka Doncic at +1900 is an interesting one. Doncic needs to be a little more aggressive early if he wants it.

Bet: Luka Doncic (+1900)

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Top 2024 NBA All-Star Game PrizePicks Player Prediction

Anthony Edwards Over 17.5 Points

Anthony Edwards was a bit shy in his first All-Star appearance last year. He played 17 minutes and scored 12 points with four rebounds and one assist.

It feels like he took a significant stride this season. He was the go-to guy with Team USA and will have his Minnesota head coach, Chris Finch, as the coach for this game. Trying to get shots up while Steph Curry and Devin Booker are on the floor might be challenging, but Edwards should be the better rebounder of the three and will go coast-to-coast off the rebounds.

I’m rocking with his Over here.

Check out the rest of our NBA betting advice

Top NBA All-Star Game Bet

Eastern Conference vs. Western Conference Spread

The Eastern Conference already has two All-Stars who will be unable to play in this game.

Joel Embiid was named the Eastern Conference’s starting center, but he won’t play. Meanwhile, Julius Randle was named as a reserve but is currently injured. Therefore, Trae Young and Scottie Barnes are now Eastern Conference All-Stars.

Meanwhile, Tyrese Maxey and Jalen Brunson are both reserves for the Eastern Conference. Maxey and Brunson are both dealing with injuries. While they will likely be ready for the All-Star Game, it’s still something to monitor.

The Eastern Conference will start Tyrese Haliburton, Damian Lillard, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jayson Tatum. Bam Adebayo will likely start in place of Embiid, but that is yet to be confirmed. They’ll also have Doc Rivers coach the squad despite him only being a coach for a few weeks with Milwaukee.

On the other hand, LeBron James will make his 20th appearance in the NBA All-Star Game. Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Kevin Durant and Nikola Jokic will join him as a starter on the Western Conference side.

The Western Conference has a lot of potential for scoring the ball. It’s not just the starters. But the bench has Devin Booker, Steph Curry and Anthony Edwards. The team doesn’t have a single player making its first All-Star Game. All of the Western Conference players have been there before.

On the other hand, the Eastern Conference has four players playing in their first All-Star Game.

Let’s back the Western Conference at -3.

Bet: Western Conference -3 (-114)

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The NBA All-Star weekend is always a fun watch with a wide range of events such as the three-point contest, slam dunk contest, and other events. It can also be fun to bet on these events.

You’ll find betting markets for every contest taking place across the best NBA betting sites. For this piece, I’m using FanDuel for my odds, picks, and predictions.

2024 NBA All-Star Weekend Contests odds, picks, & predictions: Three-point contest

Eight players will compete in the three-point contest, and Damian Lillard is the odds-on favorite at +410 to win. Tyrese Haliburton (+450), Trae Young (+550), and Malik Beasley (+650) make up the rest of the top four favorites.

Lauri Markkanen and Karl-Anthony Towns are +700 each while Donovan Mitchell and Jalen Brunson are both +750. Personally, I don’t agree with Lillard being the odds-on favorite. I don’t think he’s worthy of being an All-Star starter either.

He’s shooting just 34.1% from deep this year. In his last ten games, that mark is just 31.7%. My pick to win is Young, who is 37.1% from deep this season on the second most three-point attempts of his career.

If you’re looking to bet on one of the four underdogs, Jalen Brunson and his 41.1% clip from downtown this year is a pick I can endorse at +750 odds.

2024 NBA All-Star Weekend Contests odds, picks, & predictions: Slam dunk contest

Reigning champion Mac McClung is by far and away the odds-on favorite at -190 to repeat. It helps that two of his competitors in Jacob Toppin (+600) and Jamie Jaquez Jr. (+650) have just 24 combined career dunks (Then again, McClung only has three).

Jaylen Brown is the lone superstar player in this contest with odds of +420. I find it fascinating that Brown has 342 dunks in his career while his three competitors combine for just 27.

As much as I want to pick Brown for his better odds, I think McClung will come out victorious due to having the most athleticism and his performance last year being one of the greatest we’ve ever seen.

2024 NBA All-Star Weekend Contests odds, picks, & predictions: Skills contest

This is the toughest contest to predict, and FanDuel’s tight odds reflect that. Team Top Picks (+140) are favored slightly over Team All-Stars (+180) and Team Pacers (+190).

A team relay, passing competition, and shooting competition are what make up this contest. The shooting competition is worth 200 points while the other two are each worth 100.

My pick is Team All-Stars, as they have elite handling, quickness, and shooting in their trio of Scottie Barnes, Tyrese Maxey, and Trae Young.

2024 NBA All-Star Weekend Contests odds, picks, & predictions: Sabrina vs Steph: Three Point Shootout

Steph Curry is the greatest shooter in the history of basketball and is -230 to take down the reigning WNBA three-point contest winner Sabrina Ionescu (+176).

If you aren’t familiar with Ionescu, she knocked down 20 straight shots in last year’s contest while making 25 of 27 total. She made 44.8% of her 286 three point attempts last season after being just 33.3% the year before.

She will be shooting from NBA range, which gives Curry an edge. Because of that, it feels hard to pick against Curry in this setting. But Ionescu will still look to make a name for herself and take down one of the greatest players in NBA history.

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The NBA season has hit the All-Star break giving teams across the league a chance to rest up and reset while the stars shine the brightest on the national stage.

One of the more notable events of the weekend will be the three-point shootout as the league’s top marksmen compete to showcase their accuracy and endurance.

While there will be plenty of attention paid to the Celebrity Game, the Skills Challenge, the Rising Stars Competition, the Slam Dunk Contest, and the All-Star Game- there is some unique value on the board for the three-point contest which we will dive into here. This contest will be taking place as a part of the All-Star Saturday Night schedule. 

There is an eight-man group of participants set to compete for this year’s award. This includes the defending champion in Damian Lillard, the 2022 champion in Karl-Anthony Towns, Malik Beasley who ranks 5th in the league in three-point percentage this year, and five other high-level shooters.

There also will be a new event this year in which Steph Curry will take on Sabrina Ionescu in a three-point contest of their own as Sabrina broke the all-time NBA & WNBA record for most made baskets in a three-point contest just last year. 

NBA 3-Point Contest odds:

• Damian Lillard- +475
• Tyrese Haliburton: +550
• Trae Young: +600
• Malik Beasley: +600
• Karl-Anthony Towns: +600
• Jalen Brunson: +600
• Lauri Markkanen: +650
• Donvan Mitchell: +700

*Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook

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NBA Three-Point Contest rules

While there have been subtle adaptations throughout the contest’s history, the contest has mostly stayed the same. This year, players will be given 70 seconds to shoot 27 three-pointers from five locations around the arc. Four of the five balls on each rack are normal NBA game balls and in addition, there is one “Moneyball” at each location.

One rack, at the location of the shooter’s choice, will be made up of five “moneyballs” with each shot being worth double points. There also are two additional “Starry Range” ball pedestals located between racks 2 and 3. These shots are worth three points each. 

NBA Three-Point Contest favorites:

Damian Lillard: +475

The defending champion will be representing a new team this year following his offseason trade from the Portland Trail Blazers to the Milwaukee Bucks. Lillard has not quite played at the level of expectation with his three-point percentage slipping to 34.5% on the season, which is well below his career average of 37.1% from beyond the arc.

Even still, Lillard ranks 5th in NBA history for most three-pointers ever made and trails only Steph Curry and James Harden for the most three-pointers made of any active player. His ability to knock down long-range shots from well beyond the arc is a unique characteristic and he cannot be counted out from catching fire and successfully defending his title. 

Tyrese Haliburton: +550

Tyrese Haliburton will be representing the home crowd and shooting in front of the Indiana Pacers fans in this event. He also is having a down year by his standards as a three-point shooter. Halliburton has connected on 39.1% of his three-point attempts which makes it the first year of his career he is shooting below 40% and holds a career three-point percentage of 40.5%.

While there are some questions about how quick the release of Tyrese Haliburton is, his form also does not call for as much use of his legs compared to some of the other shooters which could be an advantage. 

Karl-Anthony Towns: +600

Already crowned as the greatest big-man shooter of all time and having won the NBA three-point contest in 2022, expect Karl-Anthony Towns to have a real chance this year again.

The former Kentucky product is shooting a career-high 43.8% from beyond the arc this season and has been a vital reason why the Timberwolves have been leading the pack in the Western Conference for just about the entirety of the first half of the season. Towns is not just a good shooter for a big man but one of the more elite shooters across the entire league. 

NBA Three-Point Contest pick:

With each player possessing an elite ability to shoot from a distance, this is a contest more dependent on who gets hot at the right time.

When looking for the greatest value on the board, you should search for the player who connects at a high percentage, is comfortable taking a high volume of three-pointers, and has experience participating in shootouts before.

When diving into these factors, it is worth digging down the board and looking toward Lauri Markkanen at +650 odds.

On the season, Marrkkanen is averaging 23.6 points and 8.5 rebounds while shooting 40.6% from beyond the three-point arc on 8.0 perimeter shots per game. Both these three-point numbers are a career-high for the Finland native.

The 26-year-old is among the most notable All-Star snubs which should add some fuel to the fire during this competition.

Markkanen looked solid in last year’s three-point contest by scoring 20 points in the first round which was tied for the highest mark of any player that did not advance to the following round.

With another year of experience and a compact shooting form that makes it possible to get off a significant number of attempts in a hurry, take the value and expect Lauri Markkanen to have a chance at winning the three-point contest for the first time in his career. 

Past Three-Point Contest winners:

• 2023- Damian Lillard
• 2022- Karl-Anthony Towns
• 2021- Steph Curry
• 2020- Buddy Hield
• 2019- Joe Harris
• 2018- Devin Booker
• 2017- Eric Gordon
• 2016- Klay Thompson
• 2015- Steph Curry
• 2014- Marco Bellinelli
• 2013- Kyrie Irving

This year’s contest has pretty even odds across the board. In past years there has been some longshot value that has been beneficial to those looking to wager on the event.

One example of this is Karl-Anthony Towns winning the contest in 2022 after entering with +1200 odds. The even values on the betting board do not present the opportunity for such a massive payout, but also indicates that Vegas is not sure what to expect either. 

Players who have won multiple Three-Point Contests: 

• Larry Bird– 1986,1987, 1988
• Craig Hodges– 1990, 1991, 1992
• Peja Stojakovic– 2002, 2003
• Jeff Hornacek– 1998, 200
• Mark Price– 1993, 1994
• Jason Kapono– 2007, 2008
• Steph Curry– 2015, 2021

Steph Curry vs Sabrina Ionescu event

In addition to the traditional three-point contest, Steph Curry and Sabrina Ionescu will be competing in a three-point event of their own. Ionescu challenged Curry to a contest after she scored 37 out of a possible 40 points in the final round of the STARRY WNBA three-point contest last year.

This contest will follow the same rules as the traditional three-point contest however Curry will shoot with NBA balls and behind the NBA-mandated three-point arc while Ionescu will shoot with the WNBA balls and behind the WNBA three-point line.

As a part of the competition, both Curry’s Eat.Learn.Play nonprofit and Ionescu’s SI20 foundation will receive a donation from the NBA and WNBA.

Each made shot by the two stars will lead to a donation from State Farm to the NBA Foundation to support economic empowerment in the Black community. 

According to DraftKings Sportsbook, Steph Curry enters the matchup as a -280 favorite while Sabrina Ionescu is a +200 underdog. 

Three-Point Contest trends

• There has not been a back-to-back champion since 2008
• No one has ever won the NBA three-point contest on their own home court
• Steph Curry holds the NBA record for making 31 of 40 shots in 2021
• Devin Booker holds the record for the highest percentage of shots made by making 28 of 34 in 2018
• Karl-Anthony Towns holds the record for most points in a final round with 29

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• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chase their losses
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The NBA season has cruised past its midpoint and will now prepare to hit the reset button and pause for the All-Star break.

The 2023-24 All-Star matchup will take place on Sunday, February 18th at 8:00 Eastern Time and be shown on TNT and TBS. This will serve as the main event for the All-Star break in which all teams will be without games from February 15th to February 21st. 

This year’s matchup will return to its traditional East vs West matchup as opposed to the captain’s draft which has occurred in different variations since 2018.

All-Star weekend will be taking place in Indianapolis, Indiana with the matchup occurring at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. This marks the first time since 1985 that the city has hosted the event. 

NBA All-Star Game Odds

• West All-Stars:
  • -2.5 (-110)
  • Moneyline (-148)
  • Over 365.5 (-110)     
• East All-Stars
  • +2.5 (-110)
  • Moneyline (+124)
  • Under 365.5 (-110)

*Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook

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NBA All-Star format

In addition to returning to the traditional East vs West format for the game itself, the NBA has also elected to turn away from the Elam Ending variation of scorekeeping.

While the first three quarters were timed and scored as a traditional matchup, the Elam Ending meant that the 4th quarter was an untimed period of play in which both teams had to reach a final target score in order to get the win.

This year the game will be played in traditional fashion for all four quarters. 

All-Star rosters

These are the roosters for this year’s edition of the All-Star Game.

East All-Stars

• Giannis Antetokounmpo 
• Tyrese Haliburton
• Damian Lillard
• Jayson Tatum
• Joel Embiid (injured)
• Bam Adebayo
• Paolo Banchero
• Scottie Barnes
• Jaylen Brown
• Jalen Brunson
• Tyrese Maxey
• Donovan Mitchell
• Julius Randle (injured)
• Trae Young

West All-Stars

• LeBron James
• Luka Doncic
• Kevin Durant
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
• Nikola Jokic
• Devin Booker
• Steph Curry
• Anthony Davis
• Anthony Edwards
• Paul George
• Kawhi Leonard
• Karl-Anthony Towns

NBA All-Star best bet

With varying degrees of effort level, commitment, and little to no defense being played- betting on the All-Star game can be a crapshoot.

The game’s total sits at 365.5 in this matchup which is a huge number far beyond what a traditional NBA game produces.

The highest-scoring game in NBA history occurred in 1983 in a triple overtime game between the Denver Nuggets and Detroit Pistons which totaled 370 points between the two sides.

This is the only time this number has been passed in a traditional NBA matchup. 

This number may even be high by All-Star standards as over the past 10 years the game has averaged a total of just 333.1 points per game.

Only two matchups over this span have eclipsed this number as the combined total reached 369 in 2016 and 374 in 2017. However, it should be noted how much the Elam Ending played a factor in these numbers being different. 

On the other side of things, NBA teams are scoring the ball at an insane rate this season. Teams are currently averaging 115.5 points per game this season which is the most points per game scored since the 1965-66 season.

This number has only been eclipsed five times in NBA history to this point. 

With the data all over the place from a scoring perspective, take a stab on a side for a more clean chance. While there is plenty to like from both rosters, roll with the Western Conference to get the win and cover the -2.5 spread.

The starting five in the Western Conference will have an advantage over the Eastern Conference and, while the youthful Eastern Conference roster could bring more effort, this top-end talent may be all that matters.

LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Devin Booker, and Luka Doncic each have the potential to get red-hot and shoot the team into the driver’s seat of the game at any point.

While the level of effort each team shows may ultimately decide the victor, there is too much talent and pride in the Western Conference to not lean toward their side. 

Best bet: Western Conference -2.5 at -110 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook

NBA All-Star Game MVP odds

With each player on the court having the potential to take over in their own way, the biggest challenge is predicting which players will take it more seriously. LeBron James can never be counted out from looking to add to his all-time great resume by aiming to win the MVP award.

In his career, he has won All-Star MVP three times already which trails only Kobe Bryant and Bob Pettit for the most of any player. Giannis Antetekounmpo cannot be ruled out as captain of the Eastern Conference especially as he was unable to truly participate in the matchup last year due to an injury.

Players like Nikola Jokic have been open about it not being a matchup that wakes up their competitive spirit while some of the younger rising stars such as Anthony Edwards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Devin Booker could provide intriguing value.

Latest All-Star Game MVP odds:

Past All-Star MVPs:

Year	Winner
2023	Jayson Tatum
2022	Steph Curry
2021	Giannis Antetokounmpo
2020	Kawhi Leonard
2019	Kevin Durant
2018	LeBron James
2017	Anthony Davis
2016	Russell Westbrook
2015	Russell Westbrook
2014	Kyrie Irving
2013	Chris Paul

NBA All-Star Game records & trends:

Single Game Records:

• Most Points: Jayson Tatum – 55 points (2023)
• Most Rebounds: Bob Pettit – 27 rebounds (1962)
• Most Assists: Magic Johnson – 22 assists (1984)
• Most Steals: Rick Barry – 8 (1975)
• Most Blocks: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – 6 (1980)
• Most Three-Pointers Made: Steph Curry – 16 (2022)

All-Time Records:

• Most MVPS: 4 – Kobe Bryant and Bob Pettit
• Most team points: 196 – Western Conference (2016)
• Most combined points: 374 (2017)

Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 21+. T&Cs apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler

Responsible gambling 

Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chase their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry, or depressed
• National Council on Problem Gambling – https://www.ncpgambling.org/
• Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org

For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 1-800-522-4700 or go to ncpgambling.org/chat