A quarter of a century has past since the last time Cleveland hosted the NBA All-Star Game. Twenty-five years since the league celebrated its (then) greatest players in history as the NBA celebrated its 50th anniversary.
On Sunday, the league rolls out the red carpet again, this time for its 75th anniversary celebration. Up-and-coming and established stars of the NBA will gather at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse this weekend, which of course features some of our favorite events Saturday like the slam dunk contest and 3-point shootout, culminating with the 71st edition of the all-star game at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday night.
In New York, fans and bettors a like can get some skin in on the game as NY online sports betting has opened several betting markets for this weekend’s slate of all-star action.
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All-Star Saturday betting includes skills challenge, 3-point contest
Since 1984, though with the exception of 1998 and 1999, NBA All-Star Weekend has featured the ever-exciting slam dunk contest. It has seemingly become the centerpiece of the weekend, featuring some epic dunkers (Vince Carter) and incredible head-to-head showdowns (Zach Lavine, Aaron Gordon).
Read more: Plenty Has To Break Right For Brooklyn Nets To Emerge From Eastern Conference
The slam dunk contest will still go on Saturday, as the New York Knicks’ Obi Toppin returns to redeem a second-place finish from a year ago. He’ll go up against the Orlando Magic’s Cole Anthony, the Houston Rockets’ Jalen Green and the Golden State Warriors’ Juan Toscano-Anderson.
However, no online sportsbooks in New York have betting markets for the event. But that doesn’t mean All-Star Saturday is a complete betting wash.
Several operators are taking bets on the revamped Taco Bell Skills Challenge as well as the MTN DEW 3-Point Contest.
Skills challenge
The first event of Saturday night, starting at 8 p.m. ET, the skills challenge features three teams of three: Team Rooks (Scottie Barnes, Cade Cunningham, Josh Giddey), Team Cavs (Jarrett Allen, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley) and Team Antetokounmpo (brothers Giannis, Alex and Thanasis). Each team will run through shooting, passing and team relay rounds.
The two teams with the most “Challenge Points” after those three rounds advance to a final round of half-court shots.
Five NY sportsbooks have posted odds for this challenge, each favoring Team Rooks with lines ranging from -165 at WynnBet NY to -118 at BetRivers New York.
3-point contest
Starting just after the skills challenge concludes, the 3-point contest brings together the sharpest shooters in the NBA. Each player will have 70 seconds to shoot as many as 27 balls. The max score achievable is 40 points. The three highest scores in the first round advance to the championship found.
Luke Kennard of the Los Angeles Clippers stands as the favorite at most betting apps in New York, including FanDuel NY (+420) and Caesars Sportsbook NY (+450). Stands to reason. At 44.8%, Kennard’s long-range precision ranks second in the league this season.
Of course, bettors could also back the likes of Patty Mills and Fred VanVleet, both of whom are favored at WynnBet.
What’s more, New Yorkers can also wager on 3-point props for the opening round of the contest. For example, FanDuel offers a first-round over/under total of 22.5 for Trae Young, while Caesars lists Kennard’s first-round total at 24.5.
NBA All-Star Game betting available in New York
On Sunday night, the league’s top stars will battle it out in what will certainly be a high-scoring affair.
The game will feature the “Elam Ending” for the third straight season. Rather than Team Durant and Team LeBron playing until the final buzzer, they will instead chase a target score. That benchmark is determined by adding 24 points to the leading team’s score after three quarters. For example, last year Team LeBron led 146-125 after the third quarter. As such, the first side to reach 170 (146+24) would win the game.
How do the NBA betting lines stack up among the seven NY sports betting apps?
| Sportsbook | Point Spread | Moneyline | Over/Under |
|---|---|---|---|
| FanDuel | Team LeBron -5.5 | Team Durant +176 Team LeBron -210 | 321.5 |
| PointsBet | Team LeBron -5.5 | Team Durant +180 Team LeBron -220 | 320.5 |
| BetRivers | Team LeBron -5.5 | Team Durant +175 Team LeBron -220 | 322.5 |
| DraftKings | Team LeBron -5.5 | Team Durant +180 Team LeBron -220 | 321.5 |
| BetMGM | Team LeBron -5.5 | Team Durant +180 Team LeBron -225 | 321.5 |
| Caesars | Team LeBron -5.5 | Team Durant +180 Team LeBron -220 | 322 |
| WynnBet | Team LeBron -5.5 | Team Durant +185 Team LeBron -225 | 322 |
For what it’s worth, Team LeBron has won each of the past two Elam Ending all-star games, with those totals landing at 312 points in 2020 and 320 points in 2021. In addition, LeBron-led teams have won each of the past four all-star games, including last year’s 20-point drubbing of Team Durant.
Bettors are unlikely to find much individual prop betting, at least for now. That said, WynnBet does list over/under totals for Team Durant (158.5) and Team LeBron (163.5).
What users will not see are betting markets for the game’s MVP. As was the case for the Super Bowl’s top player or any individual award in any sport, markets that require a vote are prohibited in New York. Because of this, bettors in the state will not be able to wager on the player to become the first recipient of The Kobe Bryant Trophy.
