NBA All-Star Weekend Slam Dunk & 3-Point Betting Guide (2020)
With Valentine’s Day here, the NBA season is preparing to hit its final stretch with NBA All-Star festivities scheduled to get underway starting tonight with the All-Star Celebrity and NBA Rising Stars game getting the action started. While there isn’t a line available (that I’m aware of at least, but hey, let me know) for those two events, the 3-Point and Slam Dunk Contest offer bettors the opportunity to put down some cash for those believing they’ve identified an edge. This season both contests offer as tight of odds as I’ve seen in quite some time, with no overwhelming favorites to speak of in either event. Let’s take a closer look at both to see where we can find some value.
Get a risk-free bet up to $500 at FanDuel Sportsbook >>
3-Point Contest
These odds were taken from FanDuel Sportsbook on February 13, 2020.
- Davis Bertans (WAS): +460
- Devonte’ Graham (CHA): +1200
- Joe Harris (BKN): +300
- Buddy Hield (SAC): +750
- Zach LaVine (CHI): +950
- Damian Lillard (POR): +350
- Duncan Robinson (MIA): +460
- Trae Young (ATL): +460
One year removed from beating Steph Curry in his hometown of Charlotte last All-Star weekend, defending Champion Joe Harris returns to the event as the co-odds on favorite to take home the title once again. Dame Lillard is the co-favorite, also at +350, with Trae Young and Davis Bertans hot on their tails. This year, the contest will introduce the Mountain Dew Zone which will feature two racks six feet behind the three-point line with green balls that will be worth three points per make (compared to one). Duncan Robinson leads the way in three-point percentage among the participants, with a 43.7% clip beyond the arc thus far in the season, with Davis Bertans right behind him at 42.5%. As of this writing, there’s no hotter shooter in the lot than Robinson. Over his last four games dating back to Friday against the Kings, Robinson is averaging 47.9% from beyond the arc, including going 6-for-9 in that road game in Sacramento. I’ll continue to ride the hot hand in this one with the second-year man Robinson taking home the trophy.
Slam Dunk Contest
- Pat Connaughton (MIL): +400
- Aaron Gordon (ORL): +110
- Dwight Howard (LAL): +650
- Derrick Jones Jr. (MIA): +145
A potential passing of the dunking guard might be at hand on Saturday night as 2008 Slan Dunk Contest winner Dwight Howard returns to the field to face off against some of the brightest young dunkers in the game in Aaron Gordon and Derrick Jones Jr. Gordon will also be making his return to the event since last participating in 2016 and 2017, losing a classic back-and-forth against Zach LaVine. While LaVine was rumored to be in this year’s field as well in his home arena in Chicago, as the event approaches he’s not listed as a participant and that rematch appears to be on hold for at least another year. Since coming into the league in 2014, Gordon has shown improvement each season and made his first playoff appearance this past season. While I’m not sure he’ll ever be a legit regular All-Star, these Dunk Contests are where he can continue to build his brand and following, and he knows it. I like Gordon to get his revenge from 2017 and bring home this year’s trophy.
Get a risk-free bet up to $500 at FanDuel Sportsbook >>
TJ Perun is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from TJ, check out his archive and follow him @JohnnyCovers.