72nd Annual NBA All Star Game: NBA Odds, Picks and Predictions
Team Giannis vs. Team LeBron Odds
| Team Giannis Odds | +3 |
| Team LeBron Odds | -3 |
| Over/Under | 326.5 |
| Date | Sun, Feb. 19 |
| Time | 8:30 p.m. |
| TV | TNT |
The NBA’s All-Star Weekend festivities will conclude this evening with the 72nd annual All-Star Game. New to the event this year, the All-Star Game Draft will be held on the court prior to the contest, with Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James selecting their teams one hour prior to tip-off. Prior to rosters being selected, oddsmakers have listed Team LeBron as 3-point home favorites on the spread.
How the NBA All-Star Game works
Similar to a normal regular season contest, the first three quarters of the NBA All-Star Game are timed 12-minute quarters. The winner of each individual quarter will secure $100,000 for that team’s charity organization.
This year, Team Giannis is playing for Raise The Future, a nonprofit that works to support Utah’s youth by making sure that “no youth goes through life without at least one caring adult by their side.” Team LeBron will be playing for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Utah, an organization that works to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships to help all youth achieve their full potential.
The fourth quarter of the All-Star Game is untimed, playing to a target score, which is the leading team’s total score after three quarters plus 24 points. The winning team will earn an additional $150,000 for its organization, per Yahoo Sports.
Notable injuries
- Kevin Durant: OUT with an MCL sprain
- Jaylen Brown: QUESTIONABLE with a facial fracture
- Stephen Curry: OUT with a leg injury
- Zion Williamson: OUT with a hamstring injury
- Giannis Antetokounmpo: QUESTIONABLE; missed Saturday’s Skills Challenge with a wrist issue
- Joel Embiid: QUESTIONABLE due to foot soreness
Earlier this week, Embiid told Keith Pompey, “I’m not healthy. I haven’t been healthy for the past three weeks – a month.” Embiid is unlikely to play heavy minutes tonight, even if he does suit-up at some point in the game.
Storylines to watch
Earlier this month, LeBron James became the league’s all-time leading scorer. On Sunday, he will become the all-time leader in All-Star games played, with 19. In his career, James is averaging 22.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game in this event, and has won the game’s MVP award three times (2006, 2008, 2018).
Giannis Antetokounmpo has the highest points per game average (29.0) in All-Star Game history (min. 3 games played). Kevin Durant (25.0), LeBron James (22.9), and Stephen Curry (22.5) round-out the top-four, but Durant and Curry will both miss this evening’s action due to an injury.
Anthony Edwards will be making his All-Star Game debut. This season, the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Net Rating improves by 5.4 points per 100 possessions with Edwards on the floor. If Edwards can make a similar impact on his All-Star game team, he could be a dark horse to win MVP tonight.
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Who to target for All-Star Game MVP
As mentioned above, LeBron James has a history of success in this event, making him a legitimate candidate to win MVP honors each February in the All-Star Game. This year, he likely carries a little bit of extra steam, fresh off of becoming the league’s all-time scoring leader. Adding to the narrative boost, James also has an advantage with many of his top competitors for this award sitting out completely or likely playing limited minutes on Sunday. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, and Joel Embiid will each be out or limited tonight.
Stay away from Luka Doncic
When asked earlier this week what he is most looking forward to in this weekend’s All-Star Game, Luka Doncic responded by saying, “When I fly to Mexico.” In each of Doncic’s first three All-Star Game appearances, he has scored exactly eight points each time, and has never attempted more than seven field goals. Based on his comments earlier this week, expect him to be disengaged once again.
72nd Annual NBA All-Star Game – Picks & Predictions
Since the new clockless fourth quarter rule has been implemented, the All-Star Game total has yet to eclipse this market number, finishing with 323 points, 320 points, and 312 points in each of the last three years. However, that trend could change in 2023.
The new format for this season, in which each team will be drafted a little more than an hour before tip-off, is likely to make defense even less present than usual. The All-Star Game is a forum for the league to showcase the league’s impressive athleticism and shooting ability, with defense being an afterthought. Factor in the high altitude in Salt Lake City and defensive effort could be even lower. Expect plenty of points in this one – take the over.
PICK: Over 326.5 (-110, FanDuel)
Image Credit: Getty Images