NBA All-Star Game Preview, Odds & Predictions

oh my god pic.twitter.com/R72GonUaZm

— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) February 11, 2022

If the betting online odds were any indication, Team LeBron has the upper hand over Team Durant. BetUS sportsbook tips LeBron’s team as the 5½-point favorites against the spread and as the -220 favorites to win outright. The total is projected to an incredible 322 points, underlining the sheer awesomeness of the talent that is going to take to the court at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

Hoop fans that have followed the All-Star game in recent years will know only too well that the event is literally LeBron James’ to lose. The certified Future Hall of Famer has led his team to four straight victories.

Can LeBron captain his side to a fifth straight crowning achievement, or will Team Durant deliver a surprise upset?

State Farm All-Star Game Preview

Team LeBron vs Team Durant
Date: Sunday, February 20, 2022
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse — Cleveland, Ohio
TV Broadcast: TNT/TBS

Team LeBron Stacked

It’s impossible not to be suitably in awe of the sheer breadth of talent contained in the mix with Giannis Antetoukounmpo, LeBron James, Stephen Curry, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Jokic representing a formidable starting five – arguably, one of the best in the history of the event.

Antetokounmpo is averaging 29.4 points per game. LeBron nips at his heels with 29.1 ppg and DeRozan averages 28.1 ppg. Nikola Jokic is at 26 ppg and Curry is at 25.8 ppg.

These household names practically leap off the page, and with all coming into the tournament in good form, they strike a convincing pose for the weekend’s NBA picks and parlays.

In addition, Antetokounmpo leads the charge for MVP betting as the top bet at +450. LeBron comes in as the second-best bet at +600 and Curry is priced as the fourth-best bet at +900 to take home the coveted award.

Also contained on LeBron’s roster are Chris Paul (14.9 ppg), Fred VanVeet (21.6 ppg), Luka Doncic (27.5 ppg), Donovan Mitchell (25.7 ppg), Darius Garland (20.3 ppg), Jimmy Butler (21.8 ppg), and Jarrett Allen (16.2 ppg).

Team LeBron vs. Team Durant

The #NBAAllStar rosters are set 🍿 pic.twitter.com/1ypd5xSxy2

— ESPN (@espn) February 11, 2022

Team Durant Without Durant

Kevin Durant’s team faces a tough task this weekend, made all the tougher by the fact that Durant will be sidelined.

Without Durant, beating LeBron’s team won’t be easy, though the talent contained on his roster is nothing to sneeze at as it is headlined by Trae Young (27.8 ppg), Ja Morant (26.8 ppg), Jayson Tatum (25.7 ppg), Andrew Wiggins (17.7 ppg) and Joel Embiid (29.6 ppg).

Also drawn into Durant’s corner are LaMelo Ball (20. ppg), Dejounte Murray (19.9 ppg), Zach LaVine (24.6 ppg), Devin Booker (25.5 ppg), Khris Middleton (19.4 ppg), Rudy Gobert (15.7 ppg), and Karl-Anthony Towns (24.4 ppg).

Joel Embiid is making his fifth All-Star appearance and he’s the top bet from Durant’s team and third overall best bet in the competition to win the MVP award. Embiid is priced at +700. That said,

Embiid is the most experienced player on this roster with five All-Star nods in his career. The rest of the players boast three or fewer appearances. Thus, the combined All-Star power on Durant’s team is a total of 28 All-Star appearances, which compared to LeBron’s team (68 appearances) marks a significant drop.

Betting the MVP

The MVP award typically goes to the winning team. So, whichever way the All-Star Game is sliced, the bet to win MVP should correspond.

As LeBron’s side is heavily favored on the NBA odds board, it follows that one of the big names on the roster will get the MVP award. Bettors can find a ton of value backing either Antetokounmpo, LeBron or Curry. DeRozan or Doncic (both at +1000) are also worth considering as the outside bets in this group.

A longshot in this market is Darius Garland (+5000). The Cleveland Cavaliers guard is enjoying a banner season and if he gets enough playing time as one of LeBron’s reserve players, he may well give home fans something to cheer about.

• Pick: Team LeBron -5½ (-110)
• Pick: DaRozan (+1000)