All Star weekend is when the stars of the NBA come together to showcase their skills in a variety of contests culminating in the All-Star game on Sunday night. Yet Saturday night of All Star weekend is known for its action, primarily led by the Slam Dunk Contest and the Three-Point Contest. Let’s take a look at this exciting event to find a winning NBA pick.
Picks Summary
- Damian Lillard (+550)
- Tyrese Haliburton (+600)
- Donovan Mitchell (+750)
*All odds from Bet365 (check our Bet365 Review)
NBA All-Star Game 3-Point Contest
Saturday, February 18, 2024 – 08:00 PM ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Damian Lillard will defend his Three-Point Contest crown on Saturday night. Competing with Lillard will be:
- Malik Beasley (Milwaukee Bucks)
- Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks)
- Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers)
- Lauri Markannen (Utah Jazz)
- Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers)
- Trae Young (Atlanta Hawks)
- Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves)
This season, Damian Lillard is averaging 25 points per game and 3.0 3-pointers made per game while shooting 35% from behind the three-point line. Lillard aims to become the first back-to-back winner in the 3-Point Contest competition since Jason Kapono did it in 2007 and 2008.
Challengers
Karl-Anthony Towns is also a former 3-Point Contest winner. Towns lifted the Three-Point Contest trophy in 2022. This season, Towns is making an impressive 44% of his 3-point attempts.
Malik Beasley has the highest three-point shooting percentage of any contest member. Beasley is currently 5th in the NBA with a 45% 3-point shooting percentage.
Trae Young may not have the best shooting percentage, yet he has made the most three-pointers of anyone in the contest this season. Young hopes that his prodigious 3-point volume will help him in this fast-paced event.
Tyrese Halliburton comes into the game shooting 40% from behind the arc. He will also have the support of the crowd as the game will be played in the Indiana Pacers home arena. However, no player has won the Three-Point Contest in their home venue in the history of the contest.
Donovan Mitchell is vying for the MVP award while shooting 35% from 3-point range. Mitchell cannot be counted out to continue his torrid shooting and win the trophy.
Best Bet
Damian Lillard has been surrounded by controversy since he asked out of Portland. He was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks. Since then, the Bucks have failed to meet expectations and even fired new head coach Adrian Griffin despite the Bucks’ excellent record. Lillard would love to have a strong showing to remind everybody why he is considered to be one of the best shooters in the game.
Damian Lillard will become the first champion to defend his title since 2008. Lillard’s quick release and accurate marksmanship are perfect for this style of competition. Lillard comes in with plenty to prove with because of his move to the Milwaukee Bucks this season.
Lillard has a chance to show everybody why he was such a coveted player in last season’s trade market. Damian Lillard will hit the mark and become the Three-Point Champion once again.
NBA Pick: Damian Lillard to Win the NBA All-Star 3-Point Contest (+550) at Bet365
Others Worth Considering
Tyrese Haliburton
Tyrese Haliburton has an excellent opportunity to become the first player to win the title in his home arena. Haliburton has exceeded expectations all season so what’s to stop him from exceeding expectations here in this contest?
While the pressure will be on the veteran competitors, Haliburton has nothing to lose. Tyrese Haliburton is definitely an excellent option if you’re searching for more than one player to back in the Three-Point Contest.
NBA Pick: Tyrese Haliburton to win the NBA All-Star 3-Point Contest (+600) at Bet365
Donovan Mitchell
While Donovan Mitchell does not have one of the highest 3-point percentages for regular season action, he is consistently taking tough, contested shots off the dribble. In this contest. However, he will have set feet and be able to move towards the rim with every shot.
People might overlook Donovan Mitchell because of the lower 3 field goal percentage. However, Mitchell is deadly accurate when he’s wide open to shoot. Mitchell has an excellent chance to continue padding his MVP resume by winning the Three-Point Contest.
Looking at the NBA odds, this is one of the closest three-point contests in NBA history. Malik Beasley is the favorite +500 and Donovan Mitchell has the highest payout at +750. This shows that the oddsmakers know that this year’s contest is a wide-open field. Why not take two or three players to cap off an exciting night with a winning NBA pick? Let’s go!
NBA Pick: Donovan Mitchell to Win the NBA All-Star 3-Point Contest (+750) at Bet365
*The line and/or odds referenced in this article might have changed since the content was published. For the latest information on line movements, visit OddsTrader’s free betting odds tool.
