Can Toronto Raptors sophomore Terrence Ross come out on top in the NBA’s Slam Dunk Contest for the second year in a row this weekend?
If he does, he’ll have to overcome a new format for the competition along with the favourite at the sportsbooks – Indiana Pacers’ Paul George.
Ross won the Slam Dunk Contest last year over Jeremy Evans, Eric Bledsoe, Kenneth Faried, Gerald Green, and James White, but he’ll be up against a new set of competitors this time around – including George, who is sitting as the 23/20 favourite to be voted as the Dunker of the Night.
Ross is second on the list at 7/2, one of several NBA All-Star odds variations that fans can check out.
The Slam Dunk Contest has a brand new format this year, with Eastern Conference versus Western Conference matchups in both a “freestyle round” and a “battle round.” Ross and George will both be competing for the East along with Washington’s John Wall (9/2). The West side will consist of Sacramento’s Ben McLemore (5/1), Portland’s Damian Lillard (5/1), and Golden State’s Harrison Barnes (17/2).
And after one conference prevails over the other and produces a trio of Dunk Contest champs, fans will then vote for the Dunker of the Night.
The Slam Dunk Contest will cap off Saturday’s slate of events at All-Star Weekend in New Orleans, with the Shooting Stars, Skills Challenge and Three-Point Contest competitions also on the board for the night.
Golden State’s Stephen Curry is listed as the 2/1 favourite to win the Three-Point Contest at the sportsbooks, followed by 2012 champion Kevin Love (4/1) of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Arron Afflalo (5/1) of the Orlando Magic, and 2013 champion Kyrie Irving (11/2) of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Lillard (6/1), San Antonio’s Marco Belinelli (6/1), Washington’s Bradley Beal (15/2), and Brooklyn’s Joe Johnson (10/1) round out that odds list.
Finally, the All-Star Game itself will take place on Sunday night, with the West’s Kevin Durant pegged as the 3/1 favourite to be named the game’s MVP over the East’s LeBron James (7/2).
James is joined on the Eastern squad by Heat teammate Dwyane Wade, Irving, George, and the Carmelo Anthony in the starting lineup, with DeMar DeRozan on an East bench that also includes Wall, Johnson, Joakim Noah, Roy Hibbert, Chris Bosh, and Paul Millsap.
DeRozan is a 70/1 longshot to be named the MVP of the All-Star Game.
Voted as Western starters along with Durant were Curry, Love, Blake Griffin, and Kobe Bryant, although Bryant is injured and won’t play in the game. Reserves for the West are Lillard, Dwight Howard, LaMarcus Aldridge, Dirk Nowitzki, Chris Paul, James Harden, Tony Parker and Anthony Davis.
