Henry Roldán
As the NBA All-Star Game 2023 weekend approaches, fans of the sport are eagerly anticipating the best basketball competitions in the world, one of which is the NBA 3-Point Contest 2023.
Alongside the Dunk Contest, this competition showcasing the NBA’s top shooters is a must-see event for fans, and at JefeBet, we are dedicated to providing you with the most reliable information about it.
In this regard, we will now assess the favorites to win the event, the potential dark horses, and how they are positioned with the top bookmakers in Las Vegas.
Predictions, Odds, and Betting Preview for the NBA 3-Point Contest on February 18
- Where: Vivint Arena – Salt Lake City, Utah.
- When: Saturday, February 18, 2023, 8:00 PM E.T.
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Favorites
Damian Lillard (+425) / Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers star comes into the competition as one of the favorites not only because of his great season from the three-point line, but also because his effectiveness has been a constant throughout his career.
This will be the third time that Lillard participates in the NBA 3-Point Contest, and he will not have an easy opponent with the presence of Buddy Hield, the long-distance star this season.
Likewise, the Portland point guard is the man who has attempted the most three-pointers per game this season with an average of 11.2 and is the one who makes the most per game with 4.2, the same number as Klay Thompson.
Buddy Hield (+425) / Indiana Pacers
Buddy Hield made history this week after surpassing none other than Reggie Miller with the most three-pointers made in a season for the Indiana Pacers, despite the fact that there is still a good portion of the schedule left.
Deemed by many to be one of the NBA’s top sharpshooters this season alongside Stephen Curry, Hield’s standing is supported by his impressive record of 230 three-pointers, the highest in the league. His closest challenger in this regard is Anfernee Simons, who has managed 196 shots from long distance.
This season, Hield will make his third appearance in the NBA 3-Point Contest, having already emerged victorious in 2020 by edging out Devin Booker with his final shot. His recent move to the Pacers adds an extra dimension of excitement to his performance in this year’s competition.
Jayson Tatum (+500) / Boston Celtics
In addition to being one of the top scorers in the NBA, Jayson Tatum is also widely regarded as one of the league’s premier long-range shooters.
While facing stiff competition from the likes of Lillard and Hield, the Boston Celtics star possesses the skill and ability to contend with these formidable opponents, as evidenced by his impressive statistics this season.
Tatum currently ranks fourth in the league for three-pointers made per game, averaging 9.3, while also ranking sixth in long distance shots made with 3.3 and fourth in overall three-pointers made with 183.
Sleeper Picks
Kevin Huerter (+550) / Sacramento Kings
Kevin Huerter is having the best year of his NBA career in his first experience with the Sacramento Kings and could be a tough competitor in the NBA 3-Point Contest.
Although the Kings player is ranked 28th among players who have attempted the most three-pointers this campaign, he has managed to make an average of 2.6 shots per game, an interesting figure considering that he is not the first offensive option for his team.
Tyler Herro (+550) / Miami Heat
While Tyler Herro’s three-point shooting percentage is down this campaign, it is also true that the Heat player has attempted far more shots than in previous seasons.
In 45 games played, Herro is the eleventh player who has attempted the most three-point shots per game with 8.1, while he is ninth in long distance shots with an average of 3.0 per game.
Dark Horse
Lauri Markkanen (+700) / Utah Jazz
Undoubtedly, the dark horse of this event is Lauri Markkanen, the Finnish player who will be at home as the star of the Utah Jazz.
In addition to being in by far the best campaign of his career, Markkanen has been a true madness from long distance, making 41.2% of his three-point shots, a record that is highly remarkable considering that he is one of the top 25 players in the world in three-point attempts, and is ninth in hits per game with 3.0.
The eight participants of the NBA 3-Point Contest
| Player | Odds |
| Damian Lillard | +425 |
| Buddy Hield | +425 |
| Jayson Tatum | +500 |
| Kevin Huerter | +550 |
| Tyler Herro | +550 |
| Tyrese Haliburton | +600 |
| Julius Randle | +650 |
| Lauri Markkanen | +700 |
JefeBet Prediction
While Damian Lillard and Buddy Hield should be the favorites for obvious reasons, for this edition of the NBA 3-Point Contest we are going with the dark horse of the event.
Lauri Markkanen is having the best year of his career, was voted as one of the starters for the All-Star Game, and will participate in front of a fan base that has done nothing but show him love in his first year in Utah.
The Finnish player has shot over 41% from long distance this season, and what better way to continue the party than at home and winning the contest.
Prediction: Lauri Markkanen.
