NBA All-Star Game Betting Picks & Odds: Our Experts’ Favorite Bets for Team LeBron vs. Team Giannis

This year's format may be different, but the captains are the same. Team Giannis and Team LeBron will face off in the 69th NBA All-Star Game.

LeBron's team is a 5.5-point favorite on Sunday, but his Lakers teammate, Anthony Davis, and opposing captain are the favorites to win the MVP award (+400).

Our NBA experts preview their favorite bets for Sunday's showdown.

Odds as of Saturday and via PointsBet, where Action Network users can access an exclusive promotion to get a 200% deposit match (deposit $50, bet with $150).No strings attached. No rollover required.

Wob's Weekly Battle

Every week this NBA season, Wob is choosing a specific NBA battle to bet on. This week's bet is whether the All-Star Game MVP will come from Team LeBron or Team Giannis.

You all chose to take the Team Giannis side, and PointsBet boosted it up even more — you can now get those odds at +200.

[Bet now at PointsBet. NJ only.]

Wob: Russell Westbrook to win MVP (+1000) | Trae Young to win MVP (+2000)

Every year I bet Russell Westbrook to win MVP because 1) his odds are juicier than a gusher, and 2) he doesn't see defenders, he sees prey. He treats exhibitions like Game 7 of the Finals.

It's got to annoy his colleagues so much, like the one employee who stays in the office until midnight when everyone else goes to happy hour together. Granted, those are the people who are usually the most successful, but we're talking about the All-Star Game. Not a real game, not practice … the All-Star Game.

I can promise you Westbrook will do everything in his power to drop 50-30-20 if the other team lets him. His usage will be north of 30% because that's just the way he rolls. To win All-Star Game MVP, you've got to put up numbers, you've got to have the ball in your hands and you have to convince the crowd to write your name down like the final vote on Survivor.

Westbrook has this power, with his relentless effort and explosive athleticism; he will, as always, do something that gets people out of their seats. The same goes for Trae Young, who is not only looking to plant his flag on the weekend as a second-year player, but is starting and will be the one bringing the ball up the floor every possession.

You know what that means, right? Yes, I'm calling it: I think Trae Young will attempt a logo 3 from the wrong side of the halfcourt line.

We've seen him pull from the Hawks' eye in Atlanta; I honestly think this dude might pull from 45 feet just to set the tone. If it goes in, he's automatically the leader in the clubhouse to win MVP — and on top of it, he is one of the few players who can go nuclear and stop time. If he gets hot, the building will be ON FIRE with anticipation for him to launch whenever the ball touches his hands.

Narratives, entertainment and showmanship are the shortcuts to the MVP … and knowing that both players will be on the floor late with an opportunity to win the game for their team, I am confidently taking both. Usage, usage, usage. Get used to this word, because it means everything this weekend.

[Bet now at PointsBet. NJ only.]

Brandon Anderson: LeBron James to win MVP (+500)

I'm just going to keep this one very simple. Team LeBron has about three times as much talent as Team Giannis, and they should win the game without any real challenge.

That also makes it more difficult to pick an MVP winner on most occasions, but this All-Star Game has a little bit more meaning to it.

This weekend is a celebration of Kobe Bryant, and I think LeBron wants to win a fourth All-Star game MVP and go get the final bucket in Kobe's honor. I'm grabbing those LeBron James MVP odds at +500 and not looking back.

[Bet now at PointsBet. NJ only.]

Mears: 4th Quarter Over 49.5 points

In the new format this year, players will play three quarters to accumulate scores. At the start of the fourth, 24 points — in honor of Kobe Bryant — will be added to the leading team's score, which will be the target number to hit. The game will end when either team reaches that mark.

This one isn't too complicated to handicap then. The leading team can score just 26 points max (if they're one away from 24 and hit a 3-pointer), and it's probably equally likely for them to hit 24 or 25. It's a little less likely to hit 26 but still very plausible.

But let's just say they hit exactly 24. That puts the other team's over/under at 25.5, and I think that's too low given they'll be behind and trying to come back. This line is essentially putting the fourth quarter spread at a pick'em or perhaps the losing team -1; I'll definitely take those odds.

[Bet now at PointsBet. NJ only.]