Beyond the NBA playoffs, we find ourselves in an exciting period of throughout the year. As All-Star weekend kicks off, let's take a dive into the prime odds and forecasts for my two favorite events slated for Saturday.

To me, the NBA Dunk Contest is cherished not only as a child in the 90s, but as an attractive betting potential now as an adult.. The return of current stars to this event only amplifies the excitement, which gives bettors and viewers the excitement to place wagers on the event.

On Saturday night, Sabrina Ionescu and Steph Curry will engage in a thrilling shootout, with each successful shot contributing to their respective charities. It promises to be an inspiring display of talent and generosity, blending sportsmanship with philanthropy on the biggest stage, aside from the NBA Finals.

SABRINA VS. STEPH: 3-POINT SHOOTOUT ODDS

• Sabrina Ionescu: +182
• Steph Curry: -245

MY BEST BET: SABRINA IONESCU +182 FANDUEL

This event is a unique, first of a kind, blended event between the WNBA and the NBA. Not only that, Sabrina Ionescu, of the New York Liberty, and Steph Curry, of the Golden State Warriors, are two of the most prolific shooters in basketball history.

Steph Curry, the NBA's all-time leader in three-pointers made, will face off against the reigning queen of the 3-point contest. Last July, Ionescu made history by hitting 20 consecutive three-pointers, surpassing Curry for the most three-pointers made in a contest, across both women's and men's basketball with 37 points.

Furthermore, she surpassed Diana Taurasi by making 128 three-pointers in a single season. As a career 37.7 percent shooter from beyond the arc, the New York Liberty guard elevated her game even further last season, putting up a career-high shooting percentage of 44.8 percent from deep.

Curry, who leads the NBA with 252 three-pointers made, is a 2x NBA three-point contest champion, in 2015 and 2021. Just the other day, he was seen making a shot from the? tunnel on social media.

Overall, I'm not betting against Sabrina in this matchup. Having had the pleasure of covering the New York Liberty, I've witnessed firsthand her unwavering determination to improve her shooting skills. Until someone dethrones her, I have to ride the hot hand and place my faith in her abilities.

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Sabrina Ionescu is willing to shoot from the NBA three-point line

The decision regarding whether Ionescu will shoot from the NBA or the WNBA line remains uncertain. In fact, she frequently warms up from distances beyond the NBA line.

In a recent media video conference, she confirmed her preparedness for whatever distance is presented, which has social media chirrping. Ionescu has made it clear that she prefers to shoot from her preferred line.

"I practice from that range[NBA], and wanting to just be a better shooter, basketball player, and get better as a whole, " Ionescu told the media on Tuesday. "Knowing that I had the opportunity to kind of pick what line I wanted to shoot from-- it was a no brainer."

With an average of 3.6 three-pointers per game, Sabrina has hinted at a previous victory over Curry in a private game of H-O-R-S-E in San Francisco. Given this opportunity to showcase her talents and shine a spotlight on women's basketball on such a grand stage, I'm firmly backing the three-point queen.

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NBA DUNK CONTEST

• Mac McClung: -280
• Jaylen Brown: +500
• Jacob Toppin: +850
• Jaime Jaquez Jr: +950

Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics is injecting excitement back into the Dunk Contest. In recent years, the contest has featured lesser-known players, but with Brown's participation, the event is regaining its star power and allure over All-Star weekend.

For starters, Mac McClung is the reigning champion of last year's dunk contest. As a member of the G-League, McClung made history as the first player to represent the league in the contest. His electrifying dunks had the crowd on their feet, leaving celebrities like Gabrielle Union in awe of his athleticism and showmanship.

While his dunk talents are well-known, he has some competition this year. The heavy favorite at -280, I'm 100 percent fading this.

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MY BEST BETS: JAYLEN BROWN

• TO WIN THE DUNK CONTEST:+500
• TO MAKE THE FINAL ROUND:-130

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As a sportswriter covering the Boston Celtics, it's essential to remain impartial, but with contenders like Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Jacob Toppin showing promise, the decision is tough. However, given Jaylen Brown's reputation as one of the most explosive dunkers in the league, it's hard to ignore his potential to steal the show. Ultimately, his ability to deliver jaw-dropping slams may just make him the favorite to win the contest.

While the Dunk Contest has seen iconic moments in the past with stars like Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, and Aaron Gordon, Jaylen Brown has the charisma and athleticism to revive this event and reignite the passion of basketball fans worldwide.

Despite McClung's impressive history of winning dunk contests, including the 2018 Ballislife All-American contest, I firmly believe that Jaylen Brown holds the advantage in the Dunk Contest, despite McClung's exceptional vertical leap and his perfect score of 50 on most of his dunks last year.

As younger players aim to prove their worth, Jaylen Brown stands out as the first All-Star to compete in this contest since 2018. Known for his athleticism and versatility as throughout his career, Brown has one of the nastiest dunks in the NBA. Standing at 6'6, he has a vertical jump of 43 inches, and has been seen slashing over defenders all season.

Since I've chosen him as the likely winner, I placed a bet on Jaylen Brown to advance to the final round at DraftKings, getting odds of -130. At +550, it's an excellent value proposition for an NBA veteran known for his dynamic athleticism and slashing agility. While he has the strength, the only question will be if he has the creativity.

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