Expert Top Pick of the Day: NBA All-Star Game
Feb 18, 2022, 4:24 pm ET in NBA 
Read Time: 4 min
Expert Top Pick of the Day: NBA All-Star Game
It’s that time of the year, and the NBA is back with its 2022 edition of the All-Star Game. This year fans voted for the two team captains who have recently set the pace and chosen their roster to feature at this year’s All-Star showdown. Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is featured as one of the men to look for on the basketball court.
On the other side, Brooklyn Nets’ Kevin Durant will lead the rival roster that will face LeBron’s picks. The All-Star weekend showdown will kick off tonight with the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, followed by the NBA Rising Stars Challenge.
Saturday will feature NBA All-Star Saturday Night with various skill challenges that will put top stars to the test. The weekend will then follow with the NBA All-Star G League Next Gem Game and end with this year’s main event, the NBA All-Star Game.
Team LeBron vs. Team Durant Schedule
- Date: Sunday, February 20, 2022
- Time: 08:00 PM EST
- Location: Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, Cleveland, OH
LeBron’s All-Star Roster to Surpass KD Once Again
Last year’s All-Star showdown featured both James and Durant as team captains. After a close game, team LeBron won over KD’s lineup by a 170-150 score. LeBron might just have the right combination of players to pull another top performance this year.
Under Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams, Starting for team LeBron is Milwaukee Bucks forward and 2021’s All-Star MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and Golden State’s Stephen Curry.
The starting lineup is completed by Chicago Bulls guard DeMar DeRozan and Denver Nuggets forward Nikola Jokic. The reserve squad is led by the Suns’ Chris Paul and the Philadelphia 76ers’ James Harden.
The remainder of the reserves is the Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Darius Garland, the Miami Heat’s Jimmy Butler, the Utah Jazz’s Donovan Mitchell, and the Toronto Raptors’ Fred VanVleet.
KD’s Top Men to Face LeBron’s Picks
Durant’s picks are nothing short of what players could have expected for this year’s All-Star game. But, instead, Durant made sure to wisely pick the right handful of stars to avoid a second consecutive defeat this year.
With the Miami Heat’s Erik Spoelstra as head coach, the starting lineup includes 76ers center Joel Embiid, the Memphis Grizzlies’ Ja Morant, and Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum. The Atlanta Hawks’ Trae Young and Golden State Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins round out the starting five.
The Suns’ Devin Booker and Charlotte Hornets LaMelo Ball top the reserves list. KD’s reserves also include the Minnesota Timberwolves Karl-Anthony Towns, the Bulls’ Zach LaVine, the San Antonio Spurs’ Dejounte Murray, the Bucks’ Khris Middleton, and Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz.
Team LeBron vs. Team Durant Odds Comparison
With a recent desire to not let go of another chance to pull a solid win, Durant’s lineup might be all set to take over LeBron’s picks for this year’s All-Star matchup.
- DraftKings has Team LeBron at -240 on a spread of -5.5, and the game total is 319.5.
- FanDuel has Team LeBron at -230 on a spread of -6, and the total is 320.
- Caesars has Team LeBron at -220 on a spread of -5.5, and the total is 321.
Godds Pick or Prediction of the Game
LeBron’s lineup seems to be stronger than KD’s top men. With last year’s MVP on their side and some of the top scorers from each team in the league, LeBron has made sure to pick a proper All-Star lineup.
As for Durant and his leading men, Embiid and Tatum might stand as the two of the top players to watch. This is Durant’s first chance not to let James come away with another All-Star win.
- Godds Pick/Prediction: Team LeBron to win and the over hits.
