2023 NBA All-Star Saturday Night

Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard is searching for his third 3-point title, while Indiana Pacers guard Buddy Hield hopes to capture his second and Philadelphia's Mac McClung can now become both a slam-dunk champion at both the NBA and high school levels.

On Saturday night in Salt Lake City, the All-Star Weekend continues with the skills challenge, 3-Point Contest and slam dunk contest. Here is a roster for each event:

3-Point Contest

The 3-Point Contest is one of the premier events on NBA All-Star Saturday Night, featuring some of the league's greatest shooters competing for long range glory. Although there have been some changes over time - such as adding two extra shots from beyond the 3-point line that count for three points each - its core premise remains unchanged, making this an event not to be missed!

FanDuel Sportsbook rates Indiana Pacers guard Buddy Hield as the clear favorite to win the 3-Point Contest with +460 odds. He has led the NBA this season with 224 made three-pointers and is shooting 42.3 percent from deep.

Portland Trail Blazers teammates Damian Lillard and Anfernee Simons also boast +550 odds to win the competition, while Utah's Lauri Markkanen (+600) and Miami's Tyler Herro (+1200) round out the top five.

Another player with long odds to win the 3-Point Contest is Sacramento Kings guard Kevin Huerter, who has been an impressive force on the court this season. At 22 years old, Huerter has built a career out of being an offensive threat inside the paint and will get another opportunity at All-Star Weekend according to The Sacramento Bee.

Since 2019, the Kings have not sent four players to All-Star Weekend; De'Aaron Fox, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Marvin Bagley III participated in the Rising Stars game with De'Aaron Fox as their representative. Now Huerter will get his chance at redemption.

Though not as exciting as the Slam Dunk Contest, the 3-Point Contest remains a must-watch event. Past classic moments such as Zach LaVine's win over Aaron Gordon in 2016 and Derrick Jones Jr.'s triumph against Gordon in 2020 remain unforgettable; however, there have also been some lackluster efforts.

If you're searching for an underrated 3-Point Contest pick, Portland duo Damian Lillard and Anfernee Sims is your best bet. Both shoot over 37.0% from long range this season, tying them for second in the league with 195 made three-pointers so far this year; they'll both have plenty of chances to shoot during NBA All-Star Weekend in Salt Lake City.

Skills Challenge

On Saturday night at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard will host the 2023 NBA All-Star Skills Challenge. Additionally, there will be a 3-point contest and slam dunk competition taking place.

This event is part of the larger NBA All-Star weekend that includes the celebrity game, Rising Stars Challenge and All-Star Game on Sunday night. The Skills Challenge will take place Friday night, followed by three-point contest and slam dunk contest on Saturday before concluding with the All-Star Game on Sunday.

Teams will compete in three rounds of relay, passing and shooting events. The team that scores the most points after these events will be declared the victor.

Rules: Players attempt to hit 11 targets of varying values, such as two points, five points and 10 points, in an effort to score as many points for their team as possible. Each shooter will have 60 seconds in each round.

Once shooting has concluded, the top two teams will attempt to hit half-court shots. Whoever makes their first half-court shot in the fastest time wins.

In addition to Antetokounmpo and Lillard, other All-Stars participating in the Skills Challenge include Jayson Tatum, Lauri Markkanen and Kyle Haliburton. Furthermore, there will be a host of young players from Houston such as Kenyon Martin Jr. from Houston, Trey Murphy III from New Orleans and Jericho Sims from New York participating in this year's event.

After each round, fans have the opportunity to vote for their favorite participant and receive 25 extra points.

This marks the first year that the Skills Challenge will take place prior to the All-Star Game, and its format has been altered. Previously, individual participants participated in this event; however, for 2023 there are now three teams composed of three players each.

The challenge will take place in front of a live audience and include three rounds of competition, such as relay, passing and shooting. The winning team will be declared the champion.

Slam Dunk Contest

Over the course of NBA history, the Slam Dunk Contest has produced some iconic moments in basketball. Fans have witnessed many legendary players display their skills during this event, such as Michael Jordan and Vince Carter.

The competition is one of the most anticipated events during NBA All-Star Weekend and it has a reputation for producing spectacular dunks that always capture audiences' attention. While some dunks may not live up to their potential, there have been some truly amazing ones that have truly amazed everyone in attendance.

In 1990, Dominique Wilkins of the Atlanta Hawks defeated Kenny Smith of the Sacramento Kings in the first dunk contest held since 1985. Two years later in 2000, Vince Carter from Toronto Raptors and Tracy McGrady from Houston Rockets battled it out for the title in a second dunk competition.

Both dunks featured daring maneuvers that had the crowd going wild. These displays of athleticism were intended to showcase athletes' abilities and entertain viewers alike.

Slam dunks boast some of the highest percentage shots in basketball, but they're not always easy to make. That's why this competition requires an exceptional level of athleticism and skill to succeed.

This year's dunk contest will showcase four of the NBA's top rim rockers: Houston's KJ Martin, New Orleans' Trey Murphy III, Philadelphia's Mac McClung and Jericho Sims from the New York Knicks.

Each player will attempt two dunks in the initial round, with those with the highest combined score advancing to the finals. The victor will be crowned the 2023 NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Champion.

Though the dunk contest has had its share of ups and downs, it remains an event that draws millions of fans annually. With such a talented field, basketball fans can expect some thrilling dunks during 2023 NBA All-Star Saturday Night.

All-Star Game

The NBA All-Star Game is one of the most anticipated events during the basketball season. Hosted annually during February, it showcases the top players from both Eastern and Western Conferences.

One of the All-Star Game's signature events is the 3-Point Contest, a great platform for young talents in the NBA. Fans are sure to get electrified when their favorite stars take part, including Jayson Tatum, Damian Lillard and Tyrese Haliburton.

In addition to the All-Star Game, this weekend also includes the Rising Stars Challenge and Skills Challenge. The former is a mini tournament with four teams and three games, coached by honorary coaches Pau Gasol, Deron Williams, Joakim Noah as well as assistant coach Jason Terry.

Team Antetokounmpo, featuring Giannis and his brothers Thanasis and Alex, will compete against Team Jazz (Utah teammates Jordan Clarkson, Walker Kessler and Collin Sexton) and Team Rooks (Orlonia Magic player Paolo Banchero; Houston Rockets player Jabari Smith Jr.; Detroit Pistons player Jaden Ivey) all of whom were drafted in the 2023 NBA draft).

Both teams will feature All-Stars who were selected as starters during the NBA's regular season. These starting lineups are chosen by fans, current players and select members of the media; LeBron James of Los Angeles Lakers and Giannis Antetokounmpo of Milwaukee Bucks serve as team captains for each conference.

Lillard and Antetokounmpo have been named Players of the Week for both Western Conference and Eastern Conference, respectively, after each scored at least 40 points in their last three games. On average, they averaged 38 points, 6.8 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per contest.

The 2023 All-Star Weekend in Salt Lake City, Utah, provides fans with an unforgettable opportunity to witness the creme de la creme of basketball players. Not only are its many events must-sees for NBA enthusiasts, but none quite compare to the all-encompassing All-Star Game itself!

Tickets for the 2023 NBA All-Star Saturday Night are now on sale, both online and through Ticketmaster.