Tweet
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19
All-Star Game at Houston, Texas
NBA ALL-STAR GAME: THE GOLD SHEET hasn’t made serious
predictions on All-Star games of any type since 1976, when the NFL champions
stopped playing a collection of the top college seniors in Chicago each season.
The NBA All-Star Game is a prime example of why that policy evolved. NBA
players and league front office officials have converted this event into a
weekend party and public relations vehicle. Gimmick attractions such as the
dunk & “skills” contests, sophomore-freshman game, three-point shootout, and
celebrity-media games (among others) have been added. None of the games
is taken very seriously.
There are dozens of main line college basketball games on Saturday and
Sunday, any of which might well present a better handicapping opportunity than
the NBA All-Star contest. That being said, we realize this is a showcase for the
professional basketball fan that is difficult to pass up. The history of the game
has shown it to be generally a no-defense game that’s gone “over” the total in 5 of
the last 7 contests. The favorite in the game has covered 8 of the last 12 chances.
The wise bettor should take a seat on the sideline for this game, or put extra
attention toward the ample college slate. This game is just for show, and, to
quote David Letterman, “Ladies and gentlemen, this is an exhibition, not a
competition...please, no wagering.”
Below we have listed the lines, scores and totals of the All-Star game since
the NBA and ABA merged. Bon chance...
NBA ALL-STAR SCORES, STATS AND POINTSPREADS
RECENT NBA ALL-STAR GAME RESULTS
YEAR WINNER LINE SCORE TOTAL
2004 EAST +5½ 125-115 263
2003 WEST -7 136-132 255
2002 WEST -5 155-145 2OT 255
2001 WEST -2 135-120 253
2000 EAST +4 111-110 257
1999 WEST -4½ 137-126 255
1998 No game played
1997 EAST -7 132-120 250
1996 EAST -3½ 129-118 257
1995 WEST -4½ 139-112 261
1994 EAST +3½ 127-118 260
1993 WEST -2 135-132 OT 268
1992 WEST -2½ 153-113 270
1991 EAST +3½ 116-114 277
1990 EAST +2 130-113 273
1989 WEST Pick 143-134 268
1988 EAST -4 138-133 270
1987 WEST +2½ 154-149 OT 265
1986 EAST -2½ 139-132 260
1985 WEST +4½ 140-129 265
1984 EAST -1 154-145 OT 259
1983 EAST -1 132-123 257
1982 EAST +1½ 120-118 254
YEAR WINNER LINE SCORE TOTAL
1981 EAST +2½ 123-120 256
1980 EAST Pick 144-135 OT 249
1979 WEST -3 134-129 243
1978 EAST +3½ 133-125 *
1977 WEST -3½ 125-124 *
*—Betting total points was not popular until the middle and late 1970s, and
no uniform over-under line was being dealt prior to 1979.
All-Star Game at Houston, Texas
NBA ALL-STAR GAME: THE GOLD SHEET hasn’t made serious
predictions on All-Star games of any type since 1976, when the NFL champions
stopped playing a collection of the top college seniors in Chicago each season.
The NBA All-Star Game is a prime example of why that policy evolved. NBA
players and league front office officials have converted this event into a
weekend party and public relations vehicle. Gimmick attractions such as the
dunk & “skills” contests, sophomore-freshman game, three-point shootout, and
celebrity-media games (among others) have been added. None of the games
is taken very seriously.
There are dozens of main line college basketball games on Saturday and
Sunday, any of which might well present a better handicapping opportunity than
the NBA All-Star contest. That being said, we realize this is a showcase for the
professional basketball fan that is difficult to pass up. The history of the game
has shown it to be generally a no-defense game that’s gone “over” the total in 5 of
the last 7 contests. The favorite in the game has covered 8 of the last 12 chances.
The wise bettor should take a seat on the sideline for this game, or put extra
attention toward the ample college slate. This game is just for show, and, to
quote David Letterman, “Ladies and gentlemen, this is an exhibition, not a
competition...please, no wagering.”
Below we have listed the lines, scores and totals of the All-Star game since
the NBA and ABA merged. Bon chance...
NBA ALL-STAR SCORES, STATS AND POINTSPREADS
RECENT NBA ALL-STAR GAME RESULTS
YEAR WINNER LINE SCORE TOTAL
2004 EAST +5½ 125-115 263
2003 WEST -7 136-132 255
2002 WEST -5 155-145 2OT 255
2001 WEST -2 135-120 253
2000 EAST +4 111-110 257
1999 WEST -4½ 137-126 255
1998 No game played
1997 EAST -7 132-120 250
1996 EAST -3½ 129-118 257
1995 WEST -4½ 139-112 261
1994 EAST +3½ 127-118 260
1993 WEST -2 135-132 OT 268
1992 WEST -2½ 153-113 270
1991 EAST +3½ 116-114 277
1990 EAST +2 130-113 273
1989 WEST Pick 143-134 268
1988 EAST -4 138-133 270
1987 WEST +2½ 154-149 OT 265
1986 EAST -2½ 139-132 260
1985 WEST +4½ 140-129 265
1984 EAST -1 154-145 OT 259
1983 EAST -1 132-123 257
1982 EAST +1½ 120-118 254
YEAR WINNER LINE SCORE TOTAL
1981 EAST +2½ 123-120 256
1980 EAST Pick 144-135 OT 249
1979 WEST -3 134-129 243
1978 EAST +3½ 133-125 *
1977 WEST -3½ 125-124 *
*—Betting total points was not popular until the middle and late 1970s, and
no uniform over-under line was being dealt prior to 1979.
It's always noon somewhere! 
Comment