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Pelicans center Anthony Davis headlines a Skills Challenge loaded with big men in New Orleans. Reuters

Unlike the actual NBA All-Star Game, the league’s All-Star Saturday night should offer some exciting competitions in New Orleans this year. In front of a packed Smoothie King Center crowd in the Big Easy, the NBA will hold its annual Skills Challenge, 3-Point Shooting Contest and the main event, the Slam Dunk Contest.

Let’s be fair. The All-Star Game certainly doesn’t lack excitement. It’s just the outcome doesn’t really matter and there’s little to no hustle on defense. But when it comes to the three individual contests, it always seems like the participants save a little extra energy for bragging rights.

Here’s a quick breakdown of each event and who’s participating, as well as television info on how to watch live.

Skills Challenge

Participants: Devin Booker, G, Phoenix Suns; DeMarcus Cousins, C/F, Sacramento Kings; Anthony Davis, C/PF, New Orleans Pelicans; Nikola Jokic, C, Denver Nuggets (replacing injured Philadelphia Sixer Joel Embiid); Gordon Hayward, SF, Utah Jazz; Kristaps Porzingis, PF, New York Knicks; Isaiah Thomas, PG, Boston Celtics; John Wall, PG, Washington Wizards

Even though Embiid will be missed, the 15th Skills Challenge features a host of big men hoping to repeat Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns’ winning performance from a year ago. Davis, Porzingis, Cousins and the emerging Jokic are some of the most skilled big guys the league has ever seen, but it’s like the competition comes down to Wall or Thomas since point guards have the decided edge because of their quickness.

3-Point Shooting Contest

Participants: Eric Gordon, SG, Houston Rockets; Kyrie Irving, PG, Cleveland Cavaliers; Kyle Lowry, PG, Toronto Raptors; Wesley Matthews, SG, Dallas Mavericks; CJ McCollum, SG, Portland Trail Blazers; Klay Thompson, SG, Golden State Warriors; Kemba Walker, PG, Charlotte Hornets; Nick Young, SG, Lakers

Thompson is the defending champion — the only one to appear in any of the three contests this year — and he has to be considered the favorite. But every shooter in this year’s field is a threat, especially Walker, McCollum and Sixth Man of the Year frontrunner Gordon.

Slam Dunk Contest

Participants: Aaron Gordon, PF, Orlando Magic; Derrick Jones Jr., SG, Phoenix Suns; DeAndre Jordan, C, Los Angeles Clippers; Glenn Robinson III, SF, Indiana Pacers

Sadly we won’t get a rematch of last year’s thrilling final that reignited interest in a contest that had fallen flat for a number of years. The Wolves injured, two-time champ Zach LaVine can’t challenge Gordon, but the Magic forward put on one of the most impressive and creative aerobatic displays the contest has ever seen. Jordan could take flight just like center and previous winner Dwight Howard, but the unknown entities in Robinson and especially the lanky Jones could steal the show.

Start Time: Saturday, 8:30 p.m. EST

TV Channel: TNT

Live Stream: NBA on TNT

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