On the hunt for a third successive victory, the Los Angeles Lakers (36-30) head out on the road as they face off against the Sacramento Kings (37-27). Tip-off is set for 10:00 p.m. ET from Golden 1 Center, Sacramento.
It’s set to be a pivotal matchup between the two Western Conference sides who are fighting for a spot in the playoffs. The two teams are also Pacific Division rivals, putting even more impetus on the game. Tonight’s hosts are bidding for back-to-back victories after beating the Milwaukee Bucks 129-94 last night.
The road team head into the encounter listed as 1.5-point favorites according to Bet Rivers. The game total has been set at O/U 238.5 (-110). Be sure to check out our preview below before we share our best bet for the game!
Last Time Out
The visitors have won their last two heading into this one, securing impressive victories over the Bucks (123-122) and the Minnesota Timberwolves (120-109). Those two opponents are destined for the postseason so the Lakers should be brimming with confidence as they head into tonight’s game.
LeBron James put up a game-high 29 points in their home win over the Wolves on Sunday, but it was Anthony Davis who impressed the most, recording 27 points and a remarkable 25 rebounds. He became the first player in NBA history to put up at least 25 points, 25 rebounds, five assists, five steals and three blocks in a single game.
It’s been an inconsistent time for the Kings who have gone 4-4 over their last eight games. They only just managed to beat the worst team in the Western Conference in the San Antonio Spurs (131-129) last Thursday, before suffering a 112-104 loss at home to the Houston Rockets at the weekend.
Nevertheless, Sacramento bounced back with a bang last night, defeating the Eastern Conference second seed in the Bucks. They won by a convincing 35-point margin as well, securing their first victory over Milwaukee in over eight years. Star guard De’Aaron Fox was personally impressed with the Kings’ defensive performance as they limited Giannis and co. to just 94 points.
Injuries & Team News
LA will be without Christian Wood, Cam Reddish, Jarred Vanderblit and Gabe Vincent for the matchup. Both James (ankle) and Davis (Achilles) have been included on the injury report as well, with the former listed as questionable and the latter probable.
Trey Lyles was unable to return to the court last night due to a knee injury so he is a doubt for tonight’s game. Keegan Murray remains day-to-day with an ankle issue and failed to play against the Bucks. Sasha Vezenkov is expected to remain sidelined.
Head-to-Head
Having played against each other around a week ago, the Lakers and the Kings will be familiar opponents tonight. An incredible 44-point game from Fox was a big factor in Sacramento's 130-120 win, whilst a triple-double by Domantas Sabonis (16 points, 20 rebounds and 12 assists) also helped things.
Looking to avoid being swept in the season series, the Lakers are currently trailing 0-3 in their matchups with Sacramento thus far. The Kings also sealed a 125-110 win in LA back in November, whilst they also edged an overtime triumph at the end of October (132-127).
Betting Trends & Stats
After last playing on Sunday, and the Kings hosting the Bucks last night, Los Angeles will have a rest advantage over their opponents. However, they have struggled to make the most out of that this season, going 4-8-0 against the spread (ATS). The Lakers have one of the worst ATS records on the road as well (13-18-0).
Nevertheless, the Kings haven’t performed great ATS when at a rest disadvantage and have a record of just 7-11-0, covering in just 30% of matchups with no rest. The hosts have struggled to cover the spread when playing on their own court this season too (11-18-0).
Los Angeles will have to try and keep up with the likes of Fox and Malik Monk tonight, but they have the offense to do so. They are averaging 118.6 points per game (ppg) over their last five, scoring at least 120 across their last three. However, their defense is allowing the 10th-most ppg in the league (117.6).
That will be the main concern as the Kings are not having trouble putting up plenty of points of late. They have averaged 120.6 ppg over their past five outings, including a 130-point game just last week against LA.
Key Players
Fresh off his record-breaking night, Davis will be keen to carry on that form into the game here. He has averaged a fairly mediocre 20.8 ppg over his last five, but it’s his rebound ability that is standing out. The nine-time All-Star has had ten consecutive games where he has recorded double figures for rebounds.
Of course, all-time NBA leading points scorer James will be a huge threat for the road team. He is averaging 27.2 ppg over his last five, shooting 10 of 16 from the field in his last two outings as well.
Fox and Sabonis will be hoping to emulate their fine displays against the Lakers in their last meeting. Those two are the star men for the Kings, with the latter leading the league average in rebounds (13.5). Fox ranks inside the top ten this season in terms of ppg (27.1).
Best Bet
There are questions surrounding the defensive abilities of both sides, but the Kings should be feeling confident after a very well-rounded performance against Milwaukee last night. The Lakers are pretty banged up, too, and it may be tough for them to contain the affluent Fox and Monk.
A wager on the moneyline wouldn’t be a bad bet as the oddsmakers are offering plus-money for a Kings win. However, the Lakers have picked up some impressive victories of late so take the Kings to cover the spread as the underdogs for a bit more security.
Sacramento Kings +1.5 (-110 with Bet Rivers)
