The Sacramento Kings head to Staples Center to take on the LA Clippers in a Pacific Division showdown on Wednesday night.
The Kings are coming off a loss to the New Orleans Pelicans in a game where De’Aaron Fox erupted for 43 points. Sacramento is looking to end a three-game losing skid here. On the other hand, the Clippers continue to roll with Paul George hitting his stride early in the season. George has shot over 50% from the field and from deep as the Clippers have won four in a row.
The Sacramento Kings have a 5-9 record and they are currently at the bottom of the Pacific Division team standings. The Kings were off to a hot 3-1 start with back to back wins over the Nuggets and Suns. However, they have won just two out of their last 10 games and head to this contest with three straight losses, including a 138-100 demolition at the hands of the Clippers last January 15th.
De’Aaron Fox continues to improve and he is currently averaging 20.5 points, 5.8 assists, and 1.5 steals per game to lead the Kings. Veteran Harrison Barnes is having a good start at 16.4 points per game while Buddy Hield is adding 15.4 points per contest. Marvin Bagley III leads Sacramento in rebounding at 7.8 boards per contest while also scoring 13.7 points per game.
Sacramento ranks 9th in the NBA in scoring at 114.3 points per game. They are 16th overall in passing at 25.1 assists per game. However, Los Angeles is just 27th off the glass with an average of 42.4 rebounds per contest and they have the worst scoring defense in the league at 123.6 points per game allowed.
The LA Clippers are off to a 10-4 start. They are currently in second place in the Pacific Division team standings, just half a game behind the Lakers. The Clippers also have the second-best record in the Western Conference behind the Lakers and they head to this game having won their last four games.
Paul George is off to a fantastic start this season. After his playoff failures in Orlando, George has opened the year shooting 51% from the field and 51% from deep. PG is averaging 24.8 points per game to lead the Clippers. Kawhi Leonard is putting up 24.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.9 steals per game while newcomer Serge Ibaka is contributing 11.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per contest. Veteran Marcus Morris Sr. is also averaging 11.8 points and 3.5 rebounds per outing.
The Clippers are the 7th highest-scoring team in the NBA at 114.9 points per game. They also own the 9th best scoring defense in the league at just 108.0 points per game allowed. The Clippers are also ranked 15th in passing at 25.2 assists per game but they are at the bottom of the ladder in rebounding with 41.9 boards grabbed per contest.
The Kings are 1-5 SU in their last six games played. Sacramento is 1-3 SU in four road games played this season. The Clippers are 5-1 SU in their last six games played. Los Angeles is 5-2 SU in seven home games played so far this season. Head to head, the Clippers are 11-2 SU in their last 13 games played against the Kings. Los Angeles is also 15-4 SU in their last 19 home games against Sacramento.
Sacramento has lost eight out of its last 10 games and has a three-game losing streak heading to this contest. De’Aaron Fox is coming off a historic 43-point game in a losing effort and Marvin Bagley is averaging 23 PPG in his last two games. However, Tyrese Haliburton has scored just seven points total in his last two games and Harrison Barnes is coming off a seven-point effort.
Paul George is on fire to start the season. Not only is PG averaging 24.8 points per game but he is also shooting 51% from the floor and 51% from behind the three-point arc. Luke Kennard is averaging 17 PPG in his last two games while Marcus Morris is putting up 19 PPG in his last two outings. The Clippers are just red hot right now and it’s hard to beat them when they are hitting their shots.
The Kings are in a slump right now and they are in the wrong place at the wrong time. The Clippers are playing not just their best basketball of the season but their best with Kawhi and PG.
Tyron Lue seems to have figured out how to put the puzzle. The Clippers aren’t unbeatable but with the way the Kings have struggled, it’s hard to imagine them pulling off the upset at Staples Center.
Prediction: LA Clippers
Sacramento is 1-8 ATS in their last nine games played. Sacramento is 2-2 ATS in four road games played this season, 0-6 ATS in their last six games against the Western Conference, and 1-8 ATS in their last nine games played in January. Los Angeles is 8-6 ATS in their 14 games played this season. The Clippers are 3-4 ATS in seven games played at home, 6-2 ATS in their last eight Wednesday games, and 4-1 ATS in their last five games against the Pacific Division.
Not only do the Clippers have a Top 10 defense that can slow down Sacramento’s scoring, but the Kings’ porous defense will also lead to another big scoring night from these high-powered Clippers. The Kings have conceded at least 122 points in their last seven games played, including four games of 128+ points allowed. The Clippers are playing great basketball right now and have won their last two games by at least 30 points.
Prediction: LA Clippers -10.5
The total has gone over in seven out of the last eight games played by the Kings. Sacramento has seen the total go over in four out of their last five games played on the road. The over is also 4-1 in the Clippers’ last five games played and 4-2 in their last six games against the Western Conference. The total has gone over in each of the Clippers’ last five games played at home. Head to head the total has gone over in six out of the last three meetings between these two teams.
These two teams are in the Top 10 in scoring with the Kings ranked 9th at 114.3 PPG and the Clippers 7th at 114.9. They have combined to score an average of 229.4 points per game in their last 10 head-to-head meetings and the Kings are dead-last in the league in scoring defense at 123.6 points per game allowed. Sacramento gave up 138 points to the Clippers when these teams played on January 15th and unless Tyron Lue sits out one or both of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers are going to unload a lot of points on the league’s worst scoring defense. Los Angeles has scored at least 129 points in three out of their last four games played. The total is high but I bet it’s going over.
Prediction: Over 232
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