NBA Playoffs Warriors at Kings Game 1 Betting Preview

Even though they were the #3 seed in the Western Conference this season, it’s still somewhat of a shocker that Sacramento is a -1 point favorite in the Warriors at Kings Game 1 betting matchup against defending champion Golden State. Sacramento has shown unprecedented improvement this year, but the Warriors are still the Warriors.

Nearly 60% of the betting public likes Sacramento for Saturday night’s matchup. It’s going to be an absolutely electric crowd at the Golden 1 Center as the Kings try to “Light the Beam”, but is there such a thing as being too emotional – especially coming off a 17-year playoff drought and opening up against the defending champions.

Why the Warriors Can Cover +1

Golden State was 44-38 this season, the fewest wins they’ve had in a playoff year in all of the Steph Curry era. That being said – who cares? The Warriors at this point know that the regular season doesn’t matter and are instead built for the postseason which they have loads of experience in while making the NBA Finals in five of the last seven seasons.

To be honest, Golden State may be more dangerous than ever heading into the Warriors at Kings Game 1 betting matchup because they get to have a chip on their shoulder instead of being the favorite every year they make the playoffs. Kings play-by-play man Kyle Draper essentially called Golden State a “wannabe franchise” not on par with the likes of the Lakers and Celtics in NBA history.

You don’t want to wake up this beast, and some good natured – or not good natured – trash talk seems to be what the likes of Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green thrive on. Plus, the Warriors still had the #2 scoring offense in the NBA this season (118.9 ppg) and it all still goes back to that playoff experience – especially in Game 1 when the Kings might be too amped up.

Why the Kings Can Cover -1

So maybe Golden State has an “us against them” mentality as the #6 seed, but do you think Sacramento doesn’t have that same approach as a franchise making their first postseason appearance in 17 years and doing it against the defending World Champions?

Curry, Thompson, Green, and company still remain extremely talented, but you cannot overlook that this Golden State was an abomination on the road this season at just 11-30, trailing only the Pistons, Spurs, and Rockets in road futility. The Kings were just 23-18 at home, but this might be the craziest postseason atmosphere of the weekend with Sacramento getting a playoff game for the first time since the early 2000s.

For as bad as they were on the road, the Warriors were 33-8 on their own floor so the Kings know how important it is to protect home court advantage. Sacramento has the talent to do just that, as the #1 scoring offense in the NBA at 120.7 ppg led by De’Aaron Fox (25.0), Domantas Sabonis (19.1) and a great cast of role players.

Free Warriors at Kings Game 1 Betting Pick

Golden State +1 seems like a gift here. Sure the Warriors are an absolutely atrocious road team, but this is also a club that is reinvigorated kind of like a dad who is always better than his son but then the son starts growing and getting better and now the competitive juices start flowing again.  Have to side with dad here.

Free Pick: Warriors +1