The Sacramento Kings (5-9, 1-3 away) take on the Los Angeles Clippers (10-4, 5-2 home) in a divisional bout on Wednesday night. Los Angeles throttled the Kings less than a week ago in Sacramento, 138-100.
The midweek tipoff begins at 10 pm ET inside the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. Los Angeles is a 10.5-point favorite over the struggling Kings, according to oddsmakers.
What to Know – Sacramento Kings
Sacramento has dropped six of their last seven games and has fallen to last place in the Pacific standings. Their last time out, the Kings fell in a 128-123 home contest to the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Kings average 114.3 points and surrender 123.6 points per game with one of the league’s worst defenses this year. Sacramento shoots 47.4% from the field and 36.9% from three.
One positive to Sacramento’s season so far has been the play of De’Aaron Fox. Fox is coming off a 43-point career-high total against the Pelicans on Sunday. The fourth-year guard is averaging a team-high 20.5 points per game.
Marvin Bagley III poured in a season-high 26 points in Sunday’s loss. The 6-11 forward has come alive in the last two games, scoring 20 points in the first against the Clippers.
Sacramento enters Wednesday’s contest with a 1-8 mark against the spread over their last nine games. The total during those previous nine contests has gone over eight times. Against the Clippers, the Kings are just 2-9 ATS in their last 11 matchups.
What to Know – LA Clippers
A preseason favorite with a shot at the NBA title, the LA Clippers are off to a hot start in 2020-2021 and sit just a half-game out of first place in the standings. Los Angeles is riding a four-game winning streak entering Wednesday’s clash.
Los Angeles averages 114.9 points per game offensively and allows opponents to average 108.6 per game defensively. The Clippers shoot 48.7% from the floor and a sizzling 44-percent from beyond the arc.
The offense runs through all-stars Paul George (24.8 ppg) and Kawhi Leonard (24.3 ppg). George and Leonard combined for 53 points in the 38-point blowout against the Kings last week.
In Sunday’s victory over the Pacers, Marcus Morris Sr. and Luke Kennard each came off the bench to chip in 20 points apiece in the win, both season highs for the reserves.
The Clippers have an 8-6 mark against the spread this season, including a 3-4 spot at home. The over has hit in four of LA’s last five games and five of their last five home contests.
The Pick is In
Sacramento’s defense has been a significant liability for the Kings early on this season. They may not expect it to get any better Wednesday night against the Clippers.
The Kings should look better than they did last week against the Clippers, but LA is too talented on offense and defense to let the young Kings keep this one close.
The Pick: Los Angeles Clippers -10.5
