The Sacramento Kings (26-55) and Houston Rockets (65-16) will battle at Golden 1 Center to begin Western Conference play. Tip-off is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, April 11, 2018, and it can be seen on ATTSN Southwest.
Houston Rockets at Sacramento Kings ATS Preview
The Rockets beat the Los Angeles Lakers in their last contest, 105-99. With 21 points and 10 assists, Houston’s James Harden played well. The Rockets knocked down 15 of their 16 free throws (93.8 percent) and had a better effective field goal percentage (0.511 vs. 0.478).
In the Kings’ last game, they were defeated by the San Antonio Spurs, 98-85. Willie Cauley-Stein was the game’s leading scorer with 25 points on 10-for-20 shooting. San Antonio did a great job of making free throws (24-29; 82.8 percent). Sacramento, meanwhile, had a better offensive rebounding percentage (26.1 vs. 25.0).
Getting to the line might be hard to find for Sacramento in this showdown. The Kings rank 30th in the NBA with a free throw attempt (FTA) rate of 0.142, while Houston ranks fourth in FTA rate allowed (0.171). Also, the Rockets’ top-ranked offense (offensive efficiency of 113.3) will go head-to-head against the Kings’ 28th-ranked defense (defensive efficiency of 110.0).
Of Houston’s 80 games with betting action, 45 have finished under the O/U total, while 41 of Sacramento’s 81 games have finished under the projected point total. The Rockets have the significant advantage straight up (SU) (65-16 vs. 26-55) and a narrow edge against the spread (ATS) (41-37-2 vs. 38-40-3).
Cauley-Stein has really been playing well over the last five games for Sacramento, averaging 15.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game.
These two teams have already met twice this season, with the Rockets winning both. Harden scored a game-high 28 points in the most recent game, in which the Rockets defeated the Kings 100-91 but could not cover as 15-point favorites. He also had nine rebounds and nine assists. The two teams combined to put up 191 points, which was 23.5 points below the projected point total of 214.5 points. Houston did a fantastic job of making free throws (20-22; 90.9 percent). Sacramento, meanwhile, had a better offensive rebounding percentage (18.0 vs. 15.2).
Houston Rockets vs. Sacramento Kings Prediction
Free NBA Pick: SU Winner – Rockets, ATS Winner – Rockets, O/U – Under
Betting Notes:
- The Rockets rank fifth in steals per game (8.6) while the Kings rank 16th in steals allowed per game (7.8).
- Houston ranks 23rd in assists per game (21.7) while Sacramento ranks 25th (21.6).
- Houston averages 17.4 points off turnovers per game, which ranks sixth in the league. Sacramento ranks 12th in points off turnovers allowed per game (15.7).
- Houston is 24-14-1 ATS on the road with 23 unders, 15 overs and 1 push.
- At home, Sacramento is 18-22 ATS with 20 overs and 20 unders.
- When holding opponents below 100 points, Houston is 32-2 and Sacramento is 17-7.
- When reaching 100 points, the Kings are 17-21 and the Rockets are 62-12.
- The Rockets rank 16th in fast break points per game (11.4) while the Kings rank 18th in fast break points allowed per game (12.3).
- Houston ranks first in three pointers attempted per game (42.3) while Sacramento ranks 28th (24.0).
- The Kings rank fifth in points allowed in the paint per game (42.4) while the Rockets rank 27th (48.0).
- Houston ranks fourth in rebounds allowed per game (42.0) while Sacramento ranks 19th (43.8).
Bettings Trends:
- Sacramento is 2-3 ATS with 5 unders in their last five games.
- Over their last five games, Houston is 1-4 ATS with 4 unders and 1 over.
- The Kings’ average margin of defeat in their last five games has been 6.0, down from 7.2 for the season.
- During their last five games, the Rockets have scored an average of 101.2 points per game (11.5 below their season average) and allowed an average of 101.0 points per game (3.0 below their season average).
