Pacific Division foes will clash when the Sacramento Kings (18-40) take on the Los Angeles Lakers (24-34) at Golden 1 Center. Sacramento opened as a 1-point favorite, while the games Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 220 points. Action gets underway at 10 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 24, 2018, and it can be seen on NBC Sports – California.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Sacramento Kings Betting Preview
In the Lakers last contest, they dismantled the Dallas Mavericks, 124-102. With 18 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists, Julius Randle led the way for Los Angeles with his zeroth triple-double of the year. Los Angeles dominated nearly every stat category in the game. They had a ridiculous offensive rebounding percentage of 33.3 (above their season average of 24.2) and a free throw rate of 0.161 (below their season average of 0.181). Dallas put up marks of 5.8 and 0.099, respectively, for those same stats.
The Kings are trying to rebound after their 110-107 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in their last game. Zach Randolph was the top scorer from either team with 29 points on 12-for-23 shooting. Oklahoma City did a terrific job of making free throws (20-24; 83.3 percent). Sacramento, on the other hand, had a better turnover percentage (8.4 vs. 10.2).
It will be a showdown of conflicting styles as the up-tempo Lakers (ranked first in the league in possessions per game) will look to push the more grind-it-out Kings (25th in possessions per game).
Of Los Angeles 57 games that accepted bets, 30 have finished over the O/U total, while 31 of Sacramento’s 58 games have finished over the projected point total. Looking at straight up (SU) and against the spread (ATS) records, the Lakers have a sizable advantage. They are 24-34 SU and 30-27 ATS, while the Kings are 18-40 SU and 26-29-3 ATS.
Randle has been excellent as of late for Los Angeles, averaging 21.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists over the last five games.
These two teams have met twice already this year, each winning once. Randle scored a game-high 22 points in the most recent matchup, in which the Lakers defeated the Kings 99-86, covering as 8-point favorites. He also put up 14 rebounds and six assists. The two teams combined for 185 points, which was 28 points below the projected point total of 213 points. Los Angeles 0.558 effective field goal percentage was its largest strength over Sacramento, who had a rate of 0.391.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Sacramento Kings Free Prediction
Pick: SU Winner – Lakers, ATS Winner – Lakers, O/U – Over
Betting Notes:
- The Lakers rank second in fast break points per game (17.3) while the Kings rank 22nd (9.7).
- Los Angeles ranks seventh in assists per game (23.6) while Sacramento ranks 22nd in assists allowed per game (24.2).
- Sacramento ranks 12th in points off turnovers allowed per game (15.8) while Los Angeles ranks 29th (19.2).
- Los Angeles averages 27.8 three pointers per game, which ranks 19th in the NBA. Sacramento ranks 29th in three pointers allowed per game (31.9).
- Sacramento is 11-15 ATS at home, while Los Angeles is 14-15 ATS on the road.
- The total has gone over in 15 of the Lakers 29 road games, while 15 of the Kings 26 home games have gone over.
- Sacramento is 11-4 when they allow below 100 points, while Los Angeles is 11-3.
- In games where they reach the century mark, the Lakers are 21-21 and the Kings are 13-15.
- The Kings rank 11th in blocks allowed per game (4.6) while the Lakers rank 27th (5.7).
- Los Angeles ranks second in rebounds per game (46.5) while Sacramento ranks 28th (40.4).
- The Kings rank sixth in points allowed in the paint per game (42.3) while the Lakers rank 28th (48.6).
- The Lakers rank 10th in steals per game (8.1) while the Kings rank 21st in steals allowed per game (8.1).
- Sacramento ranks sixth in second chance points allowed per game (11.3) while Los Angeles ranks 27th (13.7).
Betting Trends:
- Sacramento is 4-1 ATS with 4 overs and 1 under in their last five games.
- Over their last five games, Los Angeles is 3-2 ATS with 3 overs and 2 unders.
- The Kings average margin of defeat in their last five games has been 6.0, down from 7.9 for the season.
- During their last five games, the Lakers have scored an average of 116.2 points per game (8.6 above their season average) and allowed an average of 114.2 points per game (4.1 above their season average).
