THE Los Angeles Lakers and the Sacramento Kings face off for the third time this season as Sacramento makes a quick trip to Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday, March 6 before beginning their six-game home stretch.
The visitors have gotten the better of the Lakers in both meetings this season and will hope to close out the series before facing off again at the Golden 1 Center on March 13. Los Angeles comes into the game after a well-deserved 116-104 victory. against the OKC Thunder, while the Kings were humiliated 113-109 by the Chicago Bulls.
The Purple and Gold lead head-to-head 281-166 in 447 regular season games. However, like the Denver Nuggets, who LeBron JamesAdmittedly, having “their number,” Sacramento seems to be on the same page, leading the Lakers 4-1 in their last five meetings.
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Sacramento Kings vs LA Lakers preview, betting tips, odds and predictions
The game will be broadcast live on NBC and can be streamed live on Fubo TV. Tipoff is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET. The clash of the Pacific division rivals can also be watched using NBA League Pass.
Money line: Kings +142, Lakers -168
Spread: Kings +3.5 (-110), Lakers -3.5 (-110)
Total (including): Kings o239.5 (-105), Lakers u239.5 (-110)
Editor’s note: Odds may change as the game approaches. The odds mentioned above were consistent with information available at the time of writing.
Sacramento Kings vs. LA Lakers Preview
The Kings are one of the teams that have regularly upset the Lakers despite the latter’s significant size advantage.
Ranked seventh in a ruthless West, the visitors find themselves in play-in alongside LA, ninth. Both teams have 34 wins this season, so the matchup is of paramount importance, especially for Los Angeles. THE Defeat of the Dallas Mavericks against the Indiana Pacers earlier makes this matchup more intriguing.
Although the Kings present themselves as an undersized team, they have a staff that may be more than a handful. This is one of those games where individual player battles could make a huge difference. The tastes of De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk have already stolen wins from Los Angeles, and a lot will depend on the backcourt of Austin Reaves and D’Angelo Russell to fend off Sacramento’s threat.
This season, the Kings are 14th in the NBA in adjusted offensive efficiency (117.3 points) and 21st in adjusted defensive efficiency (117.1). The Lakers, for their part, have 115.3 points (18th in the championship) and are 17th defensively, in the absence of Jared Vanderbilt playing a major role in this drop in rating.
Another key 1v1 that draws attention is the Battle of the Bigs. Domantas Sabonis has been on a tear for Sacramento this season, averaging 19.9 points and 13.4 rebounds.
He has worked his way into the Top 10 players in the running for MVP. Add to that the rumors that the Lithuanian should have made a case for the All-Star reserves, the pressure will be on. Anthony Davis to show why he was the right choice. Davis is also in the running for DPOY this year, so the matchup between the two could be spicier.
Moving on to the injured list, Sacramento will be without Sasha Vezenkov (sprained right ankle). LA, meanwhile, has the usual names on the report, with Anthony Davis (bilateral Achilles tendinopathy) and Cam Reddish (right ankle sprain) being probable.
LeBron James is questionable with left ankle peroneal tendinopathy. Vanderbilt (right foot soreness), Gabe Vincent (left knee surgery), Collin Castleton (fractured right wrist) and reserve big man Christian Wood (left knee effusion) are ruled out.
Sacramento Kings vs LA Lakers: Predicted starting lineups
Composition of kings
PG – De’Aaron FoxSG – Kevin HuerterSF -Keegan MurrayPF -Harrison Barnes, and VS -Domantas Sabonis
Lakers Roster
PG – D’Angelo Russell, SG -Austin Reaves, SF -James LeBron, PF – Rui Hachimura, and VS -Anthony Davis
Sacramento Kings vs LA Lakers predictions
James is the player to watch as he enters the competition with an o/u of 26.5. The veteran forward is averaging 25.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game.
Fox, meanwhile, has been the Kings’ offensive presence with his playmaking, averaging 26.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 5.7 assists. He is 47.2% from the floor and 36.8% from 3-point land. The guard enters the game with an o/u of 25.5 and is probably the most profitable bet.
Sacramento Kings vs. LA Lakers: Prediction
LA is in better shape than the Kings, whose erratic defense has been a scourge.
The LA starters are in good shape. If D’Angelo Russell continues his shooting streak from beyond the arc, the Lakers will have the advantage if they contain the Kings trio of Fox, Murray and Sabonis. Take the hosts to a home win.
