The Sacramento Kings head south to take on the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night. They faced a total collapse and blew a big lead in Chicago. The Kings led by 22 points and despite the efforts of De’Aaron Fox, who recorded an impressive double-double with 20 points and 10 assists, the Kings were unable to overcome their limitations late in the game. With a 34-26 record this season, the Kings currently occupy 7th place in the very competitive Western Conference. Meanwhile, their Los Angeles counterparts, the Lakers, are taking a similar path in the standings with a 34-29 record. D’Angelo Russell shined in the Lakers’ recent outing, scoring 26 points with his shooting from beyond the arc with a 5-11 performance from three-point land.
It’s the third time this season and the Kings have a 2-0 advantage over LeBron and the Lakers.
The head is heavy
Domantas Sabonis’ remarkable 43rd straight double-double wasn’t enough as the Sacramento Kings faced a bitter ending at the hands of the Chicago Bulls, losing 113-109 Monday night at Golden 1 Center. The Kings, who led by 22 points, collapsed late in the game and remained scoreless in the last two minutes. The return of De’Aaron Fox to the lineup, after a two-game absence due to left knee soreness, was not enough to secure the victory against the non-conference visitor. Fox chipped in with 20 points and 10 assists, but committed a crucial turnover in the final moments, contributing to the Kings’ collapse. Sabonis, with 18 points and 20 rebounds, fouled out in the fourth quarter as Sacramento hesitated. The Kings’ late-game struggles leave them on a somber note heading into their off day, with back-to-back matchups against LeBron’s Lakers and Wemby’s Spurs later in the week.
Fox’s return demonstrated its impact on Sacramento’s offense, leading a 25-7 run to end the first quarter. The Kings point guard showed off his offensive firepower, shooting 8 of 16 from the field, but had his hands full defending the Bulls’ dynamic duo of Coby White and DeMar DeRozan, who combined for an impressive 70 points . The Kings showed their ability to win without Fox in a recent overtime win over the Timberwolves, but it’s clear they operate with greater efficiency with their star guard on the court, obviously, right. not ? Additionally, Sabonis, despite a slow start, held his own against the Bulls and Nikola Vucevic, showing off his defensive prowess and contributing to the domination of the Kings bench, who held a significant 38-11 advantage over the Bulls. Cold nights are coming, but they can’t happen against LeBron James’ Lakers as the Kings travel across Golden State to Los Angeles.
Defense wins games
The Lakers continued their trend of improving defense against the Oklahoma City Thunder, particularly in the stifling read-and-react and drive-and-kick attacks, thanks to a stout backline led by an Anthony Davis in good health (for the moment). Despite the Thunder’s efforts to maintain good spacing, the Lakers’ ability to limit scoring opportunities makes this an ideal first-round matchup for Los Angeles, which appears primed for the No. 8 seed. D’Angelo Russell, recognizing the challenge posed by the Lakers, emphasized the need to remain vigilant, saying, “You can’t relax. I think they’re number one, right? Yeah, so I mean, you gotta be ready to play against these guys. This is no fluke.” With a strong performance against top teams throughout the season, except for challenges against Denver, the Lakers, as well as other potential lower seeds like Dallas and Phoenix , present an imminent threat to the top seeds in the Western Conference.
Still in Los Angeles, Spencer Dinwiddie is having trouble acclimatizing to his new team. Coach Darvin Ham offered his advice to the 30-year-old goalkeeper, emphasizing the importance of aggression in his game. Ham revealed in a recent interview with the OC Registry“I basically told him to be aggressive and let us find a solution around you. So many times he gets into the paint looking for the right pass or the right play for his teammates to make, which is a good thing. But a lot of times, probably 90 percent of the time, the defense will tell you what to do with the ball once you penetrate.” Ham urged Dinwiddie to take a more assertive approach, putting forward a play specific that showed the desired aggressiveness. Despite Dinwiddie’s initial struggles, Ham believes he is progressing in the right direction, with Wednesday’s performance a significant step forward. In eight games with the Lakers, Dinwiddie averaged 5 .5 points, 36.4% shooting and 3.6 assists in 23.8 minutes per game.
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Best Bets
Full Game Side Bet
Rating:
Taking the Sacramento Kings at +2.5 seems like a promising bet. The Kings have been consistently strong against the spread on the road this season, with an impressive 19-13-1 record. Additionally, the Los Angeles Lakers have struggled to meet oddsmakers’ expectations with a 28-35 ATS record for the season. With De’Aaron Fox back in the lineup and healthy, the Kings’ offense gains a significant boost, and the presence of reliable Domantas Sabonis adds another offensive threat. After a recent disappointing collapse against the Chicago Bulls, the Kings will likely enter this game with a strong desire to bounce back. Given their performance on the road and the Lakers’ inconsistency against the spread, the Kings at +2.5 appear poised to not only cover, but potentially secure an outright victory on their road trip. ‘a day in the south.
Prediction: Sacramento Kings +2.5
Total choice of the complete game
Rating:
The Kings have been on a tear in scoring, reaching the Over with a 9-4-1 rate since February 1, 2024. Likewise, the Los Angeles Lakers have been involved in some high-scoring affairs this season, with an O/U Record of 33-29-1. With both teams having a day off and the majority of their major players healthy, conditions are favorable for a shootout in Los Angeles. The Kings’ short travel distance, just 91 minutes of flying along the coast, minimizes the impact of fatigue. Additionally, both teams’ productive benches, with standout players like Malik Monk and Taurean Prince, add depth to the scoring potential. Considering these factors, the Over 238.5 seems to be the ideal choice.
Prediction: Over 238.5
