9:35 pm
December 30

Kings @ Lakers

Who will WIN this matchup?

Sacramento Kings (19-16)

@ Los Angeles Lakers (20-16)

 

Current odds:

Sacramento Kings: (+110)

Los Angeles Lakers: (-130)

 

• The line for this game is Lakers by 2 points.

• After a resounding Christmas Day win over the defending champs, the Los Angeles Lakers have hit the skids without their superstar leader. LeBron James is still considered day-to-day as the Lakers prepare to host the Sacramento Kings, who delivered one of Los Angeles’ two James-less losses, on Sunday. The four-time MVP strained his groin during the 127-101 win over the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday and missed the one-point loss on a buzzer beater at Sacramento on Thursday and the 118-107 setback against the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday.

• The Kings have enjoyed some time off since Bogdan Bogdanovic’s game-winning 3-pointer lifted them to the 117-116 win over the Lakers. They play seven of their next eight at home after the visit to the Staples Center.

• Bogdanovic’s dramatic 3-pointer capped a 23-point effort in 30 minutes off the bench for Sacramento, which trailed the Lakers by 15 midway through the fourth. “We keep things interesting,” coach Dave Joerger told reporters. “We scrambled around and got loose balls and were able to get out in transition. Heck of a win.” The victory came with leading scorer Buddy Hield being held to six points on 2-of-8 shooting and with standout rookie forward Marvin Bagley III still sidelined with a knee issue that will keep him out for at least another two weeks.

• Los Angeles has blown double-digit leads in the second half of both losses, allowing a total of 69 fourth-quarter points during the slide as the team struggles without James in the stretch run. “A lot of us ran out of gas right there,” forward Kyle Kuzma told reporters after Friday’s loss. “When we’re tired physically, our mental aspect has to be better.” Kuzma has shouldered the load while averaging 28.5 points in the two losses but he’s just 2-for-15 from 3-point range in that span.

• James’ teams have lost 13 in a row when he’s been out of the lineup.

• Lakers PG Rajon Rondo will miss roughly a month following hand surgery.

•  Kings PG De’Aaron Fox is averaging 19 points, 10.4 assists and 2.6 steals over his last five games.

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Sacramento Kings
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