The Sacramento Kings have bad intentions this Wednesday when they take on the Los Angeles Lakers for the third time this season. The Lakers, meanwhile, surely have zero plans of getting embarrassed by the Kings. More about this Pacific division rivalry matchup below.
Catch this game live on Wednesday, January 5, at 11:30 AM, Manila time
Away: Sacramento Kings (16-22/6-10 on the road)
Projected Starting Five:
- PG: De’Aaron Fox
- SG: Tyrese Haliburton
- SF: Moe Harkless
- PF: Harrison Barnes
- C: Tristan Thompson
The Kings got back on track with a 115-113 home win over the Miami Heat last Monday to recover from a 112-96 defeat in Sacramento at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks. Sacramento is now 3-1 in its last four games, during which the Kings have also covered the spread three times. Buddy Hield showed the way for the Kings in the Heat game, as he came off the bench and fired 26 points with seven triples. De’Aaron Fox, meanwhile, led the starters with 24 points, six assists, six rebounds, and two steals.
The two were massive thorns in the side of the Lakers in Sacramento’s 141-137 triple-overtime win in Hollywood last November. Fox dropped 34 points while Hield added 25 points to help the Kings thwart Los Angeles. Sacramento’s depth will play a crucial role against the Lakers. The Kings are third in the league in bench points per game (39.3) and fifth with 17.3 rebounds per contest. Sacramento has covered the spread in its last four road games against the Lakers.
Home: Los Angeles Lakers (19-19/12-10 at home)
Projected Starting Five:
- PG: Russell Westbrook
- SG: Malik Monk
- SF: Avery Bradley
- PF: LeBron James
- C: Dwight Howard
The Lakers are picking up some steam after a horrendous stretch that saw the Purple & Gold lose five games in a row. They are 2-o in their last two games, with wins against the Portland Trail Blazers (139-106) and versus the Minnesota Timberwolves (108-103) both at home. LeBron James is doing an admirable job of defying Father Time, as he has averaged 35.4 points on 55.5 FG%, 10.6 rebounds, and 6.8 assists in the last five Lakers games. Another factor that’s made it a lot harder for opposing teams to contain the 37-year-old James is his accuracy from behind the arc.
During that same five-game span, the four-time NBA MVP has made 4.4 threes per game on 46.8 3FG%. He was not around, though, when the Lakers beat the Kings on the road in December 117-92, due to the NBA’s health and safety protocol. This will be the Lakers’ first meeting with Sacrament this season without Anthony Davis, so James will be looking to get ample support from the likes of Russell Westbrook and Malik Monk. Westbrook has averaged 26.0 points in the past two games against Sacramento. The Lakers enter Wednesday’s game with a 3-1 ATS slate in their past four games.
PREDICTIONS:
Spread:
The Lakers are going to get the better of Sacramento this time, but the Kings’ depth will cause problems for LA. Leaning on a Kings (+7.5) cover here.
Over/Under:
The Lakers’ defense hasn’t been elite this season, and neither is Sacramento’s. Both teams can score, though. Expecting the total to hit the Over (228.5) in this game.
