This will be the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings’ first of back-to-back battles against one another.

Catch the game tomorrow at 11:00 AM, Manila time.

AWAY: Los Angeles Lakers (14-12 AWAY)

Projected starting five:

  • D’Angelo Russell
  • Austin Reaves
  • Rui Hachimura
  • LeBron James
  • Anthony Davis

The Lakers are coming off a 116-110 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, wherein Anthony Davis was in his early top MVP candidate mode, pouring in 40 points and 16 rebounds on 15-of-22 shooting. However, it was only their fourth win in 12 games, compiling a terrible -9.1 point differential over that span (104.3 PPG, 113.4 PAPG). They have continued to trend down after that six-game winning streak in mid-November.

The ray of hope now is they have two wins over their last three games, and have also beaten the Kings last October 27th, 131-127. LeBron James had a game-high 32 points and also listed 14 rebounds and 10 assists to capture a solid triple-double, while Davis posted a complete line of 32 points, nine rebounds, two assists, three steals, and two blocks. Four more Lakers also reached double-digits, including D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves, who both notched 16, and Rui Hachimura, who chipped in 18. 

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HOME: Sacramento Kings (13-14 HOME)

Projected starting five:

  • De’Aaron Fox
  • Malik Monk
  • DeMar DeRozan
  • Keegan Murray (day-to-day)
  • Domantas Sabonis

The Kings saw their three-game winning streak come to an end on Tuesday as they lost in a crunch-time war against the Denver Nuggets, 130-129. It featured an entertaining back-and-forth late in the fourth quarter, and it’s one of those rare, demoralizing losses in a regular season game. It didn’t help that they have previously been defeated by the Lakers too.

Then again, the team has had a few days to rest and regroup, and they’ll be in front of their home crowd tomorrow, so maybe they’ll be more aggressive than before?

As per usual, we can expect De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, and DeMar DeRozan to take centerstage for Sac. The trio is averaging 20-plus points each, and have all previously given the Lakers fits. Sabonis, in particular, has only lost to Davis once in his nine-year NBA career.

The Kings are 5-5 in their last 10, averaging 120.6 PPG with a +5.5 point differential in that span.

PICKS:

Spread: Kings (-5)

Over/Under: Over (232)

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