The Sacramento Kings will look to build on a recent big win against a heavyweight, while the Golden State Warriors try to sustain their dominance over their Pacific Division rival. Will the Kings score a royal upset Friday? Or, will the Warriors go 3-0 this season versus Sacramento?
Catch this game live on Friday, February 4, at 11 AM, Manila time.
Away: Sacramento Kings (19-34)/6-18 on the road)
Projected Starting Five:
- PG: De’Aaron Fox (questionable)
- SG: Tyrese Haliburton
- SF: Moe Harkless
- PF: Harrison Barnes
- C: Richaun Holmes
How about those Kings? Sacramento ended a winless drought by scoring a 112-101 upset victory at home over the Brooklyn Nets Thursday. Prior to that, the Kings lost seven games in a row, so their success versus Brooklyn is a big boost to the team’s morale. That’s extra important for the Kings heading into the matchup against Golden State, whom they have yet to beat this season. Sacramento also defeated the Nets without De’Aaron Fox, who’s now missed six consecutive games because of an ankle problem. He is questionable to play Friday, and if he can’t go, Tyrese Haliburton and Davion Mitchell will be the starting duo likely for the Sacramento.
Defensively, the Kings will look to contain Curry again. Curry has shot just 44 FG% and 29.6 3FG% this season when up against the Kings, so Sacramento’s defense must be doing something right at least in terms of slowing down history’s greatest shooter. The Kings have also been tremendously successful covering the spread in their past several visits to the Bay Area. In fact, the Kings are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games as the road team against Golden State, dating back to 2017.
Home: Golden State Warriors (39-13/24-4 at home)
Projected Starting Five:
- PG: Stephen Curry
- SG: Klay Thompson
- SF: Andrew Wiggins
- PF: Jonathan Kuminga
- C: Kevon Looney
It’s going to be a tough ask for Sacramento to stop the rampaging Warriors. After defeating the San Antonio Spurs last Wednesday, 124-120, the Warriors are now sailing with a seven-game unbeaten streak. And they pulled that win off without the help of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Andrew Wiggins, who all sat out the meeting with San Antonio, mostly for rest purposes.
Except for Green, whose back issue will keep him out beyond the All-Star break, all those players are expected to take the floor Friday against a team the Warriors have defeated already twice this season. The Warriors beat Sacramento on the road last October (119-107) and then again last December at home (113-98) in December, covering the spread in both games and shot 48.1 FG% and 37.8 3FG%. Expect the Warriors to have their way again on offense versus a Sacrament team that’s among the worst in the NBA defensively. The Warriors are 4-1-1 ATS in their last six games overall.
PREDICTIONS:
Spread: The Kings get a dose of reality, as they lose to Golden State. Sacramento keeps the game tight early, but the Warriors break away in the third and controls the contest the rest of the way for a win and cover (-13.0)
Over/Under: The total hits the Under (221.5) as the Kings lose steam in the second half, as the Warriors take over and slows the pace down.
