The Sacramento Kings will try again to win their first game with Zach LaVine in the fold, as they go up against the Portland Trail Blazers for the third time this season. The season series between these teams is tied at 1-1. With that said, will the Kings trip up the red-hot Portland squad? Or, will the Blazers continue their winning days at the expense of Sacramento?

Catch this game live on Friday, February 7, 2025 at  11:00 AM, Manila time

Away: Sacramento Kings (25-25/12-12 Away)

Projected Starting Five:

  • Malik Monk
  • Zach LaVine 
  • DeMar DeRozan
  • Keegan Murray
  • Domantas Sabonis

Zach LaVine made his debut for the Kings on Thursday, and it was not exactly a memorable one, as Sacramento got ripped by the Orlando Magic in a 130-111 home loss. Although the Kings shot 50 percent from the field, they committed 17 turnovers. Interestingly, the new guy, LaVine, only had a turnover, while the rest of the starters combined for 13 TOs. With a game with LaVine in the books, the Kings could hope for better chemistry with him this Friday. Domantas Sabonis led the Kings in the Orlando game with 21 points, while DeMar DeRozan had 19. LaVine scored 13 points in his Kings debut but shot just 4-for-13 from the floor. 

After a hot start under the Doug Christie regime, the Kings have seemingly cooled off, having lost five of their last seven outings. However, Sacramento is 5-3 against the spread in its last eight meetings with the Blazers.

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Home: Portland Trail Blazers (22-29/14-13 Home)

Projected Starting Five:

  • Anfernee Simons
  • Toumani Camara
  • Deni Avdija
  • Jerami Grant
  • Deandre Ayton

It’s probably time to stop making Blazers jokes. They have been one of the best teams in the league since late January. Over their last 10 games, the Blazers have gone 9-1 straight up while beating the likes of the Magic, Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns. In their last game, the Blazers thrashed the Indiana Pacers in a 112-89 win at home on Wednesday. 

Deandre Ayton, Anfernee Simons, Deni Avdija have been huge of late for the Blazers. Although he scored just eight points against Indiana, Ayton has averaged 19.6 points, 12.3 boards and 2.1 assists in his last seven games. Scoot Henderson is also showing more promise, with the second-year guard putting up 15.0 points while shooting 40.0 percent from behind the arc in his three games. The Blazers also have a seemingly opportunistic defense, as they are seventh in the league with a 13.3 percent defensive turnover rate. That doesn’t sound good for a Kings team that is still trying to find its footing with LaVine in the picture.

Picks

Spread: Sacramento Kings (+1.5)

Over/Under: Over (229.0)

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