Toronto Raptors vs. Sacramento Kings Prediction, NBA Odds
The Kings, also in the second of a B2B, are 4.5-point underdogs on the NBA odds with a total of 223.5.
Raptors vs. Kings NBA Betting Odds
The Sacramento Kings are one of the worst-run franchises in the major North American professional leagues, and that has been the case for several years. The Kings have such loyal fans who fill the building every night, but the team has made the playoffs just once since 2006. It looked like things might be trending up with 46 wins in 2023-24, but it has only gone back downhill since with former Kings guard Doug Christie running the show on the bench.
For some reason, the front office thought it would be smart to add overpriced veterans like Russell Westbrook, Zach LaVine and former Raptor DeMar DeRozan in an effort to be competitive. Terrible idea. Pretty much anyone on the team is available for trade, including All-Star big man Domantas Sabonis, who would bring the biggest haul back. Another former Raptor, big man Precious Achiuwa, is having a solid season and also could be moved.
Wednesday marks the first of two meetings between these teams with the Kings at Scotiabank Arena on April 1st, long past when they will have been eliminated from post-season contention. They split last season, each winning at home. DeRozan averaged 30.0 points in the two vs. his former club, and Sabonis 17.0 points, 15.5 rebounds and 11.5 assists.
The teams have split the past 10 overall both SU and ATS, while the over-under is 6-4.
Toronto Raptors
On Tuesday at Golden State, the Raptors were without the injured RJ Barrett, Jakob Poeltl, Ja’Kobe Walter and rookie Collin Murray-Boyles and they still dominated the Warriors in San Francisco, 145-127, to improve to 1-1 on this five-game trip through the West. The Dubs were a little flat after learning that All-Star guard Jimmy Butler had been lost for the season the game before due to injury. It’s hard to know about all those Raptors guys for tonight as the team isn’t required to have an early injury report in the second of a back-to-back. Poeltl seems unlikely. In the 23 games Barrett has played, the team is 16-7 compared to 10-12 without. There’s also the possibility of guys who played Tuesday sitting tonight like perhaps Immanuel Quickley, who threw up a career-high-tying 40 points in the victory on 11-for-13 from the field while adding 40 assists in Toronto’s highest-scoring game this season. Quickley recently missed a couple of games with back spasms, so the team could play it cautious. Toronto is 3-12 ATS in its past 15 vs. the West.
Sacramento Kings
It’s also the second of a back-to-back for the Kings, who conclude a seven-game homestand tonight. They are 4-2 on it following Tuesday’s 130-117 loss to Miami. Sacramento shot 51 per cent from the field but allowed the Heat to hit 50 per cent from deep. The Kings were sixth in the NBA with a 112.0 defensive rating over the previous five games, but Tuesday they looked like the club that ranks 27th on the season in defensive rating at 119.0. Star guard Zach LaVine played only five minutes in the third quarter and two minutes in the fourth, but coach Doug Christie pointed to defence as why. Not sure LaVine will take that well. All-Star big man Domantas Sabonis came off the bench a third game in a row since returning from a knee injury that caused him to miss 27 games and was limited to 17 minutes. I don’t rule him and LaVine sitting out tonight. This is really a game you can’t wager until at least mid-afternoon when the injury report is released. Former No. 4 overall pick Keegan Murray (14.6 PPG, 6.1 RPG) has been out Jan. 4 due to an ankle injury and not back tonight. The Kings are 4-2 ATS in their past six.
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