The Lakers are going through the gauntlet of tough opponents to start the year, with the most recent match a 100-95 win over the Phoenix Suns on Thursday. On Friday night the Sacramento Kings hosted last year’s first playoff adversary, the Golden State Warriors, and lost 122-114.

Check the NBA odds as they develop.

Lakers vs. Kings NBA Betting Odds

The Kings experienced a surge of success last season, finally earning a playoff berth for the first time in years. As such, they handled the Lakers were relative ease, winning three of four. It should be noted that the quartet of encounters transpired before L.A.’s turnaround that saw them go on an impressive run deep into the postseason. Of note, the Lakers’ lone successful outing came on the road in Sacramento. The over connected thrice and the Kings covered three times as well.

It’s early days in the NBA regular season, so there isn’t a ton of spread data. For what it’s worth, the Lakers are 0-2 so far. They defeated the Suns by only five points when they were pegged as -6.5 favourites.

Sacramento has started its campaign against the spread slightly better with a 1-1 record. They demolished the Jazz in the opener and easily covered. That was followed up by Friday night’s game versus the Warriors for which they were favoured but decisively outclassed.

Los Angeles Lakers

Los Angeles’ chances of capturing a win in their home opener against the visiting Phoenix Suns were bolstered when it became clear that Devin Booker would sit out the contest. Even so, a determined fourth-quarter performance was required for the Lakers to pull out with a 100-95 victory.

Booker’s absence (and Bradley Beal’s to an extent) meant that Kevin Durant would do most of the heavy lifting and he was lights out. Lakers defenders rarely, if ever, perturbed the superstar sniper. KD tallied a 39-point night with no teammates coming close. He nearly pulled it off were it not for a final-period blitz by the Lakers. Anthony Davis and LeBron James combined for over 50 points, many of which came when the rubber hit the road. After looking like the second-best team on the hardwood floor for much of the night, the Lakers thumped the Suns 28-11 in the final quarter. D’Angelo Russell had a decent night (14 points), but it was his assists (five) that did more damage.

Despite that positive result, one has to consider that the Lakers needed LeBron to turn on King James mode in the final minutes to beat a weakened Suns outfit.

PF Jarred Vanderbilt (heel) is out.

Sacramento Kings

The stage was set for the upstart Sacramento Kings to exact a measure of revenge on the Golden State Warriors on Friday night. The latter ended Sacramento’s surprise season in the first round of the playoffs as a poor road team that stunned the Kings at home.

Some matchups simply don’t favour certain teams, and one wonders if the Sacramento Kings aren’t a good fit when Golden State. Just as they were thoroughly defeated in Game 7 at home last April, they were undone yet again with relative ease by Stephen Curry and company. Curry went off in the deciding playoff game and did so once more by scoring 41 points, many of which were dagger-style threes. As relatively well as the Kings shot (43.6 per cent), Golden State was shined brightest with 55.2. Ineptitude at the line didn’t help either, with Sacramento only going 20-for-29. De’Aaron Fox almost matched Curry with 39 points of his own and Domantas Sabonis was a decent 7-for-15 for 19 points. But the Kings couldn’t make the hero shots that the Warriors hit in their sleep.

PF Trey Lyles (calf) is day-to-day.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Lakers vs. Kings?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Lakers Team Leaders

LAL

Points	LeBron James 25.66
Assists	LeBron James 8.3
Rebounds	Anthony Davis 12.64
FG%	Jaxson Hayes 72
Steals	LeBron James 1.25
Blocks	Anthony Davis 2.34

SAC

Points	De'Aaron Fox 26.57
Assists	Domantas Sabonis 8.21
Rebounds	Domantas Sabonis 13.66
FG%	Jalen Slawson 66.7
Steals	De'Aaron Fox 2.03
Blocks	Keegan Murray 0.77

LAL

Points	Anthony Davis 27.8
Assists	LeBron James 8.8
Rebounds	Anthony Davis 15.6
FG%	Anthony Davis 63.4
Steals	LeBron James 2.4
Blocks	Anthony Davis 1.6

SAC

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Kings Team Leaders

LAL

Points	LeBron James 25.66
Assists	LeBron James 8.3
Rebounds	Anthony Davis 12.64
FG%	Jaxson Hayes 72
Steals	LeBron James 1.25
Blocks	Anthony Davis 2.34

SAC

Points	De'Aaron Fox 26.57
Assists	Domantas Sabonis 8.21
Rebounds	Domantas Sabonis 13.66
FG%	Jalen Slawson 66.7
Steals	De'Aaron Fox 2.03
Blocks	Keegan Murray 0.77

LAL

Points	Anthony Davis 27.8
Assists	LeBron James 8.8
Rebounds	Anthony Davis 15.6
FG%	Anthony Davis 63.4
Steals	LeBron James 2.4
Blocks	Anthony Davis 1.6

SAC

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

Injuries

L.A. Lakers

Cam Reddish (SF)

Out Mon Ankle - 16 / 04 / 24

Cam Reddish (SF)

Prob Wed Personal - 01 / 04 / 24

Gabe Vincent (SG)

Prob Wed Knee - 01 / 04 / 24

Jaxson Hayes (C)

Prob Tues Calf - 31 / 03 / 24

D'Angelo Russell (PG)

Prob Tues Illness - 24 / 03 / 24

Taurean Prince (SF)

Prob Sun Personal - 22 / 03 / 24

Jalen Hood-Schifino (PG)

Out indefinitely Back - 21 / 03 / 24

Cam Reddish (SF)

Prob Fri Ankle - 10 / 03 / 24

Cam Reddish (SF)

Prob Fri Ankle - 07 / 03 / 24

Cam Reddish (SF)

Ques Fri Ankle - 05 / 03 / 24

Sacramento

Olivier-Maxence Prosper (PF)

Que Wed Ankle - 25 / 04 / 24

Trey Lyles (PF)

Prob Sun Illness - 14 / 04 / 24

JaVale McGee (C)

Prob Fri Illness - 11 / 04 / 24

Jordan Ford (PG)

Prob Fri Hip - 10 / 04 / 24

Malik Monk (SG)

Mid May Knee - 29 / 03 / 24

Kevin Huerter (SG)

out for season Shoulder - 19 / 03 / 24

Kevin Huerter (SG)

Prob Sat Leg - 13 / 03 / 24

Trey Lyles (PF)

Prob Sun Knee - 13 / 03 / 24

Davion Mitchell (PG)

Prob Sun Chest - 09 / 03 / 24

De'Aaron Fox (PG)

Ques Mon Knee - 27 / 02 / 24

Injuries

L.A. Lakers

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Cam Reddish (SF)	Out Mon	Ankle - 16 / 04 / 24	3-2	2-3	+ -
Reddish is hampered by a right ankle sprain, and he will not suit up against the Nuggets in Game 5 of the Western Conference first round.
Cam Reddish (SF)	Prob Wed	Personal - 01 / 04 / 24	6-6	7-5	+ -
Reddish was absent from the last match while tending to a personal matter, but it is anticipated that he will dress for Wednesday's showdown versus the Wizards.
Gabe Vincent (SG)	Prob Wed	Knee - 01 / 04 / 24	6-6	7-5	+ -
Vincent missed the previous contest with a left knee injury, but it is not expected to impact his status against the Wizards on Wednesday.
Jaxson Hayes (C)	Prob Tues	Calf - 31 / 03 / 24	6-7	7-6	+ -
Hayes missed the last game with a left calf contusion, but it is anticipated that he will be active for Tuesday's clash with the Raptors.
D'Angelo Russell (PG)	Prob Tues	Illness - 24 / 03 / 24	9-8	10-7	+ -
Russell missed the last game ailing from an illness, but it is anticipated that he will take the court against the Bucks on Tuesday.
Taurean Prince (SF)	Prob Sun	Personal - 22 / 03 / 24	10-8	11-7	+ -
Prince missed the last contest due to a personal matter, but it is expected that he will suit up against the Pacers on Sunday.
Jalen Hood-Schifino (PG)	Out indefinitely	Back - 21 / 03 / 24	10-8	11-7	+ -
Hood-Schifino is idle after undergoing a lumbar microdiscectomy procedure, and the severity of the ailment is unknown.
Cam Reddish (SF)	Prob Fri	Ankle - 10 / 03 / 24	12-10	14-8	+ -
Reddish has been absent the previous four games due to a right ankle sprain, but it is anticipated that he will take the floor against the 76ers on Friday.
Cam Reddish (SF)	Prob Fri	Ankle - 07 / 03 / 24	13-11	15-9	+ -
Reddish is expected to lace up for Friday's matchup with the Bucks despite a right ankle sprain.
Cam Reddish (SF)	Ques Fri	Ankle - 05 / 03 / 24	13-12	16-9	+ -
Reddish missed the last game nursing a right ankle sprain, and it is yet to be determined if he will take the court Friday against the Bucks.

Sacramento

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Olivier-Maxence Prosper (PF)	Que Wed	Ankle - 25 / 04 / 24	0-0	0-0	+ -
Prosper is nursing an ankle sprain, and it remains to be seen if he will face the Celtics in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.
Trey Lyles (PF)	Prob Sun	Illness - 14 / 04 / 24	2-0	0-2	+ -
Lyles is battling an illness, but it is likely that he will participate in Sunday's matchup versus the Trail Blazers.
JaVale McGee (C)	Prob Fri	Illness - 11 / 04 / 24	2-2	1-3	+ -
McGee missed the last game with an illness, but it is predicted that he will be available Friday against the Suns.
Jordan Ford (PG)	Prob Fri	Hip - 10 / 04 / 24	2-2	1-3	+ -
Ford was held from the last match tending to a right hip issue, but it is predicted that he will face the Suns on Friday.
Malik Monk (SG)	Mid May	Knee - 29 / 03 / 24	6-5	3-8	+ -
Monk is sidelined due to a sprained right MCL, and he is projected to miss four to six weeks.
Kevin Huerter (SG)	out for season	Shoulder - 19 / 03 / 24	9-8	4-13	+ -
Huerter will miss the remainder of the season with a left shoulder dislocation and labral tear.
Kevin Huerter (SG)	Prob Sat	Leg - 13 / 03 / 24	11-9	4-16	+ -
Huerter missed the previous match with a right leg contusion, but it is likely that he will take the court against the Knicks on Saturday.
Trey Lyles (PF)	Prob Sun	Knee - 13 / 03 / 24	11-9	4-16	+ -
Lyles has been idle due to a left MCL sprain, but he is expected to make his return against the Jazz on Sunday.
Davion Mitchell (PG)	Prob Sun	Chest - 09 / 03 / 24	11-10	5-16	+ -
Mitchell is hampered by right chest soreness, but he is expected to face the Rockets in Sunday's showdown.
De'Aaron Fox (PG)	Ques Mon	Knee - 27 / 02 / 24	14-13	8-19	+ -
Fox has missed the last two games with a left knee contusion, and it is unknown if he will take the court Monday against the Bulls.