The Los Angeles Lakers and the Sacramento Kings face off on Tuesday for the second time in five nights. The Kings won the first meeting in overtime. Los Angeles is 11-11 this season, with Sacramento entering at 8-13 through 21 games. LeBron James (abdominal) and Avery Bradley (hand) are listed as questionable for the Lakers, with Trevor Ariza (ankle) and Kendrick Nunn (knee) ruled out. Harrison Barnes (foot) is listed as doubtful for the Kings, with Maurice Harkless (knee) listed as questionable.
Tipoff is at 10 p.m. ET in Sacramento. Caesars Sportsbook lists Los Angeles as the five-point road favorite, while the over-under, or total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, is 227 in the latest Lakers vs. Kings odds. Before making any Kings vs. Lakers picks, be sure to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s proven model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks over the past three-plus seasons. The model enters Week 7 of the 2021-22 NBA season up over $1,500 on all top-rated NBA picks this season. It’s also on a stunning 117-77 roll on top-rated NBA picks against the spread that dates back to last season. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Lakers vs. Kings. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Now, here are several NBA odds, betting lines and trends for Kings vs. Lakers:
- Lakers vs. Kings spread: Lakers -5
- Lakers vs. Kings over-under: 227 points
- Lakers vs. Kings money line: Lakers -210, Kings +175
- Los Angeles: The Lakers are 7-15 against the spread this season
- Sacramento: The Kings are 9-12 against the spread in 2021-22
Featured Game | Sacramento Kings vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Why the Lakers can cover
Los Angeles is potent on both sides of the floor. The Lakers rank in the top five of the NBA in free-throw attempts (22.0 per game) and fast-break points (15.6 per game), with top-10 marks in field-goal shooting (46 percent), assists (24.5 per game) and points in the paint (46.6 per game). Los Angeles is also facing a Sacramento defense that is scuffling.
The Kings are No. 27 in the NBA in defensive efficiency this season, with bottom-tier marks in free-throw prevention and defensive rebounding. On the other end, the Lakers are in the top five in turnover creation, forcing 16.0 giveaways per game. Los Angeles is in the top eight in steals (8.5 per game) and blocks (6.0 per game), and the Lakers are big and physical in the frontcourt.
Why the Kings can cover
Sacramento’s offense is strong, and the Kings have potential matchup advantages. Sacramento is No. 2 in the NBA in free-throw volume, attempting 23.2 shots per game at the charity stripe, and the Kings are No. 4 in points in the paint at 49.6 per game. Sacramento is a top-eight team in offensive rebound rate (28.3 percent) and second-chance points (14.4 per game), and the Kings avoid turnovers at an effective level, giving up the ball on only 13.8 percent of possessions.
The Lakers are No. 29 in the NBA in assists allowed, and the Kings should be able to move the ball effectively. On the opposite side, Sacramento is in the top 10 in fast-break prevention, allowing 11.8 points per game in transition, and the Lakers are No. 27 in turnovers on offense. If the game is close, the Kings could also have an edge at the free throw line, with the Lakers ranking just No. 25 in the NBA in free throw accuracy.
