It’s time for the final tune-ups of the NBA preseason. Neither the Los Angeles Lakers nor the Sacramento Kings are having a fun time in exhibition action. The two Pacific Division rivals have a combined 1-7 record so far, and have dealt with notable injuries. Friday’s game will give at least one of the teams a good feeling going into the regular season openers next week.
The Lakers are 6.5-point favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook. They’re priced at -265 on the moneyline, while the Kings are +215 underdogs. The total for this game is set at 227.5 points. Let’s get into my preview, prediction and pick for this Lakers vs. Kings preseason game.
Lakers vs. Kings prediction, preview
The injury list is piling up for the Kings. Domantas Sabonis will be out of this game after straining his hamstring early in the preseason. Malik Monk will be joining him in street clothes due to an illness. Keegan Murray is also out, nursing a thumb injury. Thankfully, he has a giant pile of money to rest on.
DeMar DeRozan is expected to play through groin soreness tonight, meaning the Kings will have DeRozan and Zach LaVine to lean on. Going full 2020s Bulls mode is generally not advisable, but it’s what they have tonight.
Los Angeles’ injury report is clean unless you’re named James. LeBron James will be out with sciatica, which is expected to sideline him for a few weeks. His son, Bronny James, will be out with an ankle sprain. Otherwise, the main rotation players have a clean bill of health. That means it’s the Luka Doncic show all night.
Lakers vs. Kings pick, best bet
I have my questions about the Lakers’ rotation and their overall upside. But against a depleted Kings team, Doncic and a solid cadre of role players are more than enough to finish the preseason on a strong note. If you have to navigate life without LeBron James, having Doncic ready to step up makes things easier.
