The final game of Tuesday’s NBA slate tips off late at 11 p.m. EST, but there’s talent aplenty to check out as the Denver Nuggets take on the Sacramento Kings. Multi-time MVP Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray duel another Euro big in Domantas Sabonis and star scorers Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, so the point total in this one may just get out of hand. Is this the most bet-worthy game on the schedule? Maybe!
Find out with a Nuggets vs. Kings prediction and pick on DraftKings Sportsbook for Tuesday’s nightcap.
Nuggets vs. Kings prediction, preview
Through the first few weeks of the season, the Nuggets are 7-2 near the top of the Western Conference while the Kings are lagging behind at 3-7. One of these teams is an early frontrunner to compete for a championship, but the other feels nowhere near even the postseason stratosphere.
Denver’s roster is headlined by Nikola Jokic, who once more averages a triple-double with 25.2 PPG along with a league-high 13.0 REB and 11.9 AST. He’s posting incredible stat lines on a nightly basis, but what’s new? Jamal Murray contributes 22.8 PPG and 5.6 AST, but the growth as a scorer from Aaron Gordon is also intriguing as he sits with a career-best 20.1 PPG through eight appearances. Rounding out the starting five are Christian Braun and Cameron Johnson, neither of whom have found their rhythm from deep range yet. However, both are quite capable shooters at their peaks and should see their production normalize with time. Plus, the Nuggets are deep — Tim Hardaway Jr. Jonas Valanciunas, Peyton Watson and Bruce Brown are all productive players off the bench. Denver ranks third in TS% and second in NETRTG, so this team sits among the elite at the moment and will likely remain near the top barring catastrophe.
The Kings aren’t enjoying the same success. At 3-7, they’re floundering in a tough conference and struggling to find their stride. The good news is that Domantas Sabonis (rib) will play tonight, bringing his 15.0 PPG and 14.0 REB in an important spot against another dominant big man. DeMar DeRozan averages 20.8 PPG and is shooting 50.0% from the field as well as 43.5% from three-point range, and Zach LaVine paces the roster with 25.2 PPPG on even better efficiency. Russell Westbrook, Malik Monk, and Dennis Schroder have all filled key roles as well, but consistency in the starting lineup has been difficult to find thus far. Players have shuffled in and out, leading to very little continuity and rhythm. Look no further than the NETRTG which falls 26th in the league. If the shots aren’t falling — and they’re not right now at 19th in TS% — the Kings don’t have the defense to hang in there.
Nuggets vs. Kings pick, best bet
On DraftKings Sportsbook, the Nuggets are -8.5 favorites on the road with -345 odds to win on the Moneyline. The Kings are a +275 underdog to win outright with a game total of 243.5.
The duel between Jokic and Sabonis should be quite fun — it typically is when these two post-up giants square off. The latter will have to elevate his scoring tonight if Sacramento keeps this game close though. His 15.3 PPG are the lowest of his career since the 2018-19 campaign as his shooting numbers falter to 47.7% from the field and a career-worst 15.4% from three-point range. Now, Sabonis has never worked as a sniper and hasn’t ever seen long-range attempts make up a major part of his shot diet. Still, being a threat to knock them down from deep is the key that unlocks the rest of his offensive game by keeping defenses honest.
If Sabonis can elevate his production here, the Kings’ outlook becomes far better. However, falling behind early can be a real killer against this deep Nuggets roster, and with plenty of standout defenders who can bother LaVine and DeRozan, it may be another rough night for Sacramento. Watch for Jokic to dominate as always alongside Denver’s superior depth. Nuggets -8.5 holds some appeal, but over 125.5 points for the visitors can make even more sense against a defense allowing the third-most PPG to opponents at 123.9.
