Sacramento Kings vs. Los Angeles Clippers
While the headliner on Thursday is the Jazz vs. Wizards game that features the top-two picks from the NBA Draft in AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson, we get a pretty good one in the late night game as well. The Kings and Clippers are the nightcap on Thursday, and we expect to see Darius Acuff against Keaton Wagler.
The Kings have played a few games already in the California Classic, and looked pretty well when they played their top guys. We’re yet to see the Clippers in Summer League action, but the roster seems solid. Wagler is the headliner, and Los Angeles rosters additional talent like Baba Miller, Cam Christie and Kobe Sanders. Good players, but nothing overwhelming.
If Sacramento plays its guys in this game, it has a clear talent edge, not to mention the experience of playing three games together in the California Classic. If we call Acuff and Wagler a wash, the Kings roster much more depth and skill. Maxime Raynaud, a second round pick last summer, is scheduled to rest for this one, but the Kings should make up for him with Alex Karaban. The first round pick from UConn did not play in the California Classic, but has been cleared to make his debut in Vegas.
So far, the injury report does not include any other players, which means we can expect to see the likes of Nique Clifford, Adam Flagler, Johnathan Mogbo, Isaiah Stevens, Dylan Cardwell and Emanuel Sharp all join Acuff and Karaban in the lineup. I’m waiting until closer to tip to bet this one just to be sure, as the Kings did play on Monday. But if Raynaud is the only player out for the Kings, they should be worth a bet against the Clippers.
NBA Summer League Pick: Kings Moneyline (-142)
