The Kings are hosting the Trail Blazers on Sunday. On DraftKings Sportsbook, Sacramento is favored by 2.5 points and this game carries a total of 228.5 points.
Let’s dive into my preview and pick for the game.
Kings vs. Trail Blazers preview, prediction
The Kings are 12-20 and rank 29th in net rating this season, but the team has come alive recently, winning four consecutive games by double-digits, including wins over the Rockets, Lakers and Knicks. This is the longest win streak of the season for Sacramento and the difference has been the move of inserting Precious Achiuwa into the starting lineup to begin this win streak.
During this time, the ex-Knick is averaging 13.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.3 steals per game, and as a team, the Kings rank top-seven in both offensive and defensive rating. Sacramento’s net rating is 7.9 points per 100 possessions better with Achiuwa on the floor this season and he should continue to start for the foreseeable future, even with Domantas Sabonis back.
Sabonis just returned from a 27-game absence due to a knee injury this past Friday vs. the Wizards and the former All-Star posted 13 points, six rebound and five assists across 21 minutes off the bench. Sabonis will likely move back into the starting lineup soon, maybe as soon as tonight, but when he does, it should be in place of rookie Maxime Raynaud and not Achiuwa. Both Russell Westbrook and DeMar DeRozan are playing very well on offense right now and Sabonis being back in the mix will only further help the Kings in that department.
Sacramento is certainly trending in the right direction right now, but coming to town tonight is a Trail Blazers team that has beaten the Kings twice this season. Portland is 21-22, ranks 21st in net rating, and the club has won seven of it’s last 10. The club also is trending towards getting it’s best player in Deni Avdija back in the lineup. The forward has missed three in a row with a back injury, but he has been upgraded to questionable for tonight. The veteran is having a career season, averaging 26.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game and Avdija is the frontrunner to win Most Improved Player of the Year with -160 odds for the award on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Avdija ranks third for the Trail Blazers in plus/minus and he scored 35 and 24 points in the team’s two wins over the Kings earlier this season. However, Sabonis missed both those games and Achiuwa was buried at the back of the bench at the time, so Sacramento is a much different team this time around. Plus, Portland is playing it’s second game in two nights, whereas the Kings haven’t played since Friday and this game will be in Sacramento. This season, Portland is just 9-12 on the road.
Kings vs. Trail Blazers pick, best bet
The Kings’ recent play has been very impressive and they should extend their winning streak to five in a row tonight with a win over this Trail Blazers team that is on the second leg of a back-to-back.
All four of Sacramento’s victories during this current win streak have been by at least 11 points and the club is a strong bet to cover this small 2.5-point spread.
