Kicking off today’s NBA Summer League action, the Sacramento Kings will take on the Charlotte Hornets. Both these teams enter with a 1-3 record and have underwhelmed a bit based on their expectations.
DraftKings Sportsbook is offering odds for all the summer league matchups, including some player prop and team prop options, depending on your location.
The Hornets enter as narrow 1.5-point favorites with -125 moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Kings are +105 underdogs, with the game total set at 183.5 points.
Kings vs. Hornets preview, prediction
The Sacramento Kings kicked off summer league with a 91-85 victory over the Clippers. They extended their lead to as many as 16 and held control for 71% of the matchup despite shooting just 39% from the floor and 31% from beyond the three-point arc. But it has been downhill from here for Sacramento. They lost their next matchup to the Wizards, 104-85, in which they trailed for 76% of the matchup and shot just 39% from the field and 27% from the perimeter. Sacramento then fell 115-83 to the Nets, in which they trailed for 96% of the matchup and were never able to climb out of the 38-18 hole they fell into after the first quarter. Most recently, the Kings lost 82-76 to the Celtics. Boston led for 93% of the matchup, and Sacramento was never able to gain control, even if the final score was a bit more tolerable.
Even more concerning heading into today’s game is the Kings’ injury report. The organization announced that seventh overall pick Darius Acuff Jr. will miss the summer league finale. In addition, Dylan Cardwell, Nique Clifford, and Maxime Raynaud will also be sidelined. Emmanuel Sharp will be asked to headline the production and look to add to the 15.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.8 steals per game he is averaging in Las Vegas. Jonathan Mogbo is the lone other available player averaging in double figures with 10.7 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. Alex Karaban and Adam Flagler will also be looked at to scale up their offensive roles.
The Charlotte Hornets enter with a 1-3 record in summer league, which is a bit frustrating considering the caliber of talent on the roster. They opened their Las Vegas tenure with an 86-74 win over the Orlando Magic. Charlotte shot the ball more efficiently and dominated the rebounding battle, but both teams were able to extend a double-digit lead during this game. In their second matchup, the Hornets fell 95-91 to the Pelicans. Charlotte led for 97% of the game and extended its lead to as many as 18, but New Orleans outscored it 30-15 in the fourth quarter to complete the comeback. Next, the Hornets fell 87-75 to the Celtics in a competitive defensive battle. The 25 turnovers tallied by Charlotte ultimately ended up as the biggest reason for the loss. Most recently, the Hornets fell 110-91 to the Milwaukee Bucks. The Hornets only led for seven percent of the matchup, with the Bucks extending the lead to as many as 21.
Last year’s 29th overall pick, Liam McNeeley, headlines the scoring for the Hornets, recording 21.7 points, five rebounds and 3.3 assists. This year’s rookies have also opened some eyes. 14th overall pick Hannes Steinbach is producing 14.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game, while 18th overall pick Christian Anderson Jr. has had some nice moments with 8.5 points and 3.3 assists, although he has struggled with his efficiency. Tidjan Salaun has had a reassuring summer league with averages of 12.3 points and 4.8 rebounds, while Ryan Kalkbrenner and Sion James have made their case for why they deserve to be a part of the Hornets’ plans moving forward. Kylan Boswell and Michael Ajayi have also been pleasant surprises in their minutes.
Kings vs. Hornets pick, best bet
The Sacramento Kings have failed to look consistent for any stretch in summer league, and the injury report gives the feeling of this being a throwaway game. Not having Acuff Jr. especially limits the offensive outlook with his 19 points per game in mind. Dylan Cardwell, Nique Clifford, and Maxime Raynaud are the three other players on the roster with expected NBA roles, and their absence further clouds the outlook for the Kings.
In contrast, the Hornets have had some of the most NBA talent of any team on their summer league roster. While this has not translated to wins at the rate that was hoped or expected, there is a top-end level of talent that the Kings cannot match. It will be worth paying attention to any injury announcements from the Hornets’ perspective as the day continues on, but shaving their top players does not limit their outlook to the same level as is the case with the Kings.
While I like the Hornets to get the win and am not worried by the 1.5-point spread, my best bet for this matchup is the Kings’ team total to remain under 91.5 points.
Sacramento has finished with scoring outputs of 91, 85, 83, and 76 to this point, failing to clear this total in any matchup. Losing four of their top six scorers will not aid in their goal of improved offense today, especially agains this Charlotte team. The Hornets have held opponents to 74, 95, 87, and 110 points across their four summer league games. But the Kings do not possess the same level of offensive firepower as a team like the Bucks, who put up this monstrous scoring total. Charlotte also has done a better job rebounding the ball collectively, and expect a shortage of second-chance point opportunities.
Ultimately, I am buckling up for some bad basketball and expecting the Kings to lead the charge in this conversation. They have not eclipsed 91.5 points in a matchup yet in Las Vegas, and don’t expect this to change based on the circumstances of the matchup.
