Game: Los Angeles Clippers at Sacramento Kings
Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
Odds: Clippers -6.5, Kings +6.5
Total: 219.5
The Los Angeles Clippers have an opportunity to end a three-game losing tonight when they travel to Sacramento. The Kings are 2-5 straight up over their last seven games and they have been hit pretty hard by the COVID-19 bug.
Currently, the Kings have seven players – De’Aaron Fox, Marvin Bagley III, Neemias Queta, Alex Len, Davion Mitchell, Louis King, and Terence Davis – in the NBA’s health and safety protocols. None of the seven will play tonight. Plus, Richaun Holmes is listed as questionable with an eye injury.
Fox is the Kings leading scorer averaging 21.3 points per game. If Holmes can’t go, the Kings are really in trouble. The 6-foot-10-inch veteran center averages 14.0 points and a team-high 9.3 rebounds. His presence around the rim on defense would be missed as well and that’s important for a Sacramento team that struggles on defense.
The Kings are one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA. They allow 114.3 points per game. That ranks 29th among the 30 teams in the league. Down seven players, that defense isn’t going to be much better tonight.
The Clippers are still trying to figure out how to provide some support for their star Paul George. With Kawhi Leonard still out indefinitely while he rehabs his knee, George is left to carry the Clippers. He has done well averaging 25 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game. His supporting cast just isn’t as strong as hoped.
Point guard Reggie Jackson has stepped up his game and average 17.2 points, but the production drops off from there. Marcus Morris Sr., who scores 13.8 points and averages 4.8 rebounds, is out tonight as is Isaiah Hartenstein who averages 7.7 points and 4.7 rebounds in 16.4 minutes per game.
Los Angeles has dropped three straight games to Utah, Oklahoma City, and San Antonio on Monday night. In the loss to the Spurs, the Clippers managed just 92 points. George hit his average with 25 points, but the next highest scorer was Ivica Zubac who had 12.
The Clippers were favored by six points over the Spurs and were also a 4.5-point favorite over Oklahoma City. L.A. lost by one, 104-103, to the Thunder who earned their 10th win of the season. The Clippers are now 1-4 ATS in their last five games. They also happen to be 2-5 ATS in their last seven games on the road. The Clippers haven’t done well against the spread against the Kings recently either. L.A. is 2-5 ATS in the last seven games with Sacramento.
The Kings can score. They rank sixth in the league in scoring averaging 110.8 points per game. It might be tougher to hit that mark with such a depleted roster. However, Sacramento has beaten the Clippers twice already this season. Should the Kings be able to contain George, they may be able to keep this one close.
The Kings are only 2-5 ATS in their last seven games overall, but they are 4-1 ATS in their last five games at home.