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Sacramento Kings Rising, New Orleans Pelicans Struggling with Injuries

December 12, 2024

College Basketball

Game

NBA

Sacramento Kings vs New Orleans Pelicans

As the Sacramento Kings look to extend their recent success, they face the struggling New Orleans Pelicans in an NBA matchup that could see the Kings capitalize on a favorable opportunity. While Sacramento has been in solid form, the Pelicans have struggled to find consistency, making this game a crucial one for both teams. Let’s dive into the key stats, trends, and what to expect in this upcoming clash.

Sacramento Kings: A Team on the Rise

The Sacramento Kings enter this game coming off back-to-back wins against the San Antonio Spurs and Utah Jazz, with a more favorable upcoming schedule featuring matchups against the Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers, Indiana Pacers, and Detroit Pistons. The Kings have managed to find a balanced attack this season, averaging 116.4 points per game on 48.6% shooting, ranking among the top offensive teams in the league.

New Orleans Pelicans: Struggling with Injuries and Inconsistency

The New Orleans Pelicans, meanwhile, are off to a disappointing start with a 5-20 record straight up (SU) and a 9-16 record against the spread (ATS). Injuries have taken a toll on the team, and the Pelicans have yet to find any rhythm this season. They’re averaging 105 points per game on 43.8% shooting, ranking near the bottom in both scoring and shooting efficiency.

Zion Williamson remains the focal point of New Orleans’ offense, averaging 22.7 points and 8 rebounds per game. Alongside him, Brandon Ingram has been a steady scorer, posting 22.2 points and 5.6 rebounds. However, the Pelicans have struggled to find consistent scoring from the rest of the roster.

Conclusion

Based on recent form and the Pelicans’ ongoing issues, I’m leaning toward the Sacramento Kings to cover the spread and win outright in this matchup. The Kings have more offensive firepower and are likely to exploit the Pelicans’ defensive vulnerabilities. The spread isn’t overly large, and Sacramento should be able to take advantage of a New Orleans team still searching for answers.