Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images/Sipa USA

Sacramento Kings vs Los Angeles Clippers: Both teams are not where they want to be

The Los Angeles Clippers are hosting the Sacramento Kings today at Crypto.com Arena.

The Kings are hurt by injuries

The Sacramento Kings are 10th in the Western Conference with an 8-7 record, including 4-3 on the road. They have lost 3 of the last 5 games and are coming off a 109-108 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. The Kings are third in the league shooting 48.9% from the field and are the best free-throw shooting team with 82.7%. De’Aaron Fox leads the team averaging 28.8 points per game.

The Clippers have a solid week

The Los Angeles Clippers are 9th in the Western Conference with a 9-7 record, including 6-4 at home. They have won the last three games and are coming off a 104-93 win over the Orlando Magic. The Clippers are fourth in the league allowing 108.1 points per game but only 23rd scoring 108.9. Norman Powell leads the team averaging 23.3 points per game.

Betting Trends

The Clippers are 7-3 SU in their last 10 games overall, 1-4 SU in their last 5 games played on Friday and 9-2 SU in their last 11 games as favorites. They are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games overall, 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games against teams from the Western Conference and 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games against teams from the Pacific Division. Los Angeles has played under the total point line in 10 of their last 15 games overall, 4 of their last 5 games against the Kings, 4 of their last 5 home games against them and their last 5 home games overall. The Kings are 1-6 SU in their last 7 games played on Friday. They are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall, 2-4 ATS in their last 6 games against the Clippers, 4-2 ATS in their last 6 games on the road and 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games against teams from the Pacific Division. Sacramento has played over the total point line in 4 of their last 6 games overall and 4 of their last 5 games against teams from the Western Conference.

Prediction and Conclusion

Both the Kings and the Clippers are in the bottom half of the Western Conference standings, and that has a lot to do with injuries. Domantas Sabonis and DeMar DeRozan have missed the last couple of games for the Kings. Kawhi Leonard has yet to make his debut this season, and his replacement Norman Powell will be out for this one. It will all come down to the matchup between De’Aaron Fox and James Harden. The Kings have been one of the toughest opponents for the Clippers in recent seasons, winning three of the last four games in Los Angeles, so we go with them to cover the +6.5-point spread.