NBA Basketball: Sacramento Kings VS Los Angeles Clippers Pick and Predictions 02/24/2023

Game: 10:40 PM ET,  Friday, February 24th, 2023

Venue:  Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California

TV:  NBA League Pass

Kings: 33-25, 3rd place Western Conference

Clippers: 33-28, 4th place Western Conference

BetMGM:  Point Spread: Clippers -6.5, O/U 238.5

PointsBet: Point Spread: Clippers -6.5, O/U 238

Fanduel: Point Spread:  Clippers -7, O/U 238

Kings: PG De’Aaron Fox, SG Kevin Huerter, SF Harrison Barnes, PF Keegan Murray, C Domantas Sabonis

Clippers: PG Russell Westbrook, SG Paul George, SF Kawhi Leonard, PF Marcus Morris SR, C Mason Plumlee

A Western Conference battle of #3 versus #4.  Both teams expect the playoffs and to perform well, but both teams have an uphill climb to make it happen.  The Sacramento Kings ahev been really bad for the last 18 years as they have missed the playoffs each and every year.  Last season they pulled off the rare and amazing trick of a trade that makes both teams better.  They swapped Tyrese Haliburton, players, and picks for C Domantas Sabonis.  It worked like gangbusters!  The Kings have a franchise star in Sabonis who stuffs the stat sheet to pair with exciting, lightning quick point guard De’Aaron Fox.  Add in a rookie Power Forward (Keegan Murray) who is an obvious keeper and a little depth on the bench .. and voila… they are very close to breaking that awful drought.  The Los Angeles Clippers started the season as Vegas favorites to win the Championship… and then what always happens to the Clippers happened.  Sf Kawhi Leonartd had to miss games to further rest and rehab his knee… Paul george had to miss a few, Norman Powell had to miss a few.. Their offseason additions didn’t pan out… and suddenly they were an average team at best.  Then something happened… everyone seems to have gotten healthy all at once… the winning came back… the scoring average is rising… the defense is looking capable… and at the trade deadline they added some much needed spare parts to bolster what could be something special.  The last piece of the odd experiment is of course tonight’s debut of PG Russell Westbrook.  Russell is a star player that has spent the last 4 seasons swapping team after team after team and getting the blame for not winning.  His last stop was a career killing stint with the Lakers… However, he is still a guy that can land real points and assists despite bad shooting and a below average defense.  The thinking here is that if Kawhi and PG-13 are doing the shooting and defense… Russell should finally be free to simply do what he does best… attack the basket for easy points.  The great betting opportunity here will be found in the recent games.  Who is rolling and who is treading water?

The Sacramento Kings have won 6 of their last 10 games.  They won their last game against the Portland Trail Blazers 133-116.  In that win they got 18 points, 18 rebounds, and 10 assists from C Domantas Sabonis in just 31 minutes of play. They also got 31 points from PG De’Aaron Fox. All five starters and 2 bench players scored in double figures.  Even SG Terence Davis came off the bench and stuffed in 20 points in 18 minutes of play.

The Los Angeles Clippers have won 6 of their last 10 games.  They are on a two-game winning streak.  They won their last game over the Phoenix Suns 116-107 for a big ATS win (as predicted here). In the win they got 26 points Each from SG Paul George and PG Terence Mann. SF Kawhi Leonard had 16 points & 9 rebounds on a bad shooting night. New Clipper (and former Clippers from years ago) SG Eric Gordon added 13 points off the bench.  The Suns were playing without Kevin Durant and the Clippers were playing without Norman Powell.

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The Kings are 1st in scoring with 119.7 points per game and 22nd in rebounds with 41.9 per game.  They rank 22nd in scoring defense while allowing 117.2 points per game.  The defense has been slipping a little as the season wears on, but the Kings can really score.

The Clippers are 27th in scoring with only 111.4 points per game and 15th in rebounds with 43.5 per game. On defense they rank 4th while holding opponents to 111.1 points per game. The Clippers offensive numbers are askew since they only recently have ever seen Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, and Norman Powell play together.  The defense is the result of all these wonderful non-stars like Ivica Zubac, Terence Mann, and Marcus Morris SR.

Our prediction for Friday, February 24th is…. Clippers 121 - Kings 113

Bet on the Clippers.  They have been rising in the standings and performing better than ever.  Plus Kevin Huerter is going to have to try and figure out how to stop Paul George?!!  Really?

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The Kings are 20-8 ATS after one or more consecutive Overs this season.

The Kings are 13-9 ATS as an underdog this season.

The Clippers are 4-0 ATS when playing just 4 games in 10 days this season.

Kings:  SG Kevin Huerter.  Kevin is a sweet shooter, despite his poor showing in the NBA All-Star Weekend’s 3-point shooting contest.  Noone can take away Kevin’s shooting prowess… They can however score on him.  Kevin is not solid defender which is why the Hawks moved heaven and earth to bring in Dejounte Murray to pair with Trae Young as Kevin was moved OUT.  The Kings should have moved Kevin for a defensive guard at the deadline and they didn’t… especially since De’Aaron Fox is taking the majority of the shots in the King’s backcourt.  Watch Kevin closely… he’ll hit some 3’s and a few foul shots every game… BUT he will get blown by and give up an extra dozen points to the opposition.

Clippers: SF/SG/PG Terrence Mann. Terrence is a play anywhere, do anything, hustler on the Clippers.  He isn’t among the famous names… but his two-way play and his youth and athleticism shouldn’t be ignored.  With PG Bones Hyland and now PG Russell Westbrook joining the team… Clippers fans are hoping that it doesn’t mean less minutes for Mann.

Kings: Mike “getting my revenge on the league” Brown

Clippers: Tye “just hanging on” Lue