Sacramento Kings vs. Oklahoma City Thunder: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 2/28/2023

Time: 8 p.m. ET

Venue: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK

Where to watch: BSOK, NBCSCA

DraftKings: Kings -2.5

FanDuel: Kings -2.5

BetMGM: Kings -2.5

Caesars: Kings -2.5

Kings: 35-25

Thunder: 28-32

The All-Star break is over in the NBA and it's time to get on the horse and finish up the final home stretch of the season. Big trades, uncertainty, and absolute hilarity across the board all gearing up for the final home stretch of this season. You know who is also gearing up for the home stretch? Our champion handicappers at bigal.com who are ready to win their way all the way to the playoffs. There's a lot going on that we can't wait for in these final 23-25 games and you're going to need every bit of hardcore analysis you can get from this group. Just in the last 30 days we've had some big winners. Doc's Sports has posted a 16-6-0 record in the last month (+$9,200). AAA Sports has killed it at 17-8-0, and then Al McMordie with a dominant 20-11-1 mark over the last 30 days. Everything you need to know and more about what's going on this league and sports in general will be a fun finish to the end. All you have to do is go to bigal.com and find our Best Bets page and put forth something that only you think is good. Here's a hint: Go to the bigal.com website and happy betting!

Did you ever think in your wildest dreams that we’d be discussing the possibility of the Sacramento Kings and Oklahoma City Thunder playing an important game at the end of February, at the very least, we are here for that regard and it should be a doozy to see the two young teams face off in Oklahoma City on Tuesday for an important game.

 

The two teams are playing the second game of a baseball series in Oklahoma City, with the Kings winning 124-115 in the last meeting on Sunday. That was followed with the most wild basketball game we’ve ever seen in the modern era two days prior, that 176-175 double overtime classic victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. Safe to say the Kings are on Cloud 9 at the moment.

 

De’Aaron Fox continued his tremendous run this season with 33 points and eight assists, while Domantas Sabonis had 14 points and 15 rebounds to go with eight assists as the Kings were able fend off the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander-less Thunder in this one.

 

“At times, we start slow in situations like this, and it was great to see our starters go out there and kind of establish themselves and set the tone,” Kings coach Mike Brown said.

 

In addition to winning four of their last five, the Kings have also covered in four of their last five. It’s a different world now when the Kings are favorites almost every other game, but that’s the world we’re living in now and it’s quite weird. Even as underdogs, at 6.5 like they were against the Clippers, they’re finding ways to win in what’s been an incredible season for this group.

 

The Thunder are just four games below .500 and are treading water without their All-Star guard. Don’t get me wrong: This team still has talent without SGA, but you know it’s just not the same at this current point in time.

 

Isaiah Joe led the way with 24 points, and Josh Giddey had 18 points to go with seven rebounds and five assists for Oklahoma City, which has lost three straight going into the finale of this baseball series.

 

“The effort it takes to defend them for 48 minutes is substantial because they play with great pace, they have good creators and they’ve got shooting everywhere," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “So it’s not easy to do. But if you want to win the game, that’s what you have to do.”

 

It’s been a struggle as of late with the Thunder against the spread, going just 1-2-2 in their last five. They had pushed twice in the losses to Phoenix and Utah before losing outright as the 4-point underdogs they were against Sacramento. The Thunder are going into this game as 2.5-point underdogs and just one game behind the reeling New Orleans Pelicans for the 10th spot in the West. In short, with the Lakers losing LeBron James and the Portland Trail Blazers not knowing where they are, this is a prime opportunity for the Thunder whenever they get SGA back.

 

The Kings have put some separation between themselves and the rest of the West for the No. 3 seed, and are just 2.5 games back of the Memphis Grizzlies for No. 2. I don’t need to explain anymore how insane and amazing this is, and the fact that playoff basketball could be a real thing in Sacramento this year.

 

I don’t normally say it’s wise to pick against the team that lost the first of the baseball series, but this team doesn’t have the depth to carry a game home without SGA, and it’s going to show in this one. Kings 124, Thunder 114

Kings are 22-8 ATS after 2 straight overs this season.

Kings are 6-1 ATS after scoring 120 points or more in 3 straight games this season.

Thunder are 14-2 ATS after losing 4 or 5 of their last 6 this season.

Thunder are 8-4 ATS off a home loss this season.

PG: De'Aaron Fox

SG: Kevin Huerter

SF: Harrison Barnes

PF: Keegan Murray

C: Domantas Sabonis

PG: Josh Giddey

SG: Isaiah Joe

SF: Lu Dort

PF: Jalen Williams

C: Jaylin Williams

Injury report

Kings: De'Aaron Fox (wrist, questionable)

Thunder: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (ankle/abdomen, out)