by Chuck Sommers
Sunday, Dec 19, 2021
Time: 6 p.m. ET
Venue: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Where to watch: NBC Sports California, Bally Sports Southwest-San Antonio
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Spurs -4.5
BetMGM: Spurs -4.5
Caesars: Spurs -4.5
Season record
Spurs: 11-17 (12th place, Western Conference)
Kings: 12-18 (10th place, Western Conference)
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Spurs - Kings preview and analysis
Recent form
Spurs: won three of five; won 128-126 at Jazz on Friday
Kings: lost four of five; lost 124-105 vs. Grizzlies on Friday
The San Antonio Spurs are not in the best shape right now, but they're in better position than the Sacramento Kings right now.
That will be evident when the two teams meet on Sunday in Sacramento.
The Spurs have alternated wins and losses over the last six games, but the most recent win might have been their best all season; a 128-126 win at the Utah Jazz. San Antonio shot 50 percent from the floor with Keldon Johnson (10 of 13 shooting) going for 24 points and eight rebounds. Derrick White had 22 points, and Dejounte Murray had a triple-double of 16 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in the win.
"This is obviously a learning season, but I feel like we've got the talent and the groupe to be able to win games," Murray said. "And we've proven taht even with the games we lost.
Overall, the Spurs are sitting at an 11-17 record through the first 28 games this season and nowhere near the level of contention we're used to from a San Antonio season over the past few seasons. They're likely not a playoff team at this juncture, but you know you're getting a hard-fought game from a Gregg Popovich-coached team every time.
The short-handed Kings are about to find that out the hard way.
Sacramento has lost four of five after winning three straight. The Kings are coming off a 19-point loss at home to the Memphis Grizzlies in which Sacramento led by 15 at one point. Tyrese Haliburton had a team-high 21 points, and Harrison Barnes also had 20 points.
"Memphis does what we were doing early on, they touch you a lot," said Kings assistant coach Doug Christie, who is filling in for Alvin Gentry. "When you touch people on the court like that it's uncomfortable. Some of it was us but give them credit, they were physical, they got after it."
Prediction
It's not even just the number of players Sacramento has in protocol that makes the difference here. The Spurs are just that much better in terms of preparation and coaching. Give me San Antonio comfortably. Spurs by 18
Betting trends
The Spurs are 28-39 ATS in their last 67 as a favorite.
The Spurs are 23-12 ATS off an upset win as an underdog.
The Kings are 9-22 ATS after a stretch of failing to cover in three of four.
Projected starting lineup
Spurs:
PG: Dejounte Murray
SG: Derrick White
SF: Doug McDermott
PF: Keldon Johnson
C: Jakob Poeltl
SF: Doug McDermott
PF: Keldon Johnson
C: Jakob Poeltl
Kings:
PG: Tyrese Haliburton
SG: Buddy Hield
SF: Harrison Barnes
PF: Chimezie Metu
C: Tristan Thompson
SF: Harrison Barnes
PF: Chimezie Metu
C: Tristan Thompson
Key injuries
Spurs: Zach Collins (ankle, out)
Kings: De’Aaron Fox (COVID, out), Davion Mitchell (COVID, out), Alex Len (COVID, out), Marvin Bagley III (COVID, out)
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
