by Chuck Sommers
Wednesday, Jan 25, 2023
Time: 10 p.m. ET
Venue: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Where to watch: NBCSCA, SN
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Kings -4; SAC -180, TOR +155; O/U 239
FanDuel: Kings -4; SAC -174, TOR +146; O/U 239
BetMGM: Kings -4.5; SAC -175, TOR +145; O/U 238.5
Caesars: Kings -4; SAC -189, TOR +158; O/U 238.5
Season record
TOR: 21-27
SAC: 27-19
The second half of the basketball season is upon us, and what a cluster we've got in the standings right now, right? So many teams are in the playoff hunt, so many teams not expected to make the playoffs are in the process of trying to prove people wrong. You know who doesn't need to be made wrong? Our champion handicappers who have been killing it all year long. Scott Rickenbach is coming off a 5-2-0 week over the last seven days, while Doc's Sports has been efficient at 14-8-0 over the last 30 days. Do you want to get on this winning? Make sure you're following our champion handicappers at bigal.com to celebrate in these moments!
Raptors - Kings preview, prediction and analysis
The Toronto Raptors will be playing the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, January 25 in Sacramento, California.
The Toronto Raptors won against the New York Knicks Sunday, January 22 in Toronto with a score of 125-116. The Toronto Raptors currently rank 5th in the Atlantic Division. Fred VanVleet scored 28 points, Gary Trent Jr. had 24 before fouling out and the Toronto Raptors snapped a three-game losing streak by beating the New York Knicks 125-116 Sunday.
Pascal Siakam scored 24 points, Scottie Barnes had 19 and Precious Achiuwa added 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Raptors, who scored 26 points off 17 New York turnovers.
Toronto had lost its previous two games, at Minnesota and home to Boston, despite holding double-digit leads in each. The Raptors failed to score 20 points in the fourth quarter in both of those defeats. They scored 39 in the fourth quarter Sunday.
VanVleet returned after sitting out Saturday’s loss to Boston because of soreness in his right ribs. Toronto was without O.G. Anunoby, who left Saturday’s game in the second half because of a sore right ankle.
The Raptors started 5 for 5 from 3-point range and shot 7 for 11 from distance in the first, while New York went 2 for 9. Toronto led 37-22 after one.
“We just came out with a good focus and intensity,” VanVleet said. “We’ve got to find ways to increase that consistently throughout the game.”
The Toronto Raptors have won five of their last 10 games.
The Sacramento Kings won against the Memphis Grizzlies Monday, January 23 in Sacramento, California with a score of 113-100. The Sacramento Kings currently rank 1st in the Pacific Division. Trey Lyles scored a season-high 24 points, Harrison Barnes had 15 of his 20 in Sacramento's record-tying first quarter and the Kings beat the short-handed Memphis Grizzlies 133-100 on Monday night.
The Kings tied the NBA record with 12 3-pointers in the first quarter — in just 13 attempts — and scored 47 points. But Sacramento didn't put away the game until outscoring Memphis 33-10 in the fourth quarter.
Lyles was 6 for 8 from 3-point range for the Kings (27-19), who have won seven of their last eight games.
“It’s nice,” Lyles said. “We have another game on Wednesday. Let’s see if we can do it again.”
Domantas Sabonis finished with 14 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for his sixth triple-double of the season. Sabonis leads the NBA in double-doubles with 36.
Keegan Murray also finished with 20 points and De’Aaron Fox had 17 points and 10 assists.
“Great team win," Kings coach Mike Brown said. "I thought defensively in the second half, we were good.”
The Sacramento Kings have won seven of their last 10 games.
Prediction
Don't doubt the Kings. It's not good for your health. The fact they're coming off that win over Memphis and covering as favorites (I get the whole lineup thing), but they're so fun to watch. Keep doubting them at your own risk. Kings 125, Raptors 110
Betting trends
Raptors are 26-15 ATS after playing 2 straight home games the last 2 seasons.
Kings are 53-30 ATS after a game where they were called for 10+ less fouls than the opponent since 1996.
Kings are 17-8 ATS after playing a home game this season.
Raptors are 26-15 ATS after playing 2 straight home games the last 2 seasons.
Kings are 53-30 ATS after a game where they were called for 10+ less fouls than the opponent since 1996.
Kings are 17-8 ATS after playing a home game this season.
Projected starting lineup
Raptors:
PG: Fred VanVleet
SG: Gary Trent Jr.
SF: O.G. Anunoby
PF: Scottie Barnes
C: Pascal Siakam
Kings:
PG: De'Aaron Fox
SG: Kevin Huerter
SF: Harrison Barnes
PF: Keegan Murray
C: Domantas Sabonis
Injury report
Raptors: O.G. Anunoby (ankle, questionable)
Kings: None
Raptors: O.G. Anunoby (ankle, questionable)
Kings: None
Statistical leaders
Raptors:
Points: Pascal Siakam -- 25.2
Rebounds: Pascal Siakam -- 8.2
Assists: Pascal Siakam -- 6.5
Kings:
Points: De'Aaron Fox -- 24.0
Rebounds: Domantas Sabonis -- 12.5
Assists: Domantas Sabonis -- 7.4
Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert basketball picks today. And if you enjoyed this Toronto Raptors - Sacramento Kings prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily NBA projections and previews.
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.
