New Orleans at Sacramento – Hornets get their Big Man Back
New Orleans Hornets (32-22 SU, 23-29-2 ATS) at Sacramento Kings (12-45 SU, 26-31 ATS)
BetUS NBA Betting Odds: NEW ORLEANS -7.5, Total 203
Here are some of the NBA sports betting trends as they relate to this matchup:
* NO has covered two of its last six games
* NO has lost four of its last six games SU * NO has played eight of its last 11 games OVER the total
* NO has covered one of its last six road games
* NO has lost five of its last six road games SU
* NO has played four of its last six road games OVER the total
* SAC has covered four of its last six games
* SAC has lost 15 of its last 17 games SU
* SAC has covered five of its last 21 home games
* SAC has lost six of its last seven home games SU
* SAC has played five of its last seven home games OVER the total
Also…
* SAC has covered the last four meetings
* Six of the last eight meetings have gone OVER the total
* SAC has covered six of the last seven meetings as the home team
* SAC has won 13 of the last 14 meetings SU as the home team
* Four of the last six meetings in Sacramento have gone OVER the total
* SAC has had the shooting edge in each of the last four meetings
* NO has had the rebounding edge in seven of the last nine meetings
* SAC has made more three-pointers in four of the last six meetings
Kevin Martin had an off-night last time out, scoring just 11 points in his team’s 116-95 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. In that loss, which was Sacramento’s seventh in its last eight games, the team got ten points and seven rebounds from new acquisition Andres Nocioni and double digits from four others. The Kings may have brought in a lot of new people but they still have some of the core that was with the team at the start of the year, including Spencer Hawes, Beno Udrih, Francisco Garcia and rookie Jason Thompson.
This team has managed to cover four straight against New Orleans, and one of those was a win at the New Orleans Arena on November 19. John Salmons had 29 points in that game, but was traded to the Bulls along with center Brad Miller. Remember, we said “some of” the core was still there.
The Hornets were disappointing in their last contest, a 102-88 loss at Salt Lake City, but they were in a tough position having traveled from a draining loss against the Lakers in Los Angeles the night before. They can be excused for that, if such things exist. New Orleans is fifth in the NBA in road defense, allowing 96.5 points a game, while Sacramento is surrendering 48% from the field. The Hornets certainly take care of the ball better than the Kings, who are averaging 15 turnovers.
Also, Tyson Chandler is looking to come back tonight after an eventful absence. He missed16 games with a sprained ankle and was involved in a trade with Oklahoma City that was later nullified. Although he may not play much, it’s an emotional boost nonetheless.
Sacramento is 5-16 ATS in its last 21 at the ARCO Arena, where the small crowds are sometimes hostile. We don’t blame them. Lay it with New Orleans, the 7.5-point favorite in the BetUS basketball sports betting odds.
