NBA Betting – Utah Jazz at Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings (5-14 SU, 9-10 ATS) will try to snap a six-game losing streak on Tuesday night when they play host to the Utah Jazz (11-7 SU, 9-9 ATS) in NBA pro basketball sports betting action that is set to tip off at 10 PM ET at ARCO Arena in Sacramento, CA.
BetUS NBA Basketball Sports Betting Odds: UTAH -1.5, Total 209
Here are some of the NBA pro basketball sports betting trends as they relate to this matchup:
* UTAH has won five of its last eight games SU
* UTAH has played eight of its last ten games OVER the total
* UTAH has lost four of its last five road games SU
* UTAH has played its last four road games OVER the total
* SAC has lost its last six games SU
* SAC has covered three of its last nine games
* SAC has played six of its last eight games OVER the total
* SAC has lost its last six home games SU
* SAC has covered one of its last six home games
* SAC has played five of its last seven home games UNDER the total
Also….
* The last six meetings have gone OVER the total
* SAC has won and covered four of the last five meetings as the home team
* The last four meetings in Sacramento have gone OVER the total
* UTAH has had the shooting edge in six of the last nine meetings
* UTAH has had the rebounding edge in six of the last nine meetings
There are some banged-up players in this game. The ones that may be the most important are the ones on the Kings’ side. Kevin Martin, the team’s leading scorer, who had tallied 86 points in three games as he was gaining some momentum, went down with an ankle injury and has missed the team’s last dozen games. Martin’s situation is a little hairy; he returned to practice on Monday, but was wavering on whether he could actually start playing. “Once I get that confidence back up and feel good about my quickness out there, I’ll be fine,” he told the Sacramento Bee. “But I’m nowhere near where I want to be, player-wise, right now.”
John Salmons, who averages 19 points, is bothered by a bruised thigh and is listed as day-to-day. Salmons went out during Saturday’s 101-78 loss to Dallas, but before that he had scored 102 points in his last four games, as he tries his best to pick up some of the scoring slack. If neither Salmons nor Martin are able to make post, that’s going to leave a heavier burden on people like point guard Beno Udrih, center Spencer Hawes, rookie Jason Thompson, and swingman Francisco Garcia, who is just returning from his own injury.
Utah has its own injury problems to deal with. Deron Williams has returned from his ankle problem, and has dished out 43 assists in three games, though his scoring is down (just 9.8 ppg). Carlos Boozer, who really supplies this team with its inside offensive strength, is doubtful at best (quadriceps), and Andrei Kirilenko, who contributes to this team in so many different areas, is likely out with his own ankle injury.
Sacramento has lost six consecutive games at the ARCO Arena, which is almost unheard of for this team. In fact, it hasn’t happened since the 1997-98 season. But there is a big revenge angle for the Kings here, as they were embarrassed in Salt Lake City last Friday, losing by 26 points despite hitting 49% from the floor. Sacramento followed that up with a dreadful effort against Dallas. But Utah lost games to Chicago and New Jersey on a recent homestand, which is not a good sign. And according to Jerry Sloan, “Our individual one-on-one defense, we’re getting broken down off the dribble and guys are driving by us like we’re not even there.”
At least the Kings have the hope of being healthier with Martin. And Utah is a different ballclub when they’re not at the EnergySolutions Arena. Revenge works here. We’ll go with the Kings, the 1.5-point underdog in the BetUS NBA pro basketball odds.
