NBA Odds: Houston vs Sacramento Picks
Thursday NBA betting action sees the Houston Rockets taking on the Sacramento Kings in Sacramento, CA. Cappers picks provides free NBA handicapping tips all season long.
Thursday NBA betting action sees the Houston Rockets taking on the Sacramento Kings in Sacramento, CA. Cappers picks provides free NBA handicapping tips all season long.
The Sacramento Kings host the Toronto Raptors at Sleep Train Arena in California on Tuesday night. Both teams have enjoyed fine seasons thus far, but both are coming off disappointing losses, and will look to bounce back in this inter-conference showdown.
NBA betting action sees the Chicago Bulls taking on the Sacramento Kings on Thursday November 20 at Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento, California. Cappers Picks provides free NBA handicapping tips all season long.
The Sacramento Kings host the New Orleans Pelicans at Sleep Train Arena in California on Tuesday night. The Kings are coming off a win over the San Antonio Spurs, and look to win their fourth game in a row over the Pelicans.
The Sacramento Kings are a classic example of a team that has procured talent without turning that talent into wins. This franchise hasn’t made the playoffs since the 2005-06 season, and while you shouldn’t expect 2014-15 to be the year that breaks the drought, this could be one of the most entertaining seasons we’ve seen from this group in quite some time.
The Portland Trail Blazers won their 50th game of the NBA season on April 6 against the New Orleans Pelicans, earning them a playoff berth for the first time since 2011.
Even amidst three consecutive road losses, OKC’s Kevin Durant is truly having a campaign for the ages. The six-year pro has gone 41 consecutive games with scoring 25 or more points, surpassing Michael Jordan’s 1988-89 streak of 40 straight.
The Lakers arrive in Sacramento fresh off a loss at Portland, and will look to complete a four-game season sweep of Sacramento, who has just one fewer loss than they do.
The Sacramento Kings will make the trip north of the border to the Air Canada Centre for a date with the Toronto Raptors on Friday. The Kings come to town having followed up three consecutive losses with back-to-back wins, while the Raptors have won seven of their last nine games.
The Sacramento Kings will make the trip over to Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Tuesday evening to take on the Indiana Pacers.
The Portland Trail Blazers and Sacramento Kings have already faced off twice during the 2013-14 NBA season, and they’re set to face off again Tuesday, Jan. 7.
Portland (26-8) at Sacramento (10-22)
Tuesday, Jan. 7 10:00 p.m. ET at Sleep Train Arena
Spread:
[dfads params=’groups=63740&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
ATS Matchup Insight | CP Insider Gambling Preview
On the year, Portland has won the series 2-0. The team from the Pacific Northwest has won both games by an average margin of 12 points per contest, but Sacramento will look to make the third matchup a charm.
The Trail Blazers have been brilliant this season, but they’re coming off of a week that saw them go 2-2, losing twice in dramatic fashion. To the team’s credit, it did pull out a comeback win against the Oklahoma City Thunder, while also blowing out the Charlotte Bobcats; but two last-second losses to the New Orleans Pelicans and Philadelphia 76ers have brought to light that this team is indeed mortal, and it can indeed lose games in the clutch.
If all goes according to plan, Portland won’t have to worry about performing in crunch time. It’s something it has done well almost all season, but the goal here is to win big despite being on the road.
The last time these two teams met, Rudy Gay was still with the Toronto Raptors. Additionally, Isaiah Thomas hadn’t quite broken onto the scene, and while the team knows it has to contain DeMarcus Cousins, these two could be big-time difference makers.
[ad-6571516]
If Portland sticks to its regular defensive schemes, look for Cousins to have a big game. The Blazers haven’t double teamed bigs all season long, instead opting to give up points down low in an effort to better defend the three-point line.
Speaking of defending the three-point line, that’s exactly what Sacramento will have to do to keep up in this one. Despite being underdogs, the Philadelphia 76ers held Portland under 100 points (the Blazers entered that game as the No. 1 scoring team in the NBA) by making them look downright awful from long range. The Kings are the second-worst team in the Association at defending the three-point line (they’re also the second-worst team in terms of points allowed), which is going to be a problem come Tuesday.
Cousins will be slated to have a big game, but if anyone else is going to join him, look for it to be Thomas. The point guard will be going up against Damian Lillard, and while he’ll be forced to expend a ton of energy on defense, the offensive end is where he’ll take advantage of a young point guard who is less focused on defensive production.
Despite having home-court advantage, look for the Blazers to bounce back following their loss. They know that sustaining success means winning the winnable games, and this qualifies as one of those contests. Expect a good showing from Portland, taking away the idea of a crunch time showing when it’s all said and done.
Prediction: Portland 107 – Sacramento 95
The Sacramento Kings will look for their first win in five years against the visiting Atlanta Hawks in a Tuesday night NBA showdown at the Sleep Train Arena.
The Houston Rockets are coming off a huge win at Staples Center in Los Angeles against the Lakers Friday night.
Minnesota is still trying to remember the time, not that long ago, when they were the darlings of the Western Conference. With point guard Ricky Rubio deftly dishing the ball they were firmly in the playoff picture.
The New Jersey Nets will be arriving in Sacramento for the second game of a back to back.
San Antonio just continues to hum along despite being one of the oldest teams in the NBA.