The Houston Rockets (43-25) meet the Sacramento Kings (29-40) Sunday at 8 p.m. ET in the NBA’s Orlando bubble. We analyze the Rockets-Kings NBA betting odds and lines, with picks and best bets.
Rockets vs. Kings: Key injuries
Rockets
- PG Russell Westbrook (quadriceps) out
- SG Eric Gordon (ankle) outSF Bruno Caboclo (ankle) out
Kings
- PF Richaun Holmes (hip) out
- SG Kent Bazemore (calf) questionable
- PF Marvin Bagley III (foot) out
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Rockets vs. Kings: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 3:40 p.m. ET.
Prediction
Rockets 133, Kings 117
Moneyline (ML)
The Rockets (-223) beat up on the Los Angeles Lakers without F LeBron James, 113-97, Thursday to move to 3-1 in their restart games. SG James Harden was brilliant, putting up 39 points, eight boards and 12 assists.
He is averaging 33.8 points (on .529 shooting) with 7.5 rebounds and 9.0 assists per game in the bubble. Harden has scored 34 or more points, including a 50-point game, in five of his last six games against Sacramento.
The Kings (+180) lost outright as 5.5-point favorites to the Brooklyn Nets, 119-106, Friday. Sacramento is 1-4 in five games following the restart, making it the current 13-seed, and teetering on the brink of playoff elimination.
Houston is 8-2 in its last 10 games against Sacramento and should have no problem beating the Kings straight up. PASS ON THE MONEYLINE because of a personal rule to not pay more than -150 for a favorite in regular-season basketball.
Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
This line is sort of a sweet spot for the ROCKETS -5.5 (-110) who have a 9-3 against the spread record when laying 5-7 points to a team. The Kings +5.5 (-110) are 3-6-1 ATS when getting 5-7 points. Plus, Houston is 5-1 ATS in the last six head-to-head meetings.
Trends say Sacramento is usually a “live dog” in these situations but, for me, where Houston has the edge is based on what it’s forced to do because of injuries. Without Westbrook and Gordon, Harden will be on the ball more. As we discussed earlier, Harden kills the Kings. So much so that I say we BET ROCKETS -5.5 (-110).
New to sports betting? A $110 bet on the Rockets -5.5 (-110) earns a profit of $100 if Houston beats Sacramento by 6 or more points.
Over/Under (O/U)
The 235.5 total is the highest projected Rockets-Kings total in their last five meetings. Bettors taking the Over are counting on a lot of role players’ shots to go down for Houston and another Kings player besides PG De’Aaron Fox to step up for Sacramento.
This might be a surprise for people but Houston has the most Unders in the NBA and has a 29-39 Over/Under record on the season. Rockets games have gone Under their projected totals in three of the last four and Sacramento games have gone Under in two out of three.
I “LEAN” UNDER 235.5 (-110).
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