The Sacramento Kings (3-1) visit Space City Thursday to play the Houston Rockets (0-2) at the Toyota Center. The tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Kings-Rockets NBA betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Kings at Rockets: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:00 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Kings +180 (bet $100 to win $180) | Rockets -225 (bet $225 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Kings +5.5 (-110) | Rockets -5.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 231.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Kings at Rockets: Key Injuries
Kings
- No one that alters the gambling lines.
Rockets
- SG Ben McLemore (COVID-19) out
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Kings at Rockets: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Kings 122, Rockets 111
Money line (ML)
Sacramento got back on track last game by beating the Denver Nuggets 125-115 as 1-point home favorites Dec. 29. This came after the Kings lost their second game of a back-to-back with the Phoenix Suns Sunday. Kings PG De’Aaron Fox leads Sacramento in points per game (20.3 PPG), but the Kings have a well-rounded attack with six players averaging double-figure points.
The Rockets are hoping to get back two former All-Stars—John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins—and a former Sixth Man of the Year—SG Eric Gordon— from their COVID-related absences.
Houston’s outbreak of COVID caused a postponement of the Rockets’ opening game vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder. As a result, the Rockets have only played two games, including a trouncing in their last time out against the Nuggets, 124-111, as 6.5-point road underdogs.
Houston has dominated its head-to-head with Sacramento, winning and covering in six of the last seven meetings. While I feel Wall will return to an All-Star form eventually, how effective do we think he’ll be in his first game back since Dec. 26, 2018?
The market is hammering Houston: Kings-Rockets opened with Houston -160 on the money line before the market steamed the Rockets up to the current price.
My preference is to roll with the House and TAKE KINGS (+180) for a quarter-unit because I like Sacramento plus the points. If it’s either/or, bet the spread.
Against the spread (ATS)
GIMME KINGS +5.5 (-110) for 1 unit, but maybe wait till closer to tip-off since the market could make Sacramento bigger underdogs.
A couple of basketball things I’ll highlight to further sell the Sacramento side is how the Kings defend the three and keeping opponents off the foul line. Everyone knows James Harden is a whiz at getting free throws, and the Rockets pioneered this 3-point revolution under Mike D’Antoni. But the Kings are fourth in opponent’s 3-point percentage and 3rd in opponent’s free-throw per field-goal attempt rate to start this season.
Over/Under (O/U)
PASS ON THE TOTAL. The market has bet the total from 227 to 231.5 so you can follow the money and hope you’re not too late to the party. I don’t have a feel for the total either way.
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Also see:
- Rockets unveil new ‘H-Town Blue’ court for Thursday’s home opener (Rockets Wire)
- Hoops Hype Rumors: Kings | Rockets
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