The Sacramento Kings (11-11) tangle with the Los Angeles Clippers (17-7) in their final regular-season meeting Super Bowl Sunday at the Staples Center. The tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Kings-Clippers NBA odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Sacramento spoiled a 50-point game from Nikola Jokic by beating the Denver Nuggets 119-114 as 2.5-point home underdogs yesterday. Quietly, the Kings have been playing good basketball recently, winning three in a row, six of seven, and have covered in all of their last seven contests.
The Clippers have lost two of their last three entering Sunday, both of which were to Eastern Conference contenders in the Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets. Aside from those, and one to Atlanta without Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, Los Angeles has won 11 of its last 14 games.
The Kings were crushed by the Clippers in both meetings this season by a combined 57 points. Kawhi has manhandled the Kings so far this season, averaging 29.5 points per game on 72% true shooting with a 140 offensive rating and 98 defensive rating in both games.
Kings at Clippers: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:50 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Kings +290 (bet $100 to win $290) | Clippers -375 (bet $375 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Kings +8.5 (-110) | Clippers -8.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 228.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Kings at Clippers: Key injuries
Kings
- Nothing affecting gambling odds.
Clippers
- SG Paul George (foot) out
- PG Patrick Beverley (knee) out
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Kings at Clippers: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Kings 119, Clippers 114
Money line (ML)
Since I like Sacramento to cover so much, I lean KINGS (+290) for a tiny wager. Sacramento is 0-2 so far this season vs. Los Angeles but was 2-1 last season with one win coming against a Kawhi-less Clippers and the other against a PG13-less Los Angeles.
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Against the spread (ATS)
I could see Kawhi picking up the slack offensively while PG13 is out of the lineup, and that task is certainly made easier going against the Kings who have the worst defensive rating in the Association.
However, I’m not sure how Los Angeles’ defense stops Sacramento without PG13 and Pat Bev. Over their last seven games, the Kings are seventh in both net rating and effective field goal percentage. Furthermore, the Kings are pretty deep:
Sacramento has six players that average double figures in points per game including SF Harrison Barnes, who is having his best shooting season, fourth-year PG De’Aaron Fox currently playing out of his mind currently and rookie PG Tyrese Haliburton who’s BetMGM’s second-favorite to win Rookie of the Year.
It looked like Sacramento was headed towards another losing season when it fell to 5-10 after getting worked by Los Angeles Jan. 20 before turning it around and winning six of the last seven entering Sunday. Given their current form, we have to TAKE the KINGS +8.5 (-110) for 1 unit.
Over/Under (O/U)
When the Clippers are 100% healthy, they are an elite team on both sides, but until then, Los Angeles will need to outscore teams. And because Sacramento cannot play any defense, the Kings have no choice but to win shootouts. It’s by no means a lock, but I’ll BET a quarter-unit on OVER 228.5 (-110).
Want some action on this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.
Also see:
- NBA All-Star 2021: Rookies absent from initial fan voting results (Rookie Wire)
- Hoops Hype rumors: Kings | Clippers
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