Sacramento Kings vs. Los Angeles Lakers Preview
The Sacramento Kings, languishing at the bottom of the Western Conference with a record of 14 wins and 47 losses, will face off against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night at 9:30 p.m. EST. This clash features two teams in starkly different situations as the Lakers currently sit sixth in the conference with 35 wins and 24 losses.
Game Odds and Team Performance
According to the odds from BetMGM, Los Angeles is favored by 13.5 points, with the total points projected at 231.5. In conference play, the Lakers have performed well, boasting a record of 24 wins and 15 losses. Defensively, they rank high among Western teams, limiting opponents to an average of just 115.6 points per game and maintaining a shooting average against of 48.6%.
In contrast, the Kings have struggled greatly, with a conference record of 10 wins and 31 losses. Their performance diminishes when they commit more turnovers than their opponents, leading to a 11-21 record in such situations; they currently average 13.8 turnovers each game. The Lakers excel in the three-point game, averaging 11.8 successful shots from beyond the arc each match, slightly less than the 13.1 three-pointers Sacramento’s defense allows.
Previous Encounters
This matchup marks the fourth encounter between these teams this season; Sacramento managed to claim a victory in their previous meeting on January 13, winning 124-112.
Key Players to Watch
Key players to watch include Luka Doncic of the Lakers, who is putting up impressive numbers with an average of 32.6 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 8.6 assists per game. Teammate Austin Reaves has stepped up recently, averaging 17.9 points over his last ten games. For the Kings, DeMar DeRozan leads the team with an average of 18.4 points and 3.9 assists, while Nique Clifford has averaged 1.6 three-pointers in the last ten games.
Recent Performance and Injuries
When looking at recent performance, the Lakers have gone 5-5 over their last ten games, scoring an average of 112.8 points, with a shooting percentage of 50.3%. Their opponents managed to score an average of 113 points per game against them. Meanwhile, the Kings have struggled with a 2-8 record in their last ten outings, averaging 111.5 points and allowing a staggering 124.9 points against them, despite shooting 44.4% from the field.
In terms of injuries, the Lakers have Rui Hachimura listed as day-to-day due to an illness, while Sacramento faces greater challenges with several key players sidelined: Domantas Sabonis is out for the season due to a back injury, Dylan Cardwell is out with an ankle issue, De’Andre Hunter is out for the season (eye), Zach LaVine is also out (finger), and Keegan Murray is dealing with an ankle injury.
