Sacramento Kings vs Houston Rockets Picks and Predictions December 3rd 2024

Sacramento Kings vs Houston Rockets December 3rd 2024

At 10:00 ET, the Sacramento Kings (9-12) will host the Houston Rockets (15-6) in a Western Conference matchup. The Rockets are currently favored by 2.5 points and have won three straight games. The over/under line for this game is set at 224 points.

This game will be played at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento and can be seen on NBCS. The Rockets (-137) are 2nd in the Western Conference, while the Kings (+116) are 12th in the West and have lost two straight games.

Rockets vs. Kings Key Information

The Rockets improved to 15-6 this season with a 119-116 win over the Thunder on Sunday. Houston, who were +1.5 point underdogs, not only won but also covered the spread. The total score of 235 points exceeded the O/U line of 219 by 16 points.

Houston took a 33-28 lead after the 1st quarter, but the Thunder responded by winning the next two quarters, putting the Rockets down 96-91 heading into the 4th. Houston’s defense stepped up in the final period, holding OKC to 20 points while scoring 28 to secure the win.

Fred VanVleet led the Rockets to a win over the Thunder, scoring 38 points and hitting 5 threes at a 55.6% rate. He added 12 points in the 4th quarter, while Alperen Sengun contributed 7 of his 20 points in the final period.

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Houston shot 41.3% from the field, with a 35.1% mark from beyond the arc, making 13 threes. Dillon Brooks added 16 points, with 10 coming in the opening quarter.

Defensively, the Rockets gave up 116 points to the Thunder, including a tough 3rd quarter where they allowed 36 points. However, they tightened up in the 4th, giving up just 20 points to help secure the win. Overall, Houston allowed Oklahoma City to shoot 44% from the field.

From beyond the arc, the Rockets held the Thunder to 13 made threes on 33% shooting. Houston also sent Oklahoma City to the line 25 times, with the Thunder converting 19 free throws. The Rockets finished with 36 defensive rebounds, gave up 11 offensive boards, and recorded 3 steals and 6 blocks.

The Kings dropped to 9-12 on the season after a 127-125 home loss to the Spurs on Sunday. Sacramento, who were -6.5 point favorites, not only lost the game but also failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game reached 252, surpassing the O/U line of 227 by 25 points.

Sacramento started strong, leading 42-28 after the 1st quarter. However, the Spurs chipped away at the lead, outscoring the Kings 30-23 in the 2nd quarter and 34-32 in the 3rd. Despite entering the 4th quarter with a 97-92 lead, the Kings were outscored 35-28 in the final period.

DeMar DeRozan led the Kings with 28 points and 8 assists in their 127-125 loss to the Spurs, shooting 50% from the field. Domantas Sabonis also shot 50%, contributing 25 points and 13 rebounds, while De’Aaron Fox added 23 points, despite shooting just 39.1%.

The Kings connected on 12 threes, shooting 37.5% from deep, and finished with an overall field goal percentage of 46.5%. DeRozan was key in the 4th quarter, scoring 10 points, while Malik Monk added 8 of his 19 points in the final period.

Defensively, the Kings struggled against the Spurs, allowing 127 points on 51% shooting. Sacramento gave up 28 points in the 1st quarter, 30 in the 2nd, and things got worse in the 2nd half, with 34 points allowed in the 3rd and 35 in the 4th.

The Kings also had trouble defending the three, as the Spurs hit 23 threes at a 50% clip. Sacramento sent San Antonio to the line 24 times, where they made 20 free throws. The Kings finished with 30 defensive rebounds, while giving up 8 offensive boards, and added 8 steals and 5 blocks.

For today’s matchup we are recommending to take the Rockets to secure the win, with an expected final score of 137-132. When it comes to the spread, we believe they’ll cover at -2.5.

As for the over/under, the the line is currently at 224, and our model projects the Rockets and Kings to reach a combined total of 269 points. Our bet is on taking the over.

Rockets, Clashing with Kings, Shoot for West’s Top Seed in NBA Cup

The Houston Rockets aim to stay perfect in NBA Cup play and secure the Western Conference’s top seed in the quarterfinals when they face the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night in Sacramento.

Rockets Chase Top Spot in West Group A

Houston (3-0 in NBA Cup play) has defeated the Los Angeles Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers, and Minnesota Timberwolves, holding a firm grip on first place in West Group A. A victory over Sacramento would guarantee the Rockets a home game in next week’s quarterfinals and likely secure the conference’s top seed, pending the result of the Golden State Warriors’ clash with the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday.

In stark contrast, the Kings (0-3 in NBA Cup play) have been eliminated from advancing in the tournament, but they’ll still look to play spoiler against the surging Rockets.

Rockets Rolling Behind Sengun and Veterans

Houston enters the matchup riding a three-game winning streak, including a dramatic 117-111 overtime NBA Cup victory against the Timberwolves. Since then, the Rockets have showcased their grit with a 122-115 overtime win in Philadelphia and a 119-116 triumph over Oklahoma City on Sunday.

Key to their recent success has been Alperen Sengun, the Western Conference Player of the Week, who averaged 21.3 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 9.0 assists over the past three games. Sengun credited veteran additions Fred VanVleet, who poured in 38 points against the Thunder, and Dillon Brooks, whose defensive intensity stifled Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

“Winning is fun,” Sengun said. “We learned that after we got the vets. It’s so much fun now.”

Kings Look to Bounce Back After Lineup Shake-Up

The Kings have struggled recently, losing three of their last four games, including a 115-106 road loss to Portland and a 127-125 home defeat to the San Antonio Spurs. Against San Antonio, coach Mike Brown debuted a new starting lineup, inserting Malik Monk in place of Jae Crowder. Monk responded with 19 points, joining three other starters in scoring 19 or more, but Sacramento’s bench was outscored 45-22.

“What we’ve done so far hasn’t resulted in good things in terms of our record,” Brown explained. “I feel like I needed to shake it up. It was good, but at the end of the day, we still lost.”

Crowder, who started two games after signing with Sacramento last week, moved to the bench and scored just two points in 11 minutes.

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Recent Matchups and Trends

Tuesday marks the first meeting between these teams this season. Over the past two years, the Rockets and Kings have alternated season-series sweeps. Sacramento dominated Houston 4-0 in 2022-23, but Houston turned the tables last season, winning all three matchups.

The Rockets’ recent form, coupled with Sacramento’s lineup adjustments, sets the stage for an intriguing clash.

Players to Watch

• Rockets: Alperen Sengun has been the engine driving Houston’s success, and Fred VanVleet’s leadership has added a new dimension to the team. Dillon Brooks’ defensive energy could be a key factor.
• Kings: Malik Monk will look to build on his strong performance as a starter, while De’Aaron Fox remains the heartbeat of Sacramento’s offense.

Game Outlook

The Rockets bring momentum and a perfect NBA Cup record to Sacramento, where the Kings will be eager to regain their footing. Houston’s veteran leadership and resilience have been pivotal, while Sacramento’s lineup tweaks signal urgency. Both teams have plenty to prove, making this an exciting showdown.