Sacramento Kings vs Oklahoma City Thunder Picks and Predictions November 25th 2024

Kings vs Thunder November 25th 2024

At 10:00 ET, the 12-4 Thunder (-183) will travel to Sacramento to take on the 8-9 Kings (+156). The Thunder are favored by 4.5 points and the over/under line is set at 223.5.

Both teams are in the Western Conference, with the Thunder sitting in 2nd place and the Kings in 12th. Sacramento has lost three straight games and is 5th in the Pacific Division.

Thunder vs. Kings Key Information

With a 109-99 win over the Trail Blazers on Wednesday, the Thunder improved to 12-4 this season. Playing at home, Oklahoma City was favored by 12.5 points but didn’t cover the spread. The game’s total points of 208 fell short of the 222-point over/under line.

Portland went on a 10-0 run early, but the Thunder responded by winning the 2nd quarter 26-21. After a close 3rd quarter, Oklahoma City pulled away in the 4th, outscoring the Blazers 39-30 to seal the win.

Jalen Williams hit 5 threes at a 55.6% clip and led the Thunder with 30 points, 8 assists, and 7 rebounds in their win over the Trail Blazers. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 28 points despite shooting just 36.8%, and Alex Caruso contributed 17 points, shooting 72.7% from the field.

Overall, the Thunder shot 44% from the field and made just 9 threes at a 29% rate. Williams scored 10 points in the 3rd quarter and 11 in the 4th, while Gilgeous-Alexander added 13 points in the final period.

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The Thunder put together a strong defensive performance on Wednesday, holding the Trail Blazers to 99 points. Oklahoma City limited Portland to 23 points in the 1st quarter and 21 in the 2nd, allowing just 25 in the 3rd before giving up 30 in the 4th. Overall, the Thunder held the Blazers to 40% shooting from the field.

From beyond the arc, Portland connected on 15 threes, shooting 39%. The Blazers also went to the line 28 times, making 20 free throws. The Thunder gave up 16 offensive rebounds but came up with 14 steals and 8 blocks.

The Kings fell to 8-9 on the season after a 108-103 home loss to the Nets on Sunday. Sacramento, favored by 10.5 points, not only lost but also failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were 211, falling short of the 223.5-point line.

After a slow start, the Kings trailed 37-28 after the 1st quarter. They edged the Nets 29-28 in the 2nd and took control in the 3rd, outscoring Brooklyn 31-23. However, they couldn’t maintain momentum in the 4th, scoring just 15 points to the Nets’ 20.

De’Aaron Fox led the Kings with 31 points and 5 assists in their 108-103 loss to the Nets, shooting 62.5% from the field and hitting 3 threes at a 75% rate. Fox was particularly effective in the first half, scoring 14 points in the 1st quarter and adding 10 more in the 2nd.

Keegan Murray contributed 21 points and 8 rebounds, while DeMar DeRozan added 18 points, with 6 coming in the final quarter. The Kings shot 48.1% from the field, but struggled from beyond the arc, making just 9 threes at a 36% clip.

The Kings struggled defensively in the 1st quarter, allowing 37 points, but they tightened up as the game went on, giving up just 23 points in the 3rd and 20 in the 4th. Despite the improved defense, they couldn’t overcome their early deficit, allowing the Nets to shoot 48% from the field.

From beyond the arc, the Kings had a tough time, as the Nets hit 19 threes at a 48% clip. Sacramento sent Brooklyn to the line 25 times, where they made 17 free throws. The Kings gave up 6 offensive rebounds and recorded 6 steals and 6 blocks.

The Kings come in as the underdog at +4.5, making them our top choice on the point spread. We not only expect them to cover the spread but also believe they have a strong chance of winning the game outright, especially if you’re aiming for a higher moneyline payout.

As for the total, the line is currently sitting at 223.5 and our model has the Thunder and Kings finishing with a combined 236 points. Our pick is to take the over.

Thunder’s Isaiah Hartenstein Aims to Make Impact vs. Kings

Isaiah Hartenstein’s return to action has been a timely boost for the Oklahoma City Thunder, especially with star center Chet Holmgren sidelined by a fractured pelvis. Hartenstein made a notable impact in his season debut and will look to build on that performance as the Thunder visit the Sacramento Kings on Monday night.

Hartenstein missed Oklahoma City’s first 15 games due to a broken left hand but made his presence felt immediately. In Wednesday’s 109-99 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, he contributed 13 points, 14 rebounds, and four blocks in 29 minutes off the bench.

“He’s still a little bit rusty out there,” Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said. “But he changed the game for sure. He’s an anchor. He sees everything, lets you know early and loud. And it’s great to have that behind you.”

Elevated Role for Hartenstein

Signed in the offseason to a three-year, $87 million contract after a career-best season with the New York Knicks, Hartenstein was initially expected to support Holmgren in the frontcourt. With Holmgren out for approximately two more months, Hartenstein’s responsibilities have grown significantly.

Jalen Williams, who stepped into an interior role during Holmgren and Hartenstein’s absence, praised the work Hartenstein put in during his recovery.

“I think just coming in there day in and day out, knowing you have to condition and work on your game without your dominant hand, is tough,” Williams said. “He made the most of it, and now he’s coming back.”

The Thunder are entering a challenging stretch, with 10 of their next 12 games on the road, beginning with Monday’s matchup in Sacramento.

Kings in Search of Answers

The Kings, meanwhile, are looking to snap a season-worst three-game losing streak after a 108-103 home loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday. Sacramento struggled defensively, allowing 19 3-pointers (13 in the first half) and committing 16 turnovers that led to 24 points for Brooklyn.

“To give up 13 made 3s the way we did in the first half is tough to live with,” Kings coach Mike Brown said. “On top of that, we turned the ball over. Somehow, someway, we have to do a better job of taking care of the basketball.”

De’Aaron Fox has been a bright spot for Sacramento, averaging 39.4 points over his past five games, including a franchise-record 60-point performance against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Nov. 15. However, he scored just one point in the fourth quarter against Brooklyn, taking only three shots and missing all of them.

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“We would rather see Foxy stay aggressive, too,” Brown said, while noting that other players like DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis also struggled in the closing minutes.

Key Matchup

The Thunder and Kings split their four meetings last season, and Monday’s game could hinge on whether Hartenstein and Oklahoma City’s defense can contain Fox’s offensive firepower. Sacramento’s ability to clean up its perimeter defense and limit turnovers will also be critical in avoiding a fourth straight loss.