Los Angeles Lakers vs Sacramento Kings Picks and Predictions December 28th 2024

Los Angeles Lakers vs Sacramento Kings December 28th 2024

At 10:30 ET, the Sacramento Kings will travel to Los Angeles to take on the Lakers. The Lakers are favored by 3 points, and the over/under line is set at 223.5.

Los Angeles is 17-13 and currently sits in 5th place in the Western Conference. The Kings are 13-18 and have lost five straight games. Tip-off is scheduled for 10:30 ET and can be seen on NBCS.

Kings vs. Lakers Key Information

The Kings fell to 13-18 on the season after a 114-113 home loss to the Pistons on Thursday. Sacramento, favored by 5 points, not only lost the game but also failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game landed exactly on the O/U line of 227.

After an 11-0 run early in the game, the Kings took control, leading 91-77 going into the 4th quarter. However, they were outscored 37-22 in the final period, allowing the Pistons to come back and steal the win.

De’Aaron Fox led the Kings with 26 points in their 114-113 loss to the Pistons, scoring 14 in the 3rd quarter and 11 in the 4th. Trey Lyles added 20 points, with 15 coming in the 2nd quarter, and DeMar DeRozan contributed 19 points.

Today’s Top NBA Picks Are In! Discover expert-backed NBA basketball picks for today.

Sacramento shot 47.6% from the field and hit 14 threes at a 35.9% clip. Fox made 2 threes, shooting 28.6% from deep, while Lyles connected on 4 threes, shooting 57.1% from beyond the arc.

Despite a strong defensive effort in the 2nd and 3rd quarters, the Kings couldn’t hold off the Pistons in the 4th, giving up 37 points in a 114-113 loss. Sacramento allowed Detroit to shoot 41% from the field.

The Kings struggled to contain the Pistons from beyond the arc, giving up 17 threes on 38% shooting. They also sent Detroit to the line 25 times, where the Pistons converted 21 free throws. Sacramento finished with 36 defensive rebounds, while allowing 10 offensive boards.

The Lakers improved to 17-13 on the season with a 115-113 win over the Warriors on Wednesday. Los Angeles entered the game as +4 point underdogs and covered the spread with the victory. The total points for the game were 228, surpassing the O/U line of 220 by 8 points.

After a 23-23 tie in the 1st quarter, the Lakers took control by winning the 2nd and 3rd quarters, leading 84-76 going into the 4th. Despite being outscored 37-31 in the final quarter, they held on for the win.

LeBron James led the Lakers to a 115-113 win over the Warriors, finishing with 31 points, 10 assists, and 4 rebounds, shooting 54.5% from the field. Austin Reaves added a triple-double with 26 points, 10 assists, and 10 rebounds, hitting 4 threes at 40% efficiency.

The Lakers made 15 threes, shooting 35.7% from deep and 45.1% overall. Rui Hachimura hit 5 threes at 71.4%, contributing 18 points, including 6 in the 4th quarter. Reaves also scored 10 in the final period.

Wondering Where The Winning Picks Are?

Access Expert NBA Predictions Today!

Join Here!

Defensively, the Lakers had strong 1st and 3rd quarters, allowing just 23 and 24 points, respectively, but they struggled in the 4th, giving up 37 points. Despite this, they held the Warriors to 113 points on 46% shooting.

The Lakers had trouble defending the three, with Golden State hitting 18 threes at a 40% clip. They sent the Warriors to the line 17 times, where they made 13 free throws. Los Angeles also gave up 12 offensive rebounds while recording 6 steals and 4 blocks.

As the underdogs with a spread of +3, we recommend going with the Kings on the point spread. We not only see them covering the spread but also have a strong likelihood of winning this one outright, especially if you’re seeking a higher payout on the moneyline.

Right now, the over/under line for the game is sitting at 223.5 and given that our model is projecting 262 points between the teams, we like the over.

After Firing Coach Mike Brown, Kings Square Off with Lakers

LeBron James has the Los Angeles Lakers firing on all cylinders as they prepare to host the Sacramento Kings on Saturday, a team in turmoil following the firing of head coach Mike Brown on Friday.

LeBron Leading a Lakers Resurgence

James, days away from his 40th birthday, continues to defy Father Time, guiding the Lakers to four wins in their past five games. His latest masterpiece was a 31-point, 10-assist performance in a thrilling 115-113 Christmas Day victory over the Golden State Warriors.

James is averaging 23.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 9.0 assists this season, putting him on pace for just the third campaign in his storied career with nine or more assists per game.

The Lakers managed the win over the Warriors despite losing Anthony Davis early to an ankle injury. Austin Reaves stepped up in a big way, notching his first triple-double of the season with 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. Reaves also scored the game-winning layup with 1.7 seconds remaining.

“It’s always difficult to play without A.D., so I guess our job is even more heightened,” James said. “Everyone has to chip in, especially on the defensive end because A.D. is our anchor.”

Davis’ status for Saturday remains uncertain, leaving a significant void if his averages of 25.7 points and 11.4 rebounds are unavailable. The Lakers could get a boost with D’Angelo Russell’s expected return after he missed the Warriors game with a sprained left thumb. However, James and Rui Hachimura missed Friday’s practice due to illness.

Kings in Crisis After Brown’s Firing

Sacramento heads into the matchup reeling from a season-long five-game losing streak and without Mike Brown, who was dismissed after two-and-a-half seasons. Brown guided the Kings to a playoff berth in 2022-23, ending the franchise’s 16-year postseason drought. However, inconsistency and a 13-18 record this season led to his ouster.

Interim head coach Doug Christie takes over and faces immediate challenges. Domantas Sabonis missed Thursday’s 114-113 loss to the Detroit Pistons due to illness and did not practice Friday. His availability for Saturday is uncertain.

Dive into the stories shaping the gambling world on our news page.

The Kings’ issues were on full display against Detroit. Sacramento led by 19 points in the third quarter but allowed the Pistons to shoot 58.3 percent from 3-point range in the fourth quarter. A critical four-point play by Jaden Ivey with 3.1 seconds remaining sealed the Kings’ fate.

“We knew this was a game that was winnable,” De’Aaron Fox said. “We gave ourselves a chance to win going into the fourth quarter, and we didn’t do a good job. We gotta be able to finish games better.”

Recent History and Matchup Outlook

The Kings’ five-game skid includes two losses to the Lakers, including a 103-99 defeat on Dec. 21 in Los Angeles. The losing streak is their longest since January 2022. Sacramento will look to snap it while adjusting to a new voice on the sidelines and the uncertainty surrounding Sabonis’ return.

For the Lakers, Saturday presents an opportunity to extend their winning streak to three games and further solidify their status as playoff contenders in a tight Western Conference race. With James leading the way and potential contributions from Reaves and Russell, Los Angeles appears well-equipped to handle a struggling Kings team in transition.