Brooklyn Starts Home Stand Against Sacramento
The Sacramento Kings are on their last road trip of the season, just four games, playing the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday. This will be the Nets’ first game home after five on the road. Both teams have been solid NBA picks going 7-3 in their last 10 games against the spread (ATS).
In the first of a back-to-back, the Kings beat the Chicago Bulls 117-114 on a buzzer-beating three by De’Aaron Fox, who finished with 32 points. The Nets lost in their last game 121-107, facing the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, despite Mikal Bridges having his fifth 30-point game in the last seven.
Kings’ Defensive Issues Continue
The Kings are in second place in the Western Conference, well on to making the playoffs for the first time in 16 years. It looks like a foregone conclusion that they will make it, with their NBA odds gradually increasing.
Sacramento has relied on its offense to get into this position. The Kings have the best offensive rating in the league, averaging 121.3 points per game. However, the defense has been the team’s biggest drawback, being put on full display against the Milwaukee Bucks at home.
The game against the Bucks was the Kings’ first real matchup with a healthy title contender. For the most part, they held their own, only losing 133-124, behind Domantas Sabonis’s impressive 23 points, 17 rebounds, and 15 assists, with Fox scoring 35. However, they would allow the Bucks to completely control the second half, giving up 80 points, to lose the game.
Things got chippy between the Kings-Bucks at the end of the game 👀 pic.twitter.com/rLlRp8V2Sf
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) March 14, 2023
The team’s frustration on defense boiled over when
Nets Back Home
After a long road trip, the Nets are back home looking to keep solidifying their NBA playoff odds. The road trip might have done a lot to help build Brooklyn’s confidence, but only going 3-2. One loss was against the Bucks in a game where the Nets rested all their starters but stayed competitive.
Sure, the road trip ended with a loss, but they also had a controlling win over the Houston Rockets, then beat the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets by one point. Those last two wins will mean a lot going forward, especially now that the Nets have four straight at home against tough opponents.
This is madness, Mikal Bridges 🔥 pic.twitter.com/CviurVcusU
— Nets Nation (@NetsNationCP) March 15, 2023
On top of that, the Nets have found an offensive gem in Bridges. He has looked impressive, and his offensive game has been much better than anticipated.
Kings vs Nets Game Injuries
Kings vs Nets Head-to-Head
Last season the Kings and Nets split their two-game series, each team winning at home. They have already played once this season on Nov. 15, with the Kings winning 153-121, showing off that offensive ability. Sabonis and Fox weren’t even the leading scorers, with Terence Davis going off for 31 points.
Kings vs Nets Game Information
- Game: Kings (41-27) vs Nets (39-30)
- Location: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
- Day/Time: Thursday, March 16, 7:30 p.m. EST
- Kings vs Nets Live stream: NBA Game Pass
Kings vs Nets Betting Lines
Kings vs Nets Picks and Prediction
This game will be hard to include in your NBA picks. Both teams have been playing well and must keep winning to prepare for the playoffs. They also have something to prove, being underdogs in their respective conferences.
There is a good chance this game is high scoring and close, making taking the over on the points total a compelling option. However, despite their better record, the Kings are the underdog in this game but should be able to win or at least cover the 2½-points spread.
The Brooklyn Nets are listed at -145 in our Vegas NBA lines. This means that if you wager $100 on the Kings, you have a chance to win $69. The Sacramento Kings are +125, offering a chance to win $125 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives the Brooklyn Nets a 59.18% chance to win, with the Sacramento Kings at 44.44%.
Kings vs Nets Trends
Kings vs Nets Edge
Kings vs Nets Results
Kings vs Nets Game Summary
Nets vs Kings Previous Game (Nov 15, 2023)
The Brooklyn Nets and Sacramento Kings will clash on prime-time television on Tuesday night. Sacramento will be buzzing as this is only one of two national prime-time games this season. Meanwhile, Brooklyn is used to the spotlight as drama continues to swirl around the franchise.
The Kings (6-6) are on a three-game winning streak and have overachieved with a 9-3 record against the spread (ATS). The Nets (6-8), on the other hand, started the season slow but are beginning to find their groove.
The Nets are no stranger to the road over the last two weeks. Tuesday’s game will be Brooklyn’s sixth road game over the last eight contests. The Nets have played well in away games, going 4-1 ATS in the last five.
As mentioned, Brooklyn’s defense has vastly improved. Neither of these teams plays at a fast pace, ranking in the bottom 12 of field goal attempts per game. The Nets will cover and win as they go against one of the NBA’s worst defenses. Brooklyn has gone under in seven of the last eight, and that will continue.
