The Sacramento Kings will stay in Houston just after running through the Rockets’ defense like it was nothing two days ago. The teams will play back-to-back games, with the Kings winning the first 140-120.
At the moment, the Kings find themselves as one of the top teams in the Western Conference, in third place. On the other hand, the Houston Rockets have the worst record in the league.
Let’s check the latest NBA news, stats, injury report, and NBA lines for the Kings vs Rockets. We’ve got plenty of NBA picks for you to consider.
Kings Offense Back on Top
In the two games before beating the Rockets, the Kings‘ offense had struggled. They are averaging 119.3 points per game, the best in the NBA, and have the second-highest offensive rating. However, the team had just 104 points in losses to the Indiana Pacers and New Orleans Pelicans.
De’Aaron Fox missed those games due to the birth of his child, proving how crucial he has been to this team. Despite not being named an All-Star, Fox is averaging 24.1 points and 6.2 assists per game. He returned to the court with 16 points and eight assists against the Rockets.
However, the star of the win over the Rockets was rookie Keegan Murray, who finished with a career-high 30 points and set a Kings rookie record with eight threes. He was in a mini-slump, with four of his last five games in single-digit scoring, but this could break him out of that.
The lone All-Star, Domantas Sabonis, had 17 points, seven rebounds, and 10 assists in the win. When this offense is healthy, it can go bucket-for-bucket with just about any team.
Rockets Lack Defensive Effort
The Houston Rockets season only seems to be looking worse and worse as it carries on. When they get on the court, the team’s objective does not seem to align with winning, focusing on their young players gaining experience and aiming for higher draft lottery odds. That mindset could be detrimental to a young player’s career in the long run.
Over the last two games, the defensive effort may have gotten even worse. Before giving up 140 points against the Kings, the Oklahoma City Thunder scored 153. It’s not like the Rockets have the best defense, but at least they’re not last, 25th in points allowed and 28th in defensive rating.
The defensive effort shown in the Kings game led to head coach Stephen Silas being visibly unhappy with his team during the post-game conference, saying, “They’re not giving the effort on the defensive end.”
Stephen Silas: “They’re not giving the effort on the defensive end.” pic.twitter.com/PTRLmoEVTe
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) February 7, 2023
The offense didn’t seem to take a hit in both losses. They scored 120 points against the Kings and 121 facing the Thunder, but the defense had already given up big leads, so the scoring didn’t matter. These are the signs of a directionless young team, and there isn’t much hope for immediate change.
Kings vs Rockets Game Injuries
Kings vs Rockets Head-to-Head
The Kings have won the last five games against the Rockets. The Kings’ offense has had its way with the Rockets’ defense, especially this season, with their lowest-scoring game being 135.
Kings vs Rockets Game Information
- Game: Kings (30-23) vs Rockets (13-41)
- Location: Toyota Center, Houston, TX
- Day/Time: Wednesday, Feb. 8, 8:00 p.m. EST
- Kings vs RocketsLive Stream: NBA Game Pass
Kings vs Rockets Betting Lines
Kings vs Rockets Picks and Prediction
This game is a clash between opposites, arguably one of the best offenses facing one of the worst defenses. The Rockets’ defense has already proven three times they can’t slow down the Kings’ offense, and that is not likely to change in this upcoming game, despite Silas’ frustration.
The only way this game might be close is if the Kings’ defense takes a night off and the Rockets adjust after the recent loss. Neither seems likely to happen, possibly leading to another big win for the Kings.
The Sacramento Kings are listed at -330 in our Vegas NBA lines. This means that if you wager $100 on the Kings, you have a chance to win $30. The Houston Rockets is +270, offering a chance to win $270 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the NBA betting lines gives the Sacramento Kings a 76.74% chance to win, with the Houston Rockets at 27.03%.
The odds and predictions in the article are based on the time of writing and publication. They may differ as to when the actual event takes place.
Kings vs Rockets Trends
Kings vs Rockets Edge
Kings vs Rockets Results
Kings vs Rockets Game Summary
Kings vs Rockets Previous Game (Feb. 06, 2023)
The Sacramento Kings have improved to 29-23 and are looking to topple the struggling Houston Rockets on Monday.
NBA odds have the Kings at -5½, so expectations are high. They also have a winning road record of 13-12, so confidence should be somewhat high as well.
The Kings could be a risky bet if Fox doesn’t play, so we’re taking the Rockets to keep it close.
The +5½ line is smaller than expected, but the Rockets just need to defend with some heart to cover it.
Include under 234½ in what could be a tight battle.
