San Antonio Spurs (11-44) vs. Sacramento Kings (31-23)
The San Antonio Spurs will face the Sacramento Kings on Thursday at the Golden 1 Center. The Spurs have struggled this season with just 11 wins compared to 44 losses, while the Kings have fared much better at 31-23. With the teams trending in opposite directions, the Kings are heavy favorites at home. This matchup provides an opportunity to get in on the action with some of the top online betting sites.
The Spurs enter this game as one of the worst teams in the NBA on both offense and defense. They average just 111.8 points per game on 45.9% shooting. Defensively they allow the 4th most points in the league at 117.5 per contest. The Spurs have lost 8 of their last 9 games and will need a miraculous effort to compete with the Kings.
The Kings offense has clicked all season, averaging 118.4 points on 48.2% shooting from the field. They’ve won 4 of their last 6 games and score nearly 7 more points per game at home. With the league’s 7th ranked offense and playing on their home court, the Kings should have no issues putting up points against the lowly Spurs defense.
San Antonio Spurs vs. Sacramento Kings Game Info
When: | Thursday, February 22, 2024 at 10:00 PM ET |
Where: | Golden 1 Center |
TV: | NBCS-CA |
Stream: | NBA League Pass |
Victor Wembanyama (C) vs. De’Aaron Fox (PG)
Victor Wembanyama has taken the league by storm in his rookie season, averaging 20.5 points, 10 rebounds and a league-leading 3.2 blocks per game. Though prone to rookie mistakes with 3.5 turnovers per game, Wembanyama is a force inside, pulling down 7.9 defensive rebounds and tacking on another 2.1 offensive boards each contest. His rare size and skillset make him a constant triple-double threat.
De’Aaron Fox continues his ascension into stardom, leading the Kings with 26.8 points and 5.5 assists per game while shooting an efficient 49% from the field. Though lacking in size, Fox excels using his top-tier quickness to get into the lane and create offense. His scoring prowess also translates to the free throw line, where he shoots 84% on 5.3 attempts per contest. With the ball in his hands late in games, Fox delivers crunch time scoring.
This matchup pits Wembanyama’s interior dominance against Fox’s perimeter potency. Wembanyama’s towering presence deters drives to the basket, an area Fox thrives. However, Fox’s quickness poses issues for Wembanyama on switches during scrambled defensive possessions. Ultimately, Fox has the more well-rounded cast to help mitigate these potential disadvantages.
NBA Odds/Point Spread: Sacramento Kings -769, Total Odds: 244.5
The Kings enter as heavy 12-point favorites with the total set at 244.5. The Kings high-powered offense should allow them to cover this large spread, while the over looks enticing given both teams’ defensive struggles. The Kings present significant value on both the spread and moneyline at home against the lowly Spurs.
San Antonio Spurs Betting Trends
The Spurs have failed to cover in 5 of their last 6 games overall and 6 of the last 7 matchups with the Kings. Furthermore, they’ve gone under in 10 of their previous 11 contests. With their poor offense and road woes, the trends clearly favor the under and Kings against the spread. Backing the Spurs requires betting on an extreme long shot.
Sacramento Kings Betting Trends
Despite some occasional letdowns, the Kings trends paint a profitable picture for bettors. They’ve covered in 4 of their last 6 overall and the over has hit in 6 of the last 8. In addition, they’ve beaten the total in 4 of the last 5 contests with the Spurs at home. Riding the Kings moneyline and over in this matchup gives oddsmakers and trends in agreement.
San Antonio Spurs vs. Sacramento Kings 2/22/24 Betting Picks
Given the trends and performance of both teams, the Sacramento Kings appear to be the safer bet, especially considering their home court advantage and offensive firepower. The Spurs’ struggles, particularly on the road, make it difficult to back them, even with a significant points spread.
For basketball free picks, taking the Kings to cover the spread seems like a sound choice, considering their scoring ability and the Spurs’ defensive woes. The total going OVER 244.5 is also a tempting pick, given both teams’ offensive output in recent games.