Sacramento Kings (46-36) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (49-33)
As the NBA Play-In Tournament heats up, the Sacramento Kings, finishing with a solid 46-36 record, will face off against the New Orleans Pelicans, who notched an impressive 49-33 this season. This pivotal matchup is scheduled for Friday, April 19, 2024, at the Smoothie King Center, broadcast nationally on TNT. Both teams are vying for a playoff spot, making this game a critical one for bettors and fans alike. The game is also gaining significant attention from top online betting platforms, offering intriguing odds and betting lines.
The Sacramento Kings offense has exhibited its real power this year, by scoring 116.6 points per game with 47.7% field goal percentage. They are just deadly from deep, with 14.4 three-point shots on average made at 36.6% (the success rate). They combine this through the offensive firepower of 44 rebounds and 28.3 assists per game. However, their defense is a plus and they have had to deal with consistency in recent times, a point which is shown by their 1-4 slump of late.
To the contrary, the New Orleans Pelicans who have won four out of five of their last games, enter the game slightly stronger in form. They are averaging 115.1 ppg and a better field goal shooting of 48.6% in comparison to the Kings. They also own good defense, as evidenced by lots of blocks and steals, with an average of 8.3 steals per game and 4.6 blocks per game which slightly outperform the Kings in this category. The Pelicans’ controlled offense and tighter defense could lay the grounds of the victory under the spotlight.
Sacramento Kings vs. New Orleans Pelicans Game Info
| When: | Friday, April 19, 2024 at 9:30 PM ET |
| Where: | Smoothie King Center |
| TV: | TNT |
| Stream: | NBA League Pass |
De’Aaron Fox (PG) vs. Brandon Ingram (SF)
De’Aaron Fox has undoubtedly become the Kings’ key pillar, never missing a game this year and crashing through the stats with 26.6 points and 5.6 assists on average. His talent at stripping the ball, which averages 2 per game, together with his speed and agility means he is a tough catch for the opposition. But, on the other hand, his 2.6 turnovers per game could be the one to crack between the Pelicans’ tight defense.
Brandon Ingram, another player of the small forward role for Pelicans, has also been performing well with a stat-line of 20.8 points and 5.7 assists per game. His system; that being full-round play including 5.1 rebounds and solid defensive stats helps his team’s teamwork very much. A royal defender should be watchful as Ingram possesses such a versatile game to think about.
Those pivotal players may be the key to winning a game, since their performance could well determine its outcome. They are also the focal points of their team’s offensive schemes. Apart from directly or indirectly matching them up during the game, their unit performances will have a significant impact on the game’s result.
NBA Odds/Point Spread: New Orleans Pelicans -127, Total Odds: 219
The betting odds slightly favor the New Orleans Pelicans, reflecting their home advantage and recent form. The tight point spread of -1.5 indicates expectations of a closely contested game. The total of 219 points suggests a high-scoring affair, aligning with both teams’ offensive capabilities.
Sacramento Kings Betting Trends
While the Kings have been performing well with an admirable season record of nine wins and only one loss, their recent games have been rather inconsistent, with their only win in the last five matches. Yet they are 27-14 against the spread in road games, so perhaps it’s their spread of +1.5 line that will appeal to some punters, notably those whose pockets will benefit from the spread.
New Orleans Pelicans Betting Trends
The Pelicans recently lost two games against the spread but still kept up decent form (3-2) and that is the trend to follow. Their great displays on home soil and against the best teams give an indication that they may be able to cover the small spread in this fixture.
Sacramento Kings vs. New Orleans Pelicans 4/19/24 Betting Picks
After acknowledging the statistics and hence the current momentum, this game indeed is going to be a close one. But for the sake of statistics, the Pelicans are more effectively guarding and also looking better lately, the likelihood is that the Pelicans’ are going to win. The Pelicans are the team to cover the spread if you are backing them. Also, considering their offensive power both the teams, the bet to exceed the total is also a viable option.
In terms of NBA Play-In Tournament picks today, while the Kings show promise, the Pelicans at home with a strong finish to the season seem to be the better pick. Prop bets on key players like Ingram to exceed scoring or assist totals could also offer value given the high stakes of the game.
