Sacramento Kings at New Orleans Pelicans NBA Picks & Predictions 12/8/2017

Friday, December 8, 2017

Smoothie King Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Sacramento Kings head to Smoothie King Center to take on the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday, December 8, 2017. The opening line for this game has New Orleans as 4 point favorites.

The Kings come into this game with an overall record of 7-17. They are 5th in the Pacific Division. They currently have a point differential of -9.9 as they are averaging 95.6 points per game while giving up 105.5 per contest. The Pelicans have an overall mark of 13-12. They currently are 3rd in the Southwest Division. They are averaging 109.4 points per contest and giving up 110.2, which is a point differential of -0.8.

Valuable Sacramento Kings Betting Trends

The Sacramento Kings are 10-11-3 against the spread

The Sacramento Kings are 13-11-0 against the over/under

Important New Orleans Pelicans Betting Trends

The New Orleans Pelicans are 14-11-0 against the spread

The New Orleans Pelicans are 14-11-0 against the over/under

Key Sacramento Kings Injuries

12/06/17 C Willie Cauley-Stein Back is OUT Friday vs New Orleans
10/18/17 F Harry Giles Knee is out indefinitely

Key New Orleans Pelicans Injuries

12/07/17 F Anthony Davis Groin is doubtful Friday vs Sacramento
10/20/17 C Alexis Ajinca Knee is out indefinitely
10/14/17 F Solomon Hill Hamstring is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

De'Aaron Fox comes into this game averaging 10.1 points per contest while playing 26.2 minutes per night so far this year. He grabs 3.2 rebounds per contest and distributes 4.1 assists per game. His FG percentage is 41% while his free throw percentage is 70%. Buddy Hield averages 12 points per contest in 22.4 minutes per game this year. He averages 1.6 assists per game and 3.7 rebounds per contest for Sacramento. His field goal percentage is 45% for the season while his free throw percentage is 88%.

Player Spotlight

Jrue Holiday has scored 16.7 points per contest while playing 36.4 minutes per game this season for the Pelicans. He hauls in 4.3 rebounds per contest and has 5.6 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is at 85%. Demarcus Cousins averages 25.9 points per game this year and he's on the court an average of 35.6 minutes per game. He also brings in 12.6 rebounds per game and 5.1 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is 74%.

Useful Team Statistics

Sacramento averages 95.6 points per contest this year, which is 30th in the league. Their average scoring margin is -9.83 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a unit, which has them ranked 25th. From 3-point territory they shoot 38%, which is good for 5th in the NBA. They average 39.4 boards per contest and 20.5 assists per game, which ranks them 28th and 26th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 19th with 14.7 per game. The Kings allow 105.5 points per contest which is 15th in the NBA. They also surrender a 48% shooting percentage and a 39% average from 3-point range, ranking them 28th and 29th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 44.1 rebounds a game which ranks 23rd, and they allow 24.5 assists per game which puts them in 26th place in the league. They force 15.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 21st in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

New Orleans is 6th in the NBA with 109.4 points per contest this season. They are 3rd in the league in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is -0.8. They shoot 36% from beyond the arc, which is good for 18th in the league. They are 14th in the NBA in rebounding with 44 boards per contest and 2nd in assists per game with 26.2. The Pelicans are 7th in turnovers per contest with 16.2. The Pelicans give up 110.2 points per game, which ranks them 27th in the league. Their defense is surrendering a 46% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 18th and 22nd in those defensive statistics. They rank 21st with 23.8 dimes allowed per game and 20th with 43.7 boards surrendered per contest. The Pelicans are 13th in the league in forcing turnovers with 14.8 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Kings are 29th in the NBA in offensive rating with 100.8, and their defensive rating of 111.1 is ranked 3rd. In terms of pace they are 28th in the league with 94.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 49% is 28th. As a team they are 29th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 52% and they shoot 3-pointers on 25% of their shots, ranking 30th in the league. Sacramento is 14th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.7 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 55%, which is 1st in the league.

Advanced Statistics

New Orleans is 8th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.1 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 12th in the league. The Pelicans are 9th in the NBA in offensive rating with 108.6, and their defensive rating of 109.4 is ranked 11th. In terms of pace they are 6th in the league with 100.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 55% is 5th. As a team they are 5th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shots, ranking 11th in the league.

Who will win tonight's Kings/Pelicans NBA game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take Sacramento +4

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