Los Angeles Lakers at Sacramento Kings NBA Picks & Predictions 12/27/2018

Thursday, December 27, 2018

Golden 1 Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Los Angeles Lakers travel to Golden 1 Center to play the Sacramento Kings on Thursday, December 27, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Sacramento as 3.5 point favorites.

The Lakers head into this matchup with a mark of 20-14. They are 2nd in the Pacific Division. They have a point differential of 2.2 as they average 113.2 points per contest while giving up 111.0 per game. The Kings have an overall record of 18-15 this season. They are 4th in the Pacific Division. They average 115.1 points per game and surrender 116.4, good for a point differential of -1.3.

Valuable Los Angeles Lakers Betting Trends

The Los Angeles Lakers are 13-19-1 against the spread

The Los Angeles Lakers are 13-20-0 against the over/under

Important Sacramento Kings Betting Trends

The Sacramento Kings are 21-12-0 against the spread

The Sacramento Kings are 22-11-0 against the over/under

Key Los Angeles Lakers Injuries

12/25/18 C JaVale McGee Flu is questionable Thursday vs Sacramento
12/25/18 SF LeBron James Groin left last game, is questionable Thursday vs Sacramento
12/16/18 SF Michael Beasley Personal is out indefinitely

Key Sacramento Kings Injuries

12/15/18 F Marvin Bagley III Knee is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Kyle Kuzma averages 18.1 points per game in 32.4 minutes per contest. He averages 2.3 assists per contest and 5.7 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 48% for the year while his free throw percentage is 76%. LeBron James comes into this contest averaging 27.3 points per game while playing 34.6 minutes per night. He pulls down 8.3 rebounds per game and dishes out 7.1 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 52% while his free throw percentage is at 68%.

Player Spotlight

De'Aaron Fox averages 18.1 points per game and he sees the court an average of 31.8 minutes per contest. He also averages 3.4 rebounds per contest and 7.5 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is 72%. Buddy Hield averages 20.4 points per game while playing 31.2 minutes per contest. He grabs 5.2 rebounds per game and has 2.4 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is at 85%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Lakers allow 111.0 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 18th in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc, ranking them 9th and 15th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 45.9 rebounds a game which ranks 22nd, and they give up 24.0 assists per contest which puts them in 16th place in the league. They force 14.2 turnovers per game which ranks them 17th in the league. Los Angeles averages 113.2 points per contest this season, which ranks them 9th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 2.2 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team, which has them ranked 3rd. Behind the arc they shoot 35% which is good for 18th in the league. They average 46.1 rebounds per game and 24.4 assists per contest, which ranks them 9th and 15th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 6th with 15.1 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Kings surrender 116.4 points per contest, which ranks them 28th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 47% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 26th and 8th in those defensive statistics. They rank 23rd with 25.3 assists allowed per contest, and 30th with 48.6 rebounds surrendered per game. The Kings are 28th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 16.3 per game. Sacramento is 5th in the league with 115.1 points per game this year. They are 9th in the league in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is -1.3. They shoot 39% from 3-point range, which is good for 2nd in the NBA. They are 19th in the league in rebounding with 44.2 boards per game and 6th in assists per contest with 25.5. The Kings are 21st in turnovers per game with 13.5.

Advanced Statistics

The Lakers are 17th in the NBA in offensive rating with 110, and their defensive rating of 107.8 is ranked 10th. In terms of pace they are 4th in the league with 102.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 4th. As a team they are 9th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shots, ranking 16th in the league. Los Angeles is 8th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.2 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 23rd in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Sacramento is 26th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.8 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 54%, which is 5th in the league. The Kings are 15th in the NBA in offensive rating with 110.8, and their defensive rating of 112 is ranked 21st. In terms of pace they are 2nd in the league with 103.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 5th. As a team they are 10th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 33% of their shots, ranking 22nd in the league.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Sacramento -3.5

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