New Orleans Pelicans at Sacramento Kings NBA Picks & Predictions 12/23/2018

Sunday, December 23, 2018

Golden 1 Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The New Orleans Pelicans travel to Golden 1 Center to play the Sacramento Kings on Sunday, December 23, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has New Orleans as 1.5 point favorites.

The Pelicans have a record of 15-18. They are 5th in the Southwest Division. They have a point differential of 1.1 as they average 116.3 points per game while giving up 115.2 per contest. The Kings have an overall record of 17-15 this season. They are 4th in the Pacific Division. They average 114.9 points per game and surrender 116.4, good for a point differential of -1.5.

Valuable New Orleans Pelicans Betting Trends

The New Orleans Pelicans are 15-18-0 against the spread

The New Orleans Pelicans are 16-16-0 against the over/under

Important Sacramento Kings Betting Trends

The Sacramento Kings are 20-12-0 against the spread

The Sacramento Kings are 21-11-0 against the over/under

Key New Orleans Pelicans Injuries

12/21/18 G Ian Clark Ankle is out indefinitely
12/11/18 F Nikola Mirotic Ankle is out indefinitely
11/18/18 PG Elfrid Payton Finger is out indefinitely

Key Sacramento Kings Injuries

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

Player Spotlight

Anthony Davis averages 28.1 points per game in 36.9 minutes per contest. He averages 4.7 assists per contest and 12.6 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 51% for the year while his free throw percentage is 81%. Jrue Holiday comes into this contest averaging 20.6 points per game while playing 36.8 minutes per night. He pulls down 4.3 rebounds per game and dishes out 8.8 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 47% while his free throw percentage is at 76%.

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 3.5 rebounds per contest and 7.4 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is 72%. Buddy Hield averages 20.1 points per game while playing 31.0 minutes per contest. He grabs 5.1 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 86%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Pelicans allow 115.2 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 26th in the league. They also allow a 47% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc, ranking them 21st and 16th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 44.3 rebounds a game which ranks 15th, and they give up 25.3 assists per contest which puts them in 25th place in the league. They force 13.4 turnovers per game which ranks them 9th in the league. New Orleans averages 116.3 points per contest this season, which ranks them 2nd in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 1.1 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team, which has them ranked 5th. Behind the arc they shoot 35% which is good for 15th in the league. They average 47.4 rebounds per game and 27.2 assists per contest, which ranks them 5th and 2nd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 8th with 14.8 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 25th and 10th in those defensive statistics. They rank 24th with 25.3 assists allowed per contest, and 29th with 48.3 rebounds surrendered per game. The Kings are 29th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 16.4 per game. Sacramento is 4th in the league with 114.9 points per game this year. They are 8th in the league in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is -1.5. They shoot 39% from 3-point range, which is good for 3rd in the NBA. They are 19th in the league in rebounding with 44.1 boards per game and 6th in assists per contest with 25.5. The Kings are 19th in turnovers per game with 13.7.

Advanced Statistics

The Pelicans are 6th in the league in defensive rating with 112.2, and their offensive rating of 113.2 is ranked 22nd. They are 4th in the NBA in pace with 102.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 7th. As a unit they are 8th in the league in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shot attempts, ranking 25th in the NBA. New Orleans is 11th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.6 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 8th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Sacramento is 25th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.9 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 110.7, and their defensive rating of 112.1 is ranked 21st. In terms of pace they are 2nd in the league with 103.8 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 Pelicans/Kings NBA game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Sacramento +1.5

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