Sacramento Kings at Dallas Mavericks NBA Picks & Predictions 12/16/2018

Sunday, December 16, 2018

American Airlines Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Sacramento Kings travel to American Airlines Center to play the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, December 16, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Dallas as 5 point favorites.

The Kings head into this matchup with a mark of 15-13. They are 4th in the Pacific Division. They have a point differential of -0.4 as they average 115.6 points per contest while giving up 116.0 per game. The Mavericks have an overall record of 15-12 this season. They are 2nd in the Southwest Division. They average 109.4 points per game and surrender 107.6, good for a point differential of 1.8.

Valuable Sacramento Kings Betting Trends

The Sacramento Kings are 18-10-0 against the spread

The Sacramento Kings are 18-10-0 against the over/under

Important Dallas Mavericks Betting Trends

The Dallas Mavericks are 17-10-0 against the spread

The Dallas Mavericks are 13-14-0 against the over/under

Key Sacramento Kings Injuries

12/15/18 G Iman Shumpert Hip left last game, is questionable Sunday vs Dallas
12/15/18 F Marvin Bagley III Knee is out indefinitely

Key Dallas Mavericks Injuries

12/15/18 PG Dennis Smith Jr. Wrist is questionable Sunday vs Sacramento
12/14/18 PG J.J. Barea Ankle is questionable Sunday vs Sacramento

Player Spotlight

De'Aaron Fox comes into this contest averaging 18.1 points per game while playing 32.4 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 3.6 rebounds per game and dishes out 7.6 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 48% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 72%. Buddy Hield averages 18.9 points per game in 30.8 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.5 assists per contest and 5.2 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 48% for the year while his free throw percentage is 83%.

Player Spotlight

Luka Doncic averages 17.8 points per game while playing 32.3 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 6.8 rebounds per game and has 4.5 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage is at 78%. Harrison Barnes averages 17.9 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 31.7 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.4 rebounds per contest and 1.2 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is 80%.

Useful Team Statistics

Sacramento averages 115.6 points per contest this season, which ranks them 5th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -0.4 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team, which has them ranked 3rd. Behind the arc they shoot 39% which is good for 2nd in the league. They average 44.3 rebounds per game and 25.8 assists per game, which ranks them 18th and 6th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 18th with 14.0 per game. The Kings allow 116.0 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 28th in the league. They also allow a 47% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the arc, ranking them 25th and 7th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 47.3 rebounds a game which ranks 28th and they give up 25.0 assists per contest, which puts them in 22nd place in the league. They force 16.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 29th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Dallas is 18th in the league with 109.4 points per game this year. They are 14th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 1.8. They shoot 35% from 3-point range, which is good for 21st in the NBA. They are 13th in the league in rebounding with 45.6 boards per game, and 22nd in assists per contest with 22.7. The Mavericks are 3rd in turnovers per game with 16.0. The Mavericks surrender 107.6 points per contest, which ranks them 8th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 15th and 21st in those defensive statistics. They rank 14th with 23.7 assists allowed per contest and 3rd with 42.1 rebounds surrendered per game. The Mavericks are 23rd in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 15.1 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Kings are 12th in the league in defensive rating with 111.6, and their offensive rating of 111.2 is ranked 21st. They are 2nd in the NBA in pace with 103.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 4th. As a unit they are 6th 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. Sacramento is 21st in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.1 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 54%, which is 7th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Dallas is 4th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.5 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 15th in the NBA. The Mavericks are 18th in the league in defensive rating with 107.6, and their offensive rating of 109.4 is ranked 8th. They are 16th in the NBA in pace with 99.6 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 12th. As a unit they are 10th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 39% of their shot attempts, ranking 5th in the NBA.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Sacramento +5

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