Sacramento Kings at Los Angeles Lakers NBA Picks & Predictions 12/30/2018

Sunday, December 30, 2018

Staples Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Sacramento Kings head to Staples Center to take on the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, December 30, 2018. The opening line for this game has Sacramento as 1.5 point favorites.

The Kings head into this matchup with a mark of 19-16. They are 4th in the Pacific Division. They have a point differential of -1.4 as they average 115.3 points per contest while giving up 116.7 per game. The Lakers have an overall mark of 20-16. They currently are 3rd in the Pacific Division. They total 113.1 points per contest and give up 111.4, which is a point differential of 1.8.

Valuable Sacramento Kings Betting Trends

The Sacramento Kings are 21-14-0 against the spread this season

The Sacramento Kings are 24-11-0 against the over/under this year

Important Los Angeles Lakers Betting Trends

The Los Angeles Lakers are 15-19-1 against the spread this season

The Los Angeles Lakers are 14-21-0 against the over/under this year

Key Sacramento Kings Injuries

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

Key Los Angeles Lakers Injuries

12/28/18 C JaVale McGee Flu is questionable Sunday vs Sacramento
12/28/18 PG Rajon Rondo Finger is out indefinitely
12/26/18 SF LeBron James Groin is out indefinitely
12/16/18 SF Michael Beasley Personal is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Buddy Hield comes into this game averaging 19.7 points per contest while playing 31.0 minutes per night this year. He grabs 5.2 rebounds per contest and distributes 2.3 assists per game. His FG percentage is 47% while his free throw percentage is 86%. De'Aaron Fox averages 18.0 points per contest in 31.9 minutes per game. He averages 7.7 assists per game and 3.6 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 47% for the season while his free throw percentage is 72%.

Player Spotlight

Lonzo Ball scores 9.5 points per contest while playing 29.5 minutes per game. He hauls in 5.2 rebounds per contest and has 5.0 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 41% and his free throw percentage is at 55%. Kyle Kuzma averages 18.7 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 32.9 minutes per game. He also brings in 5.9 rebounds per game and has 2.4 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is 77%.

Useful Team Statistics

Sacramento averages 115.3 points per contest, which is 5th in the league. Their average scoring margin is -1.4 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a unit, which has them ranked 9th. From 3-point territory they shoot 39%, which is good for 3rd in the NBA. They average 44.3 boards per contest and 25.5 assists per game, which ranks them 20th and 7th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 22nd with 13.5 per game. The Kings allow 116.7 points per contest, which is 29th in the NBA. They also surrender a 47% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 27th and 11th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 48.6 rebounds a game which ranks 30th, and they allow 25.2 assists per game which puts them in 24th place in the league. They force 16.2 turnovers per game which ranks them 28th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Los Angeles is 8th in the NBA with 113.1 points per contest this season. They are 3rd in the league in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is 1.78. They shoot 35% from beyond the arc, which is good for 17th in the league. They are 9th in the NBA in rebounding with 46.3 boards per contest and 15th in assists per game with 24.4. The Lakers are 4th in turnovers per contest with 15.3. The Lakers give up 111.4 points per game, which ranks them 21st in the league. Their defense surrenders a 45% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 7th and 14th in those defensive statistics. They rank 13th with 23.9 dimes allowed per game and 24th with 46.2 boards surrendered per contest. The Lakers are 16th in the league in forcing turnovers with 14.2 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Kings are 15th in the NBA in offensive rating with 110.8, and their defensive rating of 112.2 is ranked 22nd. In terms of pace they are 2nd in the league with 104 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 5th. As a team they are 12th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shots, ranking 23rd in the league. Sacramento is 26th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.7 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 54%, which is 5th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Los Angeles is 7th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.1 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 25th in the league. The Lakers are 18th in the NBA in offensive rating with 109.6, and their defensive rating of 107.9 is ranked 10th. In terms of pace they are 3rd in the league with 102.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 4th. As a team they are 10th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shots, ranking 16th in the league.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Los Angeles +1.5

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