Houston Rockets vs. Sacramento Kings - 12/23/19 NBA Picks, Odds, and Prediction

Game: Houston Rockets vs Sacramento Kings

Date: Monday, December 23, 2019

Location: Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, CA

TV: NBC Sports California

Odds/Point Spread: Houston -6

Total/Over-Under: 226.5

Golden 1 Center is the site where Harrison Barnes and the Sacramento Kings (12-17, 3rd in the Pacific Division) will play the Houston Rockets (20-9, 1st in the Southwest Division) on Monday. Sacramento opens this matchup as 6 point underdogs. The over/under has been set at 226.5.

The Rockets are covering the spread 48.3% of the time, having gone 14-15-0 ATS. Sacramento is covering 55.2% of the time, going 16-13-0 against the spread.

Key Houston Rockets Injuries

12/16/2019 Nene C Hip Expected to be out until at least Jan 1
12/13/2019 Eric Gordon SG Knee Expected to be out until at least Jan 3
10/28/2019 Gerald Green SG Foot Expected to be out until at least Apr 15

Key Sacramento Kings Injuries

12/21/2019 Bogdan Bogdanovic SG Ankle Expected to be out until at least Dec 23
12/18/2019 DaQuan Jeffries SG Undisclosed Game Time Decision

Player Spotlight

Russell Westbrook averages 23.8 points per game in 34.9 minutes per contest. He averages 7.2 assists per contest and 8.0 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 43% for the year while his free throw percentage is 78%. James Harden comes into this contest averaging 38.8 points per game while playing 37.6 minutes per night. He pulls down 5.8 rebounds per game and dishes out 7.5 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 45% while his free throw percentage is at 88%.

Player Spotlight

Buddy Hield averages 20.6 points per game and he sees the court an average of 34.2 minutes per contest. He also averages 5.1 rebounds per contest and 2.9 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is 84%. Harrison Barnes averages 15.9 points per game while playing 35.2 minutes per contest. He grabs 5.0 rebounds per game and has 2.3 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is at 81%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Rockets allow 114.8 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 23rd in the league. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 17th and 16th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 45.8 rebounds a game which ranks 17th, and they give up 26.0 assists per contest which puts them in 28th place in the league. They force 15.7 turnovers per game which ranks them 21st in the league. Houston averages 120.4 points per contest this season, which ranks them 2nd in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 5.7 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 15th. Behind the arc they shoot 35% which is good for 23rd in the league. They average 47.5 rebounds per game and 21.8 assists per contest, which ranks them 5th and 25th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 16th with 15.2 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Kings surrender 107.9 points per contest, which ranks them 13th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 47% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 24th and 19th in those defensive statistics. They rank 19th with 24.3 assists allowed per contest, and 5th with 42.6 rebounds surrendered per game. The Kings are 20th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 15.4 per game. Sacramento is 25th in the league with 105.1 points per game this year. They are 20th in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is -2.8. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 18th in the NBA. They are 29th in the league in rebounding with 41.6 boards per game and 24th in assists per contest with 22.5. The Kings are 14th in turnovers per game with 15.3.

Advanced Statistics

The Rockets are 2nd in the NBA in offensive rating with 115.2, and their defensive rating of 109.7 is ranked 16th. In terms of pace they are 3rd 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 3rd in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 50% of their shots, ranking 1st in the league. Houston is 19th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.3 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 13th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Sacramento is 7th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.2 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 54%, which is 9th in the league. The Kings are 20th in the NBA in offensive rating with 107.7, and their defensive rating of 110.6 is ranked 17th. In terms of pace they are 30th in the league with 96.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 18th. As a team they are 18th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 40% of their shots, ranking 9th in the league.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Sacramento +6

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