New Orleans Pelicans vs. Sacramento Kings - 1/4/20 NBA Picks, Odds, and Prediction

Game: New Orleans Pelicans vs Sacramento Kings

Date: Saturday, January 4, 2020

Location: Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, CA

TV: NBC Sports California

Odds/Point Spread: Sacramento -3.5

Total/Over-Under: 220

Golden 1 Center is the site where Buddy Hield and the Sacramento Kings (13-22, 4th in the Pacific Division) will take on the New Orleans Pelicans (11-23, 5th in the Southwest Division) on Saturday. New Orleans opens this contest as 3.5 point underdogs. The O/U is set at 220.

The Pelicans are covering 42.4% of the time, having gone 14-19-1 ATS. Sacramento is covering the spread 51.4% of the time, going 18-17-0 against the spread.

Key New Orleans Pelicans Injuries

10/18/19 PF Zion Williamson Knee is out indefinitely
01/03/20 SF Darius Miller Knee is out indefinitely

Key Sacramento Kings Injuries

01/03/20 SG Bogdan Bogdanovic Lower Body left last game, is questionable Saturday vs New Orleans
01/03/20 F Marvin Bagley III Foot is questionable Saturday vs New Orleans

Player Spotlight

Jrue Holiday averages 19.9 points per contest in 35.7 minutes per game this year. He averages 6.5 assists per game and 4.9 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 44% for the season while his free throw percentage is 69%. Brandon Ingram comes into this game averaging 25.3 points per contest while playing 34.1 minutes per night. He grabs 7.0 rebounds per contest and distributes 3.9 assists per game. His FG percentage is 49% while his free throw percentage is 86%.

Player Spotlight

Harrison Barnes averages 15.2 points per game and he sees the court an average of 35.1 minutes per game. He also hauls in 5.1 rebounds per game and dishes 2.2 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is 79%. Buddy Hield scores 20.4 points per contest while playing 34.3 minutes per game. He hauls in 5.1 rebounds per contest and has 3.1 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is at 82%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Pelicans allow 116.4 points per contest which is 27th in the NBA. They also surrender a 47% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 21st and 17th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 46.2 rebounds a game which ranks 19th, and they allow 24.7 assists per game which puts them in 21st place in the league. They force 15.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 18th in the NBA. New Orleans averages 112.3 points per contest, which is 9th in the league. Their average scoring margin is -4.2 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a unit, which has them ranked 21st. From 3-point territory they shoot 37%, which is good for 5th in the NBA. They average 45.7 boards per contest and 24.9 assists per game, which ranks them 14th and 11th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 9th with 15.7 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Kings give up 108.7 points per game, which ranks them 14th in the league. Their defense surrenders a 47% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 23rd and 14th in those defensive statistics. They rank 19th with 24.3 dimes allowed per game and 5th with 43.1 boards surrendered per contest. The Kings are 17th in the league in forcing turnovers with 15.1 per contest. Sacramento is 25th in the NBA with 105.6 points per contest this season. They are 19th in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is -3.1. They shoot 35% from beyond the arc, which is good for 21st in the league. They are 29th in the NBA in rebounding with 42.1 boards per contest and 23rd in assists per game with 22.5. The Kings are 14th in turnovers per contest with 15.2.

Advanced Statistics

The Pelicans are 19th in the league in defensive rating with 112.2, and their offensive rating of 108.1 is ranked 23rd. They are 6th in the NBA in pace with 102.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 17th. As a unit they are 19th in the league in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 42% of their shot attempts, ranking 5th in the NBA. New Orleans is 13th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 54%, which is 11th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Sacramento is 8th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.7 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 9th in the league. The Kings are 21st in the NBA in offensive rating with 107.6, and their defensive rating of 110.8 is ranked 18th. In terms of pace they are 30th in the league with 97 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 20th. As a team they are 20th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 39% of their shots, ranking 10th in the league.

So what is Tonights Parlay prediction?

Parlays Pundit's Pick: Take New Orleans +3.5 and over 220 total points

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