Houston Rockets vs Sacramento Kings Prediction, 8/9/2020 NBA Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Houston Rockets vs Sacramento Kings

Date: Sunday, August 9, 2020

Location: HP Field House in Orlando, Florida

TV: NBC Sports California

Odds/Point Spread: Houston -4.5

Total/Over-Under: 231

Russell Westbrook and the Houston Rockets (43-25, 1st in the Southwest Division) head to HP Field House on Sunday where they'll meet the Sacramento Kings (29-40, 4th in the Pacific Division). Houston opens this game as 4.5-point favorites. The total has been set at 231.

The Rockets cover the spread 47.1% of the time, having gone 32-36-0 ATS. Sacramento is covering 53.0% of the time, going 35-31-2 against the spread.

Key Houston Rockets Injuries

08/07/20 PG Russell Westbrook Quad is questionable Sunday vs Sacramento
08/07/20 SF Bruno Caboclo Ankle is questionable Sunday vs Sacramento
07/29/20 SG Eric Gordon Ankle is out indefinitely
07/21/20 SF Thabo Sefolosha Personal is out for season

Key Sacramento Kings Injuries

08/07/20 SG Kent Bazemore Calf is questionable Sunday vs Houston
02/09/20 F Marvin Bagley III Foot is out for season

Player Spotlight

Russell Westbrook comes into this game averaging 27.4 points per contest while playing 36.1 minutes per night this year. He grabs 8.0 rebounds per contest and distributes 7.1 assists per game. His FG percentage is 47% while his free throw percentage is 76%. James Harden averages 34.3 points per contest in 36.7 minutes per game. He averages 7.5 assists per game and 6.4 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 44% for the season while his free throw percentage is 86%.

Player Spotlight

Buddy Hield scores 19.3 points per contest while playing 31.3 minutes per game. He hauls in 4.7 rebounds per contest and has 3.0 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is at 84%. De'Aaron Fox averages 21.0 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 32.0 minutes per game. He also brings in 3.9 rebounds per game and has 6.8 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is 70%.

Useful Team Statistics

Houston averages 118.4 points per contest, which is 2nd in the league. Their average scoring margin is 3.8 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a unit, which has them ranked 22nd. From 3-point territory they shoot 35%, which is good for 21st in the NBA. They average 44.5 boards per contest and 21.7 assists per game, which ranks them 15th and 29th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 18th with 14.5 per game. The Rockets allow 114.6 points per contest, which is 22nd in the NBA. They also surrender a 46% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 15th and 8th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 47.7 rebounds a game which ranks 30th, and they allow 25.1 assists per game which puts them in 22nd place in the league. They force 16.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 27th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Sacramento is 22nd in the NBA with 109.7 points per contest this season. They are 16th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is -2.01. They shoot 36% from beyond the arc, which is good for 12th in the league. They are 27th in the NBA in rebounding with 42.5 boards per contest and 22nd in assists per game with 23.5. The Kings are 20th in turnovers per contest with 14.3. The Kings give up 111.7 points per game, which ranks them 17th in the league. Their defense surrenders a 47% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 20th and 17th in those defensive statistics. They rank 18th with 24.8 dimes allowed per game and 8th with 43.6 boards surrendered per contest. The Kings are 21st in the league in forcing turnovers with 15.2 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Rockets are 3rd in the NBA in offensive rating with 113.7, and their defensive rating of 110.1 is ranked 14th. In terms of pace they are 3rd in the league with 103.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 6th. As a team they are 5th 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 21st in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.6 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 16th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Sacramento is 18th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.6 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 54%, which is 8th in the NBA. The Kings are 19th in the league in defensive rating with 112.1, and their offensive rating of 110 is ranked 20th. They are 22nd in the NBA in pace with 98.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 14th. As a unit they are 19th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 39% of their shot attempts, ranking 13th in the NBA.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Sacramento +4.5

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