Sacramento Kings vs. Memphis Grizzlies Prediction, Preview, and Odds
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On Sunday night, the Sacramento Kings travel to the FedEx Forum for a road matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies. The Kings are coming off a 126-125 win over the Utah Jazz. The Grizzlies are in action Saturday and will be on the second leg of a back-to-back. The tip-off is slated for 8:10 PM ET. The Grizzlies open as a home favorite.
King’s clip Jazz at Home
Kevin Huerter scored a career-high 30 points and hit a 3-pointer with 9.2 seconds left as the Sacramento Kings outlasted the Utah Jazz 126-125 Friday night. Domantas Sabonis had 28 points on 12-for-12 shooting along with 11 rebounds and eight assists, and De’Aaron Fox had 24 points and 10 assists.
”I feel like he’s been doing that all year,” Sabonis said about Fox. ”That’s what he does. He’s been clutch for us all year. He can get any shot that he wants, and he’s been making the right read every time.”
Coach Mike Brown returned after missing two games with COVID-19 and was impressed with the energy the club brought. Although the Kings have struggled on the defensive end, they are still 19-15 on the year and holding their ground in a competitive Western Conference. With that said, they need to clean it up defensively. Entering this game, they are in the bottom five in opponent field goal percentage, points per game, and three-point shooting percentage. They have covered the slack on offense, averaging the second most points per game with 118.3. They get another test when they face off against the Grizzlies on the road.
Grizzlies Trounce Raptors
Memphis is in action Saturday night against the New Orleans Pelicans and will be on the second leg of a back-to-back for this game. Two nights prior, they played a strong defensive game in a 119-106 road win over the Toronto Raptors. Ja Morant had a career-high 17 assists and scored 19 points. Dillon Brooks scored 25 points, Desmond Bane had 16 before fouling out and Steven Adams had 14 points and 17 rebounds in the impressive win. Memphis recorded a season-high 37 assists and won its third straight north of the border after losing its previous seven trips to Canada.
”It’s super impressive,” Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said to Associated Press reporters about Morant’s 17 assists. ”Ton of credit to Yes. It just sets a tone for us. His unselfishness, we talk about that all the time.”
The Grizzlies came in having lost four of five but beat Toronto by outscoring the Raptors 70-50 on points in the paint. Memphis is 13-1 this season when recording more assists than its opponent. Just like last season, they have been elite from the defensive end. Entering this showdown with the Kings, opposing teams are shooting the lowest field goal percentage, and averaging the ninth fewest points per game.
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Rating:
Memphis is in action Saturday night against the New Orleans Pelicans and will be on the second leg of a back-to-back for this game. Two nights prior, they played a strong defensive game in a 119-106 road win over the Toronto Raptors. Ja Morant had a career-high 17 assists and scored 19 points. The Kings are a different basketball team this season under head coach Mike Brown. They are 19-15, and although they are still struggling on the defensive end, they are coming out on top in close games. Memphis is the better team and will dominate the Kings inside here. They are second in offensive rebounding and third in rebounding percentage. Sacramento is weak on the glass, and the Grizzlies will expose them inside.
Take the Grizzlies to win and cover.
Prediction: Memphis Grizzlies -4.5
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Rating:
Sacramento is 19-15 heading into this contest with Memphis, and it is a good sign considering how poorly they have played over the last four years. As long as Fox and Sabonis remain healthy, they will be in a lot of games and compete every night. Defensively, they are a work in progress, and the Grizzlies will get whatever they want in this game at the FedEx Forum. Both teams are top 10 in pace, and I anticipate this being a high-scoring, back-and-forth Western Conference affair. Considering this is the second leg of a back-to-back, the Grizzlies may opt to sit one or two of their older veterans. But regardless, this game will go over.
Take the over.
Prediction: OVER 240
Written By
Jason Raffoul, “Jason Raffoul”
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