NBA: Sacramento Kings VS Houston Rockets Pick and Predictions 02/06/2023

Game: 8:10 PM ET,  Monday, February 6th, 2023

Venue:  Toyota Center, Houston, Texas

TV: NBA League Pass

Kings: 29-23, 3rd place Western Conference

Rockets: 13-40, 15th place Western Conference

BetMGM:  Point Spread: Kings -5.5, O/U 232.5

PointsBet: Point Spread: Kings -5.5, O/U 232.5

Fanduel: Point Spread: Kings -5.5, O/U 232.5

Kings: PG De’Aaron Fox, SG Kevin Huerter, SF Harrison Barnes, PF Keegan Murray, C Domantas Sabonis

Rockets: PG Jalen Green, SG Eric Gordon, SF Kenyon Martin JR, PF Jabari Smith JR, C Alperen Sengun

A drastic mismatch in the NBA’s Western Conference.  This is not only a great betting opportunity?.. It will also be a teaching opportunity for Houston’s teenage lineup about what teamwork looks like.  The Sacramento Kings are a real deal 3rd place in the Western Conference.  They still need to shore up their defense a bit by trading SG Kevin Huerter OR moving him out of the line-up and into a reserve shooting role… but still they are good.  They are the #1 scoring offense behind the duo of C Domantas Sabonis and Pg De’Aaron Fox… Sabonis fills a statline all the way across and Fox moves at a lightning quick speed that puts defenses on their heels.  The Houston Rockets have nobody like that whatsoever.  The current best player on their roster is their most unheralded in C Alperen Sengun.  The big time draft picks of SG Jalen Green and PF Jabari Smith JR have not quite lived up to their draft statuses yet… They have the talent, but since they have very little in the way of a supporting cast?... They simply aren’t developing into players who do what it takes to win.  For that matter the team DOES NOT WANT WINS!?... They want to win the draft lottery, hence the 15th place (last) conference standing.  The team knows this is not their future team.. Their future team has yet to be drafted and paired with other future draft picks… good luck kids.

The Sacramento Kings have won 5 of their last 5 games.  They are on a 2-game winning streak and are very happy to land in Houston for an easy win.  They recently suffered a brief loss of PG De’Aaron Fox to injury but he is back.  They lost their last game to the New Orleans Pelicans 136-104. In that game Sabonis played only 27 minutes for 12 points & 11 rebounds… but they threw in the towel early.  The Pelicans got out to an early big lead with a shortened rotation and couldn’t be caught.

The Houston Rockets have won 3 of their last 10 games… in what may be their best ten game stretch of the season.  They are on a 2-game losing streak.  They last lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder 153 - 121 in a major track meet turned into an OVER that was hit very early in the second half of play.  Houston’s starters were dreadful. But two bench player scored 20 points each in SG Josh Christopher and PG Ty Ty Washington.. Both teenagers.. Both late first round picks… And both are there to give the team options if any of their current teenage higher draft picks do not work out.  This is a bad team.

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The Kings are 1st in scoring with 118.9 points per game, 23rd in rebounds with 42.1 per game.  On defense they rank 23rd in scoring defense while allowing opponents 116.6 points per game… They are +2.3 points per game.  They will need to find SOME defense without sacrificing offense if they want to do damage in the postseason.  If I were Sacramento I would make a strong push for SF Kevin Durant (who wouldn’t?) with Barnes, Huerter, 3 1st round picks (if they have them).. Plus a couple of second rounders… plus waivable salary cap pieces. (But that is a silly trade proposal)

The Houston Rockets are 29th in scoring with 109.9 points per game, 4th in rebounds with 46.8 per game.  On defense they rank 25th while allowing 117.5 points per game from opponents.  This team has very little on either side of the court.  The only time they win games is when the teenagers overcome through athleticism.. Which they can’t do against a Kings team that has a few young athletic kids that can run with the pack.

Our prediction for Monday, February 6th is….  Kings 120 - Rockets 99

Blow Out Alert!  Run, don’t walk to whatever type of gambling you indulge in… A Sports BOOK, an app on your phone, the guy at the Deli who scribbles your bet while making you the perfect deli sandwich (you do not want to disappoint that guy!)... and bet on the Kings.  The #1 offense in the league will be playing the 25th defense in the league.. While that team with the 25th defense is also the 29th offense?!!!!  This spread exists just to have the matchup on the books… Make a big bet on the Kings to cover, cover, and cover!!  

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The Kings are 2-1 ATS against Houston at Houston the last 3 seasons.

The Kings are 18-5 ATS after consecutive OVERS this season.

The Rockets are 12-27 ATS as home underdogs of 6 points or less the last 3 seasons.

Kings:  PF Keegan Murray.  Over the last 10 games Keegan is averaging 11 points and 7 rebounds a game.  The Power Forward spot is key to Sacramento’s success in that they have so much talent at PG and C… and a solid vet at SF and SG… Keegan was the #4 pick in last season’s draft.  He absolutely can NOT hit a rookie wall.

Rockets: C Alperen Sengun.  A mid first round pick in 2021 (16th).. Alperen is averaging 19 and 10 over the last 10 games.  He is the real deal at Center and a surprise… Also if the Rockets win the NBA Draft Lottery he will be available on draft day in trades.  So keep an eye on this double double guy.

Kings:  Mike “lookout!” Brown

Rockets: Stephen “Babysitter’s club” Silas