by Chuck Sommers
Monday, Nov 22, 2021
Time: 10 p.m. ET
Venue: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Where to watch: NBC Sports California, NBC Sports Philadelphia
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: NL
FanDuel: Kings -2.5
WynnBet: Kings -3.5
Season record
76ers: 9-8
Kings: 6-11
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76ers - Kings preview and analysis
Recent form
Sixers: lost six of seven; lost 118-111 at Blazers on Saturday
Kings: lost seven of eight; lost 123-105 vs. Jazz on Saturday
The post-Luke Walton era for the Sacramento Kings begins on Monday.
After a 6-11 start and not reaching their full potential under the former Los Angeles Lakers coach, the Kings will begin yet another new era on Monday when they host the Philadelphia 76ers.
Longtime NBA coach Alvin Gentry has been named the interim and will make his Kings coaching debut while trying to get Sacramento to higher levels of expectations. With a young star-budding backcourt of De’Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton, along with an experienced Harrison Barnes leading the way, the Kings have jumped out to losing 11 of 17.
The Kings are coming off a 123-105 loss to the Utah Jazz at home, their second blowout loss at home in as many days. Sacramento played the second night of a back-to-back after losing by 19 to the Toronto Raptors on Friday.
"They got us again," said Walton after his former group lost to the Jazz for the third time this season. "For whatever reason we're struggling to make shots right now and that's making it more challenging on us. The fourth quarter was a disaster for us on both ends of the court. We weren't stopping people and we weren't making shots."
They weren’t making shots because Walton, who rose to coaching stardom while coaching for a stint with the Golden State Warriors, is not the kind of coach that thrives off ball movement and shot making. He’s the same coach that didn’t start Buddy Hield because of reasons.
Gentry may not be any better, but he’s had playoff success with the New Orleans Pelicans and seeing what he can do with those two young guards should prove for an exciting time in the pick-and-roll. Richaun Holmes, coming off a 22-point effort on 9 of 10 shooting, should see more of that action in a magnified role in Gentry’s system.
Meanwhile, the 76ers are still keeping their head above water, but barely. They reeled off an impressive win at the Denver Nuggets despite Nikola Jokic’s 30 points, only to come back two nights later and lose to Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers.
Without Joel Embiid due to COVID protocols, the Sixers have been in dire need of secondary scoring. Tobias Harris and Tyrese Maxey, despite the loss, each pitched in 28 points while the young point guard also pitched in with nine assists. Seth Curry has cooled off shooting the ball over the last few games, and the last one of 10 points on 3 of 10 is no exception.
There’s no return on the horizon for Embiid to return to the lineup, and there’s certainly no chance at this rate Ben Simmons does anything about his absence. But for the Sixers to be a game above .500 going into this game has got to be cause for celebration for the eventual push they’ll have.
Prediction
The 76ers have won 11 of the last 13 meetings in Sacramento, but given the current state of the rosters I’m leaning toward Sacramento. Never underestimate the first game after a coaching change. Usually that puts the players on notice to play better, and at that point it becomes a game of attrition. Give me the Kings in the slight upset. Kings by 6
Betting trends
The 76ers are 1-5-1 ATS in their last seven.
The 76ers are 1-5 ATS in their last six after giving up 100 points or more in the last game.
The Kings are 0-5 ATS in their last five on one day of rest.
The 76ers are 11-2 ATS in the last 13 meetings in Sacramento.
Projected starting lineup
76ers:
PG: Tyrese Maxey
SG: Seth Curry
SF: Georges Niang
PF: Tobias Harris
C: Andre Drummond
SF: Georges Niang
PF: Tobias Harris
C: Andre Drummond
Kings:
PG: De’Aaron Fox
SG: Tyrese Haliburton
SF: Harrison Barnes
PF: Chimezie Metu
C: Richaun Holmes
SF: Harrison Barnes
PF: Chimezie Metu
C: Richaun Holmes
Key injuries
76ers: Joel Embiid (COVID, out), Danny Green (out)
Kings: None
Statistical leaders
76ers:
Points: Joel Embiid -- 21.4
Rebounds: Andre Drummond -- 10.4
Assists: Tyrese Maxey -- 4.6
Kings:
Points: Harrison Barnes -- 19.9
Rebounds: Richaun Holmes -- 9.9
Assists: De’Aaron Fox -- 5.8
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
