Sacramento Kings vs. Brooklyn Nets Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 2/14/2022

Time: 7:30 p.m. ET

Venue: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY

Where to watch: YES, NBCSCA

DraftKings: NL

BetMGM: NL

Caesars: NL

Kings: 22-36

Nets: 29-27

Kings: won three of four

Nets: lost 11 straight

One team made a move at the trade deadline that was considered ridiculous and would register a slow, painful death for the franchise.

One team made a move at the trade deadline that was considered ridiculous but could provide a shot in the arm come playoff time.

About 72 hours ago, I thought the former would be the Sacramento Kings while the other would be the Brooklyn Nets. We might need to switch those around because the Kings are 2-0 since trading for Domantas Sabonis, and the Nets continue to be a horrid dumpster fire that has not won in what seems like forever.

The two will meet on Monday in Barclays Center, and I’m met at this crossroad: The Nets are going to win eventually, right? Like, the whole ideology that this 11-game losing streak isn’t supposed to happen is going to bring us to the reality of it not actually existing, right?

It’s not like every game the Nets have played in during this absurd slide has been a blowout. There have been close contests, like Saturday’s 115-111 loss to the Miami Heat who continue to be the best team in the Eastern Conference. They also lost 113-112 to the Washington Wizards two days prior to that, and even close losses sprinkled in against the Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns.

But the times, they are a changin’ for the Nets. James Harden is gone. Kevin Durant is still hurt. Kyrie Irving is only available for half a season, and he won’t be playing in this game due to his vaccination status. The Big Three that Steve Nash walked into as coach of the Nets has evaporated before his eyes and there doesn’t seem to be any hope in sight.

Especially when, as it stands, Irving is the only offensive weapon that can contribute. He had 29 points in the loss to Miami on 10 of 22 shooting to go with five rebounds and five assists. Cam Thomas chipped in with 22 points off the bench, but the Nets are at a point where things aren’t going to get better for as long as this remains. New York can lift the vaccine mandate tomorrow, and I still wouldn’t think the Nets are in position to win on Monday.

"There were some moments where it could have gotten away," Nash said. "We found a way to scrap and claw. They rose to the occasion and took the challenge."

I get Nash is a new coach and the whole ideology with this situation is looking for moral victories. There are none with this group that should’ve been contending for an NBA title this season. Instead, it’s just about making the playoffs this season. When Durant doesn’t offer any indication of his health and how he’s doing during the All-Star draft, either he’s being ridiculous or he really doesn’t know when he’ll be back.

That in of itself is a problem with this group. And maybe too stupid for Durant to admit, but that’s neither here nor there.

The Kings, meanwhile, appear to have fallen right into a groove since the blasphemous trade for Sabonis that involved sending Tyrese Haliburton to the Indiana Pacers. As wild as that may be at the onset, the Kings look great, as does Sabonis, through two games. The All-Star big man had 16 points and 11 rebounds and has seemingly looked like a tremendous fit with De’Aaron Fox, who had 26 points in the win over the Washington Wizards.

"I think we all agree the team looks completely different," Fox said of the new arrivals. "They came in with great energy and that's pretty much all it's been."

A win for the Kings does more for the narrative of both teams than the Nets does. Someone on Brooklyn is going to have to have the game of his life if the Nets want to win. Sacramento is going to give up a lot of points, but the Nets won’t score enough in the end. Kings by 10

The Kings are 100-101 ATS over the past three seasons.

The Kings are 29-35 ATS as a favorite.

The Nets are 5-20 ATS at home this season.

The Nets are 47-36 ATS as an underdog.

PG: De'Aaron Fox

SG: Justin Holiday

SF: Harrison Barnes

PF: Mo Harkless

C: Domantas Sabonis

PG: Patty Mills

SG: Seth Curry

SF: Cam Thomas

PF: Kessler Edwards

C: Blake Griffin

Kings: Jeremy Lamb (day-to-day), Terence Davis (wrist, out)

Nets: Kevin Durant (knee, out), Kyrie Irving (out), Nic Claxton (hamstring, out), Ben Simmons (out), LaMarcus Aldridge (ankle, out), Andre Drummond (day-to-day), Joe Harris (ankle, out)

Points: De'Aaron Fox -- 21.4

Rebounds: Domantas Sabonis -- 12.1

Assists: Domantas Sabonis -- 5.1

Points: Kevin Durant -- 29.3

Rebounds: Kevin Durant -- 7.4

Assists: Kevin Durant -- 5.8