by Chuck Sommers
Saturday, Mar 26, 2022
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Amway Center, Orlando, FL
Where to watch: Bally Sports Florida, NBC Sports California
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Magic -3
BetMGM: Magic -3.5
Caesars: NL
Season record
Kings: 26-48
Magic: 20-54
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Kings - Magic preview and analysis
In a battle between two of the worst teams in the league, the world will have its eyes on the Sacramento Kings and Orlando Magic to see who will continue toward the bottom of the NBA standings.
Not that that has any significance as we hit the latter parts in March and the NBA season winds down, but having a group of young guys face off in an exhibition for what could be the future is never really a bad thing when you get involved with such things.
But this looks like a good situation for the Magic to get back in the win column, considering how decimated the Kings are going into this game. De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis won't be playing for Sacramento, which is the entire Kings team. So what exactly are we doing?
It's one thing for the Kings to have the team intact and, maybe, put together a couple of wins down the stretch and build some confidence. However, the group is a shell of itself when Fox and Sabonis aren't available. But Sacramento is coming off a 110-109 win against the Indiana Pacers off a game-winning basket from Damian Jones.
Davion Mitchell, playing in place of Fox, had 25 points on 10 of 15 shooting, showing that the young defensive ace has an offensive game in his arsenal. Chimeze Metu had 22 points off the bench, with seven players scoring in double figures.
"It was a good win for us," Kings coach Alvin Gentry said. "We've been struggling on the road. Just to come and find a way to win a game on the road is really important to us. It makes a statement that these guys haven't quit. They're still battling and do the best they can to win games. We found a way to make a few plays offensively and defensively to win."
At least the Kings aren't totally down the cellar in the standings. They're hanging around with a stretch of respectability with a bright future. Whether that can hang around remains to be seen.
The same goes for the Magic, who have won two of three and are some time away from having that contention/playoff status. Orlando is coming off a 118-102 loss in Oklahoma City in which they did not have Wendell Carter Jr. in the lineup.
"It has to be next man up," Mosley said. "We have to continue to compete, no matter what's happened. And we were a step slow in areas."
The same goes for the Magic, who have won two of three and are some time away from having that contention/playoff status. Orlando is coming off a 118-102 loss in Oklahoma City in which they did not have Wendell Carter Jr. in the lineup.
"It has to be next man up," Mosley said. "We have to continue to compete, no matter what's happened. And we were a step slow in areas."
Chuma Okeke led the way with 19 points, pacing all five starters to double figures and Cole Anthony had 17 points and 11 assists.
Prediction
It's one thing to think the Kings can play with some solid effort and replicate that win in Indiana, but the Magic have much better talent to the point where the guards can dominate this game. The other factor, with Sabonis out, along with Richaun Holmes, is the rebounding battle is going to be hard to come by for Sacramento. With Mo Bamba and Carter (likely returning) to patrol the paint, this has a rough outing written all over it for the Kings. Magic by 10
Betting trends
The Kings are 59-45 ATS on the road the last three seasons.
The Kings are 48-33 ATS as a road underdog the past three seasons.
The under is 62-38 the past three seasons after the Kings play a road game.
The Magic are 30-21 ATS as a favorite the past three seasons.
The under is 18-12 when the Magic are a home favorite the past three seasons.
The Magic are 39-61 ATS at home the past three seasons.
Projected starting lineup
Kings:
PG: Davion Mitchell
SG: Justin Holiday
SF: Harrison Barnes
PF: Trey Lyles
C: Damian Jones
Magic:
PG: Cole Anthony
SG: R.J. Hampton
SF: Franz Wagner
PF: Wendell Carter Jr.
C: Mo Bamba
Key injuries
Kings: De'Aaron Fox (hand, out), Domantas Sabonis (knee, out), Richaun Holmes (personal, out)
Magic: Jalen Suggs (ankle, out), Jonathan Isaac (hamstring, out), Bol Bol (foot, out)
Statistical leaders
Kings:
Points: De'Aaron Fox -- 23.2
Rebounds: Domantas Sabonis -- 12.1
Assists: De'Aaron Fox -- 5.6
Magic:
Points: Cole Anthony -- 17.0
Rebounds: Wendell Carter Jr. -- 10.4
Assists: Cole Anthony -- 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.
