Josh Hart made a significant return for the New York Knicks on Sunday, contributing to their road victory against the Portland Trail Blazers. The Knicks now face the Sacramento Kings, who have recently defied expectations with back-to-back wins over the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers, despite sitting at a challenging 10-30 this season.
New York has struggled with its road performance, posting an 8-10 record and a disappointing 4-10 against the spread as road favorites. Nevertheless, they currently stand at second place in the Eastern Conference, showcasing their overall strength. This upcoming matchup presents a test for the Knicks against a Kings team that has shown potential to compete effectively, particularly at home where they have a 7-13 record.
Key players for the Knicks, including Jalen Brunson, will aim to exploit Sacramento’s defense, which ranks as one of the weakest in the NBA this season. In terms of betting odds, the Knicks are favored by 11.5 points, with a total set at 229.5. The Knicks are listed with a moneyline of -500 while the Kings sit at +380.
Injury reports indicate several absences that could impact the game. The Knicks will be without Landry Shamet and Trey Jemison III, while the Kings are missing Domantas Sabonis, Dennis Schroder, Keegan Murray, Daeqwon Plowden, and Isaiah Stevens.
In prop bets, Josh Hart is a notable player to watch, expected to score 12 or more points against the Kings. Hart returned from an ankle injury to score 18 points against Portland and has been averaging 12.4 points per game. With Sacramento’s defensive inefficiencies, Hart’s scoring potential looks promising.
Experts have expressed caution regarding the Knicks covering the spread due to their road inconsistencies, leading to a suggestion to consider betting on the Kings to cover. Though the Knicks are favored to win, their recent struggles to maintain dominant performances away from home could make this game closer than anticipated.
The game is set for January 14 at 10:00 p.m. EST, to be held at the Golden 1 Center, and will be broadcasted on MSG and NBC Sports California.