The Houston Rockets, standing at a 22-13 record, are set to face off against the struggling Sacramento Kings, who sit at 8-30, this Sunday at 9 p.m. ET in the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. As the teams gear up for their third meeting of the season, both squads are looking for a much-needed win.
In previous encounters this season, the series is tied 1-1. The Rockets secured a decisive 121-95 victory in their first meeting at home on December 3, but the Kings fought back with a thrilling 125-124 overtime win at home on December 21, despite being 11.5-point underdogs.
Currently, the Rockets are coming off back-to-back losses, including a 111-105 defeat against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday. Houston’s performance was disappointing, with the team shooting just 23% from the field. Forward Kevin Durant did manage to stand out with a game-high 30 points and 12 rebounds.
Conversely, the Kings are struggling considerably, having lost their last seven games. Their most recent outing saw them fall 137-103 to the Golden State Warriors while coming in as 14.5-point road underdogs. Sacramento’s shooting woes persisted, with the team hitting just 26% from beyond the arc. Guard DeMar DeRozan led the Kings with 24 points in that game.
The current odds from BetMGM Sportsbook reflect the Rockets as heavy favorites, with a moneyline of -700, indicating that a bet of $700 would yield a $100 profit. The Kings are listed at +500, suggesting a potential $500 profit on a $100 bet. The point spread shows the Rockets favored by 13.5 points, with both sides at -110 odds. The over/under for the game is set at 222.5 points.
In terms of injuries, both teams are facing key absences. For the Rockets, forward Tari Eason is out with an ankle injury, and guard Fred VanVleet is also sidelined due to a knee issue. Center Alperen Sengun is marked as questionable. The Kings will be missing forward Keegan Murray and center Domantas Sabonis due to ankle and knee injuries, respectively, along with guard Dennis Schroder, who is suspended.
Analysts predict that despite recent struggles, the Rockets are likely to emerge victorious, projecting a final score of Rockets 114, Kings 105. However, the value of betting on the Rockets is low at their current odds. Instead, a bet on the Kings to cover the spread at +13.5 may be more favorable, considering the Rockets’ recent inability to cover large spreads.
With both teams facing challenges, fans will be keenly watching to see if the Kings can capitalize on this opportunity to turn their fortunes around, or if the Rockets can regain their momentum and build towards a playoff push.