Can the Sacramento Kings pull off the upset? Here's how to watch and the betting lines.
The Sacramento Kings are coming down south fresh off stunning the Dallas Mavericks.
Will this be the first time since middle of January that the team will win consecutively?
The Los Angeles Lakers pose as a far different challenge and are in a great position to make a playoff run. However, the Kings have toppled the Lakers before -- during the time Sacramento won four straight more than a month ago.
But the oddsmakers aren't favoring the Kings here. Los Angeles walks in as the big 13-point favorite per Fan Duel Sportsbook. Meanwhile, DraftKings lists Sacramento as a 13.5-point underdog.
Sunday could also impact DeMar DeRozan -- and it has nothing to do with his L.A. homecoming.
The Compton native heads into the NBA Buyout deadline wondering what his fate will be. Teams have March 1 as the final day to waive players or work on a new deal. Current intel from Brett Siegel at ClutchPoints reveals that talks became slow between the Kings and DeRozan.
"The Kings have shown no interest in buying out any of their veteran players this season, and they have valued DeRozan's leadership as the organization navigates yet another rebuilding or retooling stage, whatever we want to call it in Sacramento nowadays," Siegel wrote on Friday. "Along with the Kings having no interest in seeing DeRozan leave right now, the 36-year-old has yet to approach them asking for such negotiations."
DeRozan would command some value should the Kings opt to release him. But again, it appears things are at a standstill.
Meanwhile, Sacramento has watched two breakout performers rise in the past week. Precious Achiuwa dropped 29 points in the surprising effort against the Mavs. Daeqwon Plowden scored 19 points but dropped 11 in the fourth quarter.
Sacramento will put the Lakers on their heels if both men get hot on the scoring end. Of course the Kings can really put a scare on L.A. if the following attack the rim too: DeRozan, Russell Westbrook, Maxime Raynaud and even Nique Clifford.
This game will not be aired on NBC Sports California unfortunately. However, Spectrum Sports Net will provide the coverage as the top station for Lakers basketball.
Overall, the Kings have renewed momentum thanks to Achiuwa and Plowden. But they beat a struggling Mavericks team. The Lakers are more well-established and look ready to cover the spread.
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