The Sacramento Kings tumble into Houston seeking to end a skid against the red-hot Rockets. Can they shock the fans in the Toyota Center despite having such roster turmoil and against massive odds? Sacramento will be without Damontas Sabonis and will have a hard time containing Kevin Durant.
Well, it didn't last long as the Kings (5-16, 13th in Western Conference) have come back to reality. After a mini two-game winning streak last week, including a victory as 10.5 road underdogs over the Denver Nuggets. the Kings have fallen back on hard times.
Drama-riddled Sacramento, not only coming off a home loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, but prepping to rid themselves of star players Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, among others, in the coming weeks, looks to snap a three-game losing streak as huge road underdogs against the Houston Rockets, Wednesday night at the Toyota Center.
The Kings (+15.5, -110) are listed at (+775) on the Moneyline, while the Rockets (13-5, 3rd in Western Conference) are (-15.5, -110) significant home favorites, in addition to a whopping (-1200). to cash a ticket.
The over/under total is 230.5 (o -105, u -115), as per DraftKings Sportsbook, for the 8:00 p.m. (ET) tip-off.
Sacramento, 2-8 in their last 10 games and 2-9 on the road overall, trailed 83-77 after three periods vs. the Grizzlies, before tailing off in the final 12 minutes of the game. The Kings, 2-3 in their last five games, lost at Utah 128-119 on Friday night.
Sacramento has lost four of last five games on the road, despite a 128-123 win at Denver on Nov. 22.
The Kings, 4-14 vs. Western Conference opponents, is allowing 122.9 points per game and has been outscored by 11.1 points (per game) this season.
Houston, 8-2 in their last 10 games, which includes a loss at Utah on Monday night, is back home after playing four straight road games.
Oddly, the Rockets are coming off back-to-back games against the Jazz - in Utah.
Houston went 1-1 in the two games.
Houston, 5-2 at home, including 4-1 in their last five games, is 6-4 against Western Conference opposition.
Bettors beware: the Rockets, the Western Conference’s top leading rebounding team at 49.2 rebounds per game, are projected to be without center/forward Steven Adams (rest) Wednesday night. Adams is averaging a team-leading 9.4 rebounds per game.
Interestingly, the Kings were 3-0 vs. the Rockets last season.
This is the first meeting of the season between the Kings and Rockets.
Kings forward Domantas Sabonis (knee) is out indefinitely. In addition to Dylan Cardwell and Isaiah Stevens sitting this one out, guard Dennis Schroder (hip) did not play Monday. Malik Monk is probable.
For the Rockets, Fred VanVleet (ACL), Dorian Finley Smith (ankle) and Tari Eason (oblique) are out.
It is interesting how the Kings, on a mini and odd two-game road trip, which opens tonight and concludes Saturday night in Miami, handle their business away from home.
With two full days in-between games and LaVine, the Kings leader scorer at 20.7 points per game and shooting 49.1 percent from the floor, still on the team despite a recent altercation with a fan, in addition to being the subject of much trade talk these days, his own mental state needs to be checked as it cannot be comfortable sitting in his precarious position.
Sacramento also has to make plans on playing two additional NBA Cup games (vs. Denver Nuggets, Dec. 11 and at the Minnesota Timberwolves, Dec.14)
So, it could be a rough next couple of weeks for the Kings, including Wednesday night when it is to be considered that Kevin Durant - averaging 32 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists in his last 10 games- is on a torrid stretch for Houston.
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