Los Angeles Lakers vs. Sacramento Kings 12/21/24 – On Saturday, the Los Angeles Lakers (15-12) will be making their way to Sacramento to take on the Kings (13-15) at the Golden 1 Center. As both teams clash in the middle of the season to improve league rankings, this game has the potential to be an epic encounter. The Lakers are confident that they will extend their great form against a team which usually has a poor record against them but this time will benefit from being the home team.
| When: | Saturday, December 21, 2024, at 6:00 PM ET |
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| Where: | Golden 1 Center |
| TV: | NBCS-CA |
| Stream: | NBA League Pass |
Six Lakers in double digits and a road W 👏@MichelobULTRA | #ULTRAmoment pic.twitter.com/k8m9fBlwtZ
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 20, 2024
The Lakers’ road record alongside their history against the Kings gives them an unfavored status before heading into the game. Still, they have shown good recent form, suggesting they could cover the spread. The combined scores from Laker games have generally leaned towards the under which may come to bear in this game.
| Team | SP/RL | TOTAL | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakers | +4.5 (-110) | Over 229 (-110) | +137 |  |
| Kings | -4.5 (-110) | Under 229 (-110) | -161 | |
| ||||
Anthony Davis (PF) vs. De’Aaron Fox (PG)
Anthony Davis has been playing at an MVP level. He leads the Lakers in scoring, averaging 27.5 points alongside 11.7 rebounds. That being said, his influence impacts the games at both ends, making him a necessary element in every game. On the other hand, having Davis on the roster would be an invaluable asset to defend against Sacramento’s offense, which runs through a much younger DeAaron Fox.
In the last couple of games, De’Aaron Fox stayed consistent averaging around 26.2 points with 6.1 assists in the season. The man is extremely quick and has a knack of making plays that would make any defender wary of having to deal with him. In relation to Davis, he is well placed in terms of stature and blocking due to which fits his requirement well, but in saying so – his ability in terms of being able to get a foul call overpowered him in terms of agility so the question stands.
Davis against Fox is always the ultimate matchup of speed versus strength. At this point, it is plain and simple that Davis would dominate with his size and shot-blocking. However, we all know the reverse ideal would also play out in terms of Davis agility and speed. This could ultimately sway a couple of fouls on Davis, which would get him into foul trouble.
Lakers’ Recent Form: A Closer Look
In their last outing against the Sacramento Kings, the Lakers secured a convincing 113-100 victory. This win, coupled with a solid performance against the Grizzlies (116-110), shows a team finding its rhythm. The Lakers will need to harness this momentum, particularly focusing on their defensive strengths to counter the high-scoring Kings.
Kings’ Performance Analysis: Home Court Advantage
The Kings have proven to be scoring capable with their offensive averaging 116.1 points per game, but more still needs to be addressed on defense especially in the recent close matches such as the loss to Denver at 129-130. Being at home may however provide them a little more lift in turning close contests into winning ones as they are able to utilize home crowd support and their knowledge of the court.
Trends
Los Angeles Lakers Betting Trends
LA Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of LA Lakers’ last 12 games.
LA Lakers are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games against Sacramento.
LA Lakers are 3-8 SU in their last 11 games against Sacramento.
LA Lakers are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games on the road.
Sacramento Kings Betting Trends
Sacramento are 4-12 ATS in their last 16 games.
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Sacramento’s last 12 games against LA Lakers.
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Sacramento’s last 6 games at home.
Sacramento are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games when playing at home against LA Lakers.
Sacramento are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 games against an opponent in the Western Conference conference.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Sacramento Kings Betting Prediction
Looking at the Lakers’ form and the trends in the Bets of the Kings, the Lakers might actually cover the spread. Additionally, based on the trends, the total going under is plausible as well. But owing to one of their past performances, perhaps they will manage to win due to their prowess in high-scoring games.
This is expected to be a tight finish. So, even though it looks likely that the Lakers will cover the spread, odds are the Kings will win, which makes them a value moneyline bet. For those looking at prop bets, Davis and Fox could be good bets for points and assists since they are the main figures in both teams’ offenses and should be able to surpass their averages. Sign up today to make your NBA betting prediction!
Score Prediction: Kings 112, Lakers 109.
