Los Angeles Lakers vs Sacramento Kings Prediction: Up-and-down Lakers take on high-scoring Kings

The NBA Regular Season is on and what a fantastic season we have had. Records are pouring in like never before. Donovan Mitchell had a 71 points game, Luke Doncic had 60 points, 21 rebounds, and 10 assists in what was a triple-double of its own kind. Then we have LeBron James getting so close to the number one all-time scoring spot, within a whisker of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Will he take the floor as his Los Angeles Lakers take on the Sacramento Kings?

Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers come into this game after defeating the lowly Rockets 140:132 as LeBron James had 48 points and 9 assists. This win broke a three-game losing streak and these constant losing streaks have held back the Lakers to 24 losses and 20 wins. They have lost a bunch of close games and their long-range shooting woes have surely affected their overall play. Will they make a move around the trade deadline to fix that?

While LeBron is dropping 40 or so points like he is still a youngster, Russell Westbrook has stepped up his game too, scoring 20 or more regularly after a slow start while filling the statsheet with assists and rebounds as usual. While Thomas Bryant has been a strong scorer and rebounder, his defense hasn’t been reliable. Lonnie Walker IV has been out too and so has Austin Reaves as the undermanned Lakers have looked in jeopardy again this season.

Sacramento Kings

The Kings march into this affair after beating the Spurs 132:119 as Harrison Barnes notched 29 points to make it four wins in a row. The Kings bounced back from a hitch and have exploited a window where they played four teams that have been way below the 50% win mark. Thanks to that, they have now acquired 24 wins and 18 losses, looking ever so close to breaking a 15+ seasons postseason drought.

After a so-so start, Harrison Barnes has scored in the 27-30 points range, a range around which their leader De’Aaron Fox also operates. They have the season-leading rebounder Domantas Sabonis who has constantly hovered around the 15 rebounds mark. Having Kevin Huerter has been huge to extract the advantage from the deep whereas Keegan Murray has done a decent job as a rookie. The Kings’ conditioning staff has been superb and the Kings have had one of the healthiest rosters this season.

Injuries

• Lakers: OUT: Anthony Davis, Lonnie Walker IV, Austin Reaves. QUESTIONABLE: LeBron James;
• Kings: No injuries to report.

Expert Betting Tips

The Lakers would love to have LeBron here against a Kings team that can score a ton of points and has a strong shooting squad too. One area where the Lakers have struggled in closing out games and although their play is improved, the Center position with Bryant has leaked way too many points. This is why it looks like the Kings are a safer choice here but the Lakers have turned it on too. I still back the Kings to win here with a scoreline of 129:125.