Clippers vs Kings Prediction 10/21/26 NBA Picks Today

The Sacramento Kings are looking to enter a full rebuild after finishing last season with a horrendous 22-60 record, missing the playoffs for the third consecutive year. The Kings management decided to move on from DeMar DeRozan, Russell Westbrook, Dario Saric, and Doug McDermott, but their plans hit another roadblock when they signed Ben Simmons to a one-year deal, only to see him tear his Achilles tendon during practice in the offseason.

The Kings drafted Darius Acuff Jr and he will be expected to play heavy minutes from the start alongside Zach LaVine, Keegan Murray and Domantas Sabonis. Losing Simmons before the start of the season was a cruel blow, but the only way is up for this Kings franchise.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Clippers had a see-saw type of season as they finished strong to finish with a 42-40 record, only to fall short against the Warriors in the play-in tournament.

The Clippers decided to move on from Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, Ivica Zubac, John Collins and Bogdan Bogdanovic, but they added Darius Garland, Brandon Ingram, Rui Hachimura, Max Strus, Brook Lopez and Gradey Dick. The revamped Clippers needed desperately to start a new chapter with a new squad, but they won’t be at full health, with Brandon Ingram expected to sit out the first two months at least.

Why the Los Angeles Clippers will win

• The Kings have lost 10 of their last 11 road games against Pacific Division opponents.
• The Clippers have won seven of their last eight games against the Kings.
• The Clippers have covered the spread in each of their last seven season openers against Pacific Division opponents.
• The Kings have failed to cover the spread in eight of their last 10 road games against Pacific Division opponents.

Why the Sacramento Kings will win

• The Clippers have lost four of their last six games as home favorites against Western Conference opponents.
• The road team has won four of the last five games between the Kings and Clippers.
• The Kings have covered the spread in five of their last six games.
• The Clippers have failed to cover the spread in three of their last four games.

Total Points Facts

• Each of the Kings’ last six road openers have gone OVER the total points line.
• Five of the Clippers’ last six games as home favorites have gone UNDER the total points line.

Los Angeles Clippers Player Facts

• Rui Hachimura ranked 5th amongst qualified players for 3P% (44.3%) last season.
• Kris Dunn ranked 7th amongst qualified players for steals per game (1.6) last season.

Sacramento Kings Player Facts

• Zach LaVine ranked 16th amongst qualified players for FT% (88.0%) last season.
• Keegan Murray was one of only 16 players in the league to have recorded 4+ blocks in consecutive games last season.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Clippers ranked 30th in the league for assists per game last season (23.7).
• The Clippers ranked 1st in the league for free throw percentage last season (82.3%).
• The Kings ranked 30th in the league for three-point field goals made per game last season (10.3).
• The Kings ranked 30th in the league for three-point field goal attempts per game last season (30.2).

The Kings have ruled out Ben Simmons and Maxime Raynaud with Malik Monk listed as questionable, while the Clippers are going to be without Brandon Ingram, Jordan Miller, Max Strus and Bradley Beal. The Clippers open as moderate favorites at home, which comes as no surprise, but they are still missing a bunch of quality players.

You can’t trust the Kings these days, but this really does look like a good spot for them to pinch a game against a team they’ve struggled against.

Peter Tran's Free Pick: Sacramento +5.5