The Sacramento Kings and the Dallas Mavericks collide at the American Airlines Center on Thursday night. Here’s a Mavericks vs. Kings prediction. This article will include a Mavericks vs. Kings pick.
Sacramento Kings Betting Preview
The Sacramento Kings have been ice-cold as they’ve lost 17 of their last 18 games and they will be hoping to bounce back after getting trampled by the Rockets in a 128-97 road defeat last night. Russell Westbrook led the team with 22 points on 10 of 19 shooting, DeMar DeRozan and Nique Clifford each scored 15 points, while Maxime Raynaud chipped in with 11 points. As a team, the Kings shot just 40 percent from the field and seven of 31 from the 3-point line as they struggled to keep pace from the start and were never in the contest after falling behind by 77-50 going into the halftime break. Things only got worse in the second half, where the deficit ballooned to 38 points and the Kings could’ve done with more production from Malik Monk, who scored just seven points on two of eight shooting and Killian Hayes, who shot just one of nine for his three points.
Dallas Mavericks Betting Preview
Meanwhile, the Dallas Mavericks look like they have moved on from their ugly 10-game losing streak, as they are now aiming for a third straight victory after outlasting the Nets in a 123-114 road win on Tuesday. Marvin Bagley III led the team in scoring with 22 points on 10 of 13 shooting off the bench; Naji Marshall added 21 points with seven assists, while Brandon Williams tallied 19 points with 10 assists on nine of 11 shooting. As a team, the Mavericks shot a sizzling 59 percent from the field and eight of 23 from the 3-point line as they took control of the contest and exploded for 76 points in the first half to open up a 15-point lead and they did just enough to stay in front the rest of the way thanks to 66 points in the paint and a 44-28 rebounding edge.
Why the Dallas Mavericks will win
- The Kings have lost each of their last 12 road games when playing with a rest disadvantage.
- The favorites have won each of the Mavericks’ last 12 games.
- The Kings have failed to cover the spread in each of their last nine road games when playing with a rest disadvantage.
- The Mavericks have covered the spread in each of their last six games against teams that held a losing record.
Why the Sacramento Kings will win
- The Mavericks have lost each of their last eight games against Western Conference opponents.
- The Kings have won six of their last seven games as road underdogs against the Mavericks following a loss.
- The Mavericks have failed to cover the spread in each of their last six games on the first leg of a back-to-back.
- The Kings have covered the spread in each of their last six games at American Airlines Center when playing with a rest disadvantage.
Total Points: Facts
- Seven of the Mavericks’ last eight home games against opponents who are on the second leg of a back-to-back have gone OVER the total points line.
- Six of the Kings’ last seven night games at the American Airlines Center have gone UNDER the total points line.
Dallas Mavericks Player Facts
- Max Christie ranks 14th amongst qualified players for 3P% (42.3%) this season.
- Naji Marshall ranks 6th amongst qualified forwards for FG% (53.0%) this season.
Sacramento Kings Player Facts
- Nique Clifford has recorded 4+ steals in two consecutive appearances—the longest active streak of any player in the league.
- Maxime Raynaud ranks 15th amongst qualified players for FG% (55.0%) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Mavericks rank 30th in the league for opponent field goal attempts per game this season (94.0).
- The Mavericks rank 29th in the league for free throw percentage this season (74.5%).
- The Kings rank 30th in the league for point differential per game this season (-11.1).
- The Kings rank 30th in the league for opponent field goal percentage this season (49.6%).
Mavericks vs Kings Prediction
The Kings are still missing. Keegan Murray, Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis, and De’Andre Hunter, while the Mavericks have ruled out Cooper Flagg, Kyrie Irving, Dereck Lively II, and PJ Washington, with Khris Middleton listed as questionable. The Kings put it all together to snap a 16-game losing streak, but they fell back down to Earth with a massive loss to the Rockets last night, so I am not surprised to see them open as heavy underdogs here. The Mavericks are still severely banged up right now, but they still have players who can step up like Marshall, Bagley, and Williams, which will be more than enough against this depleted Kings lineup.