Sacramento Kings (12-13) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (5-20)
December 12, 2024 8:00 pm EDT
The Line: New Orleans Pelicans +5.5; Over/Under: +230.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The New Orleans Pelicans play host to the Sacramento Kings at the Smoothie King Center on Thursday night. Here’s a New Orleans Pelicans vs Sacramento Kings Prediction. This article will include a New Orleans Pelicans vs Sacramento Kings Pick.
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings have been building momentum as they’ve won three of their past four games and they will be eager to keep it going after blowing past the Jazz in a 141-97 home win on Sunday. Kevin Huerter led the team with 26 points, five rebounds and four assists, De’Aaron Fox added 21 points with nine assists while Domantas Sabonis tallied 19 points with 12 rebounds and six assists. As a team, the Kings shot 57 percent from the field and a sizzling 22 of 44 from the 3-point line as they took control of the contest with a 36-point burst in the second quarter and they just kept piling the points on in the second half to finish with a season-high 141 points.
New Orleans Pelicans
Meanwhile, the New Orleans Pelicans have been in terrible form as they’ve lost 11 of their last 12 games overall and they will be hoping to snap a two-game skid after getting stopped by the Spurs in a 121-116 road defeat on Sunday. Trey Murphy led the team with 25 points, six rebounds and five assists, CJ McCollum added 19 points with five assists while Yves Missi and Dejounte Murray scored 18 points each. As a team, the Pelicans shot 43 percent from the field and 13 of 38 from the 3-point line as they hit the ground running with 34 points in the first quarter to jump out in front, but they could never get back in front after getting dominated by 43-28 in the second quarter to trail by 11 points.
Why the Sacramento Kings will win
- The Pelicans have lost each of their last eight night games against teams that held a losing record.
- The Kings have won each of their last eight games as road favorites following a home win.
- The Kings have covered the spread in seven of their last eight games as road favorites following a home win.
- The Pelicans have failed to cover the spread in each of their last four home games against teams that held a losing record.
Total Points Facts
- Each of the Kings’ last eight games as favorites following a home win have gone UNDER the total points line.
- Each of the Pelicans’ last four games have gone OVER the total points line.
New Orleans Pelicans vs Sacramento Kings Prediction
The Kings are still missing Trey Lyles, while the Pelicans are going to be without Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson, Jordan Hawkins and Daniel Theis to name a few. The Kings have went through some struggles already this season, but they are starting to turn things around with three wins from their past four games and are clearly the favorites in this matchup. The Pelicans are mired in a terrible slump, they are missing so many players and are now dealing with extra drama following the altercation on Sunday. The line is modest for this matchup, so I am sticking with the Kings to maintain their momentum with a win and cover in this spot.
