Boston Celtics (20-12) vs. Sacramento Kings (8-25)
January 1, 2026 10:00 pm EDT
The Line: Sacramento Kings +9.5; Over/Under: 227.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Boston Celtics pay a visit to the Sacramento Kings at the Golden 1 Center on Thursday night.
Boston Celtics Betting Preview
The Boston Celtics have been on a tear as they’ve won 10 of their last 13 games overall and they will be eager to stay hot after running past the Jazz in a 129-119 road win on Tuesday. Derrick White led the team with 27 points, seven rebounds and six assists on eight of 16 shooting, Jaylen Brown added 23 points with 10 assists, Anfernee Simons provided the spark off the bench with 20 points while Payton Pritchard chipped in with 18 points and six assists. As a team, the Celtics shot 51 percent from the field and 13 of 44 from the 3-point line as they withstood an early barrage from the Jazz to trail going into halftime, before the Celtics caught fire and exploded for 70 points in the second half thanks to plenty of support from their bench players who outscored the Jazz’s bench by 43-26.
Sacramento Kings Betting Preview
Meanwhile, the Sacramento Kings have been in a major slump as they’ve lost 12 of their last 15 games overall and they will be hoping to bounce back here after getting smashed by the resurgent Clippers in a 131-90 road defeat on Tuesday. Nique Clifford led the team in scoring with 18 points on seven of 12 shooting off the bench, Maxime Raynaud and Russell Westbrook each scored 12 points while Keegan Murray and Dennis Schroder chipped in with 11 points apiece. As a team, the Kings shot just 41 percent from the field and nine of 27 from the 3-point line as they failed to match the Clippers from the tipoff and were never in the contest after getting outscored by 73-40 in a nightmare of a first half. DeMar DeRozan had a night to forget as he finished with just eight points on two of eight shooting in 28 minutes of action.
Boston v Sacramento Free Prediction
The Celtics are still missing Jayson Tatum and they have Chris Boucher listed as questionable, while the Kings have already ruled out Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis again. The Celtics open as clear favorites as they’ve been one of the hottest teams in the league with 10 wins from their past 13 games, while the Kings have continued their downward spiral with another blowout defeat on Tuesday. The Kings have looked particularly bad in their last two games, both blowout defeats and I think that trend continues here as the Celtics catch fire from the perimeter to win easily on the road.
