February 23, 2023 NBA Preview and Prediction: Sacramento Kings vs Portland Trail Blazers

Odds

2022-2023 season stats

Preview

On Thursday night, the Portland Trail Blazers will travel to the Golden 1 Center to play against the Sacramento Kings. The two teams had previously met in Sacramento earlier this season, where the Trail Blazers emerged victorious with a 115-108 scoreline. During that game, Jerami Grant made a three-point play in the final 50.4 seconds to give Portland the lead and spoil Mike Brown's coaching debut for the Kings. Grant had scored 23 points to lead the Trail Blazers, with Anfernee Simons contributing 22 points. Damian Lillard also played in that game, scoring 20 points in his first appearance after recovering from an abdominal injury that had kept him out of action since January.

Portland Trail Blazers

The Kings have been performing well this season, with a record of 32-25 and a third-place ranking in the Western Conference. They have won 20 out of 33 Western Conference games, which is a promising record as they head into the second half of the season. One of the strengths of the Kings this season has been their ability to share the ball, as they are ranked fifth in the NBA with an average of 26.8 assists per game. Domantas Sabonis has been a key player for the Kings, leading the team with an average of 6.9 assists per game.

One of the players to watch in this matchup will be Damian Lillard, who is currently fourth in the league in scoring with an average of 31.4 points per game. Lillard has been a key player for the Trail Blazers this season, and his ability to score in crucial moments could be a factor in this game. Anfernee Simons has also been a strong contributor for the Trail Blazers, averaging 19.6 points and 2.1 rebounds over the last 10 games.

In their last 10 games, the Trail Blazers have been averaging 119.1 points per game, which is a solid offensive performance. Despite their strong offensive performances, the Trail Blazers have struggled on defense in their last 10 games. They have given up an average of 123.3 points per game to their opponents during this stretch, which is a concern heading into the matchup against the Kings. The Blazers' opponents have been shooting 49.2% from the field during this stretch, which is a high percentage and indicates that the Blazers' defense has been struggling to stop their opponents.

One positive for the Trail Blazers in their last 10 games has been their ability to block shots. They have been averaging 4.7 blocks per game, which is one of the best in the league during this stretch. This could be a factor in the matchup against the Kings, as the Blazers will need to play strong defense and prevent the Kings from scoring in the paint.

Sacramento Kings

The Kings have been performing well this season, with a record of 32-25 and a third-place ranking in the Western Conference. They have won 20 out of 33 Western Conference games, which is a promising record as they head into the second half of the season. One of the strengths of the Kings this season has been their ability to share the ball, as they are ranked fifth in the NBA with an average of 26.8 assists per game. Domantas Sabonis has been a key player for the Kings, leading the team with an average of 6.9 assists per game.

De'Aaron Fox scored 36 points, including six free throws in the final 18.4 seconds of overtime, leading the Sacramento Kings to a 133-128 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night. Fox was effective on both ends of the court, with 26 of his points coming in the fourth quarter and overtime, and he also played solid defense. Domantas Sabonis had a double-double with 22 points and 14 rebounds, while Terence Davis contributed 22 points off the bench and Kevin Huerter added 15. Kings coach Mike Brown praised the team's defense and individual performances in the game.

The Sacramento Kings have been led by the dynamic play of De'Aaron Fox on the offensive end of the court. Fox has been averaging an impressive 24.6 points per game on 50.6% shooting from the floor. But Fox is not the only weapon in the Kings' arsenal. The team has demonstrated that they have snipers throughout their roster, with a three-point shooting percentage of 36.5%, which is the 10th-highest in the league. The Kings have also been effective at the free-throw line, hitting 80.1% of their shots. This is the seventh-highest team free-throw shooting percentage in the league, which is essential for securing crucial points and winning games.

Despite their impressive offensive play, the Kings have struggled on the defensive end of the court. They have allowed an average of 117.1 points per game, with their opponents shooting 49.2% from the floor. These stats place the Kings at the 23rd most points surrendered per game and the 28th-lowest shooting percentage allowed. Additionally, according to dunksandthrees.com, the Kings have the 25th-lowest adjusted defensive rating in the NBA. One of their biggest challenges has been their inability to consistently contest shots, both near the rim and on the perimeter. Opponents have been shooting 36.8% from behind the arc, which is the 23rd-lowest three-point shooting percentage allowed.

On the rebounding front, the Kings have been averaging 41.8 rebounds per game, which is the 23rd most in the league. However, the Kings have some talented players in this area, such as Richaun Holmes and Marvin Bagley III, who have been able to make up for some of the team's rebounding deficiencies.

In conclusion, while the Kings have shown their offensive prowess this season, they will need to focus on improving their defense and rebounding if they hope to compete with the best teams in the league. With talented players such as De'Aaron Fox and Marvin Bagley III, the Kings have the potential to make significant strides in these areas and become a force to be reckoned with.

In their last 10 games, the Kings are 5-5, averaging 118.1 points, 40.1 rebounds, 24.8 assists, 7.9 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 49.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.8 points per game.

BETTING TRENDS

Portland are 2-4 ATS in their last 6 games.

The total has gone OVER in 5 of Portland's last 7 games.

Portland are 2-4 SU in their last 6 games.

Portland are 5-2 SU in their last 7 games against Sacramento.

Portland are 2-9 ATS in their last 11 games on the road.

Portland are 6-3 ATS in their last 9 games when playing on the road against Sacramento.

Sacramento are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games.

The total has gone OVER in 5 of Sacramento's last 6 games.

The total has gone OVER in 8 of Sacramento's last 12 games against Portland.

The total has gone OVER in 7 of Sacramento's last 10 games at home.

Prediction

it seems that the Sacramento Kings have the edge in the matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers. The Kings have a better overall record this season and have been solid in Western Conference games, winning 20 out of 33 so far. Additionally, the Kings have been performing well at home this season, with a record of 18-9 at the Golden 1 Center.

On the other hand, the Trail Blazers have struggled this season, with a record of 28-30 and a poor record in Western Conference games. They have won just 20 out of 36 so far and have been struggling on the road this season. The Blazers have a road record of 9-21, which is one of the worst in the Western Conference.

Another factor that could play a role in this matchup is the injuries to key players on the Trail Blazers. Jusuf Nurkic, Justise Winslow, Anfernee Simons, and Ibou Badji are all out for this game, while Jerami Grant is day to day due to a concussion. This will certainly weaken the Blazers' lineup and make it harder for them to compete against the Kings.

Overall, the Kings have a healthier roster and have been performing well at home this season, while the Blazers have struggled on the road and are dealing with injuries to key players. Therefore, it is reasonable to predict that the Kings will win this matchup.

PICK: Kings -5 (-110)

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