NBA Picks Experts: Trail Blazers vs Kings prediction 03/31

© Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports

Kings vs Trail Blazers - NBA Game Preview - March 31, 2023 | Trail Blazers take on the Kings on 4-game slide

The Portland Trail Blazers take on the Sacramento Kings on Friday night in a Western Conference matchup. Portland heads into the game after losing four games in a row and holding a triple-digit losing streak. Sacramento, currently standing at third in the Western Conference, ranks fifth in the same conference in shooting 37.2% from 3-point range. The Kings and Trail Blazers have faced each other thrice this season, and the Kings emerged victorious in their last encounter with the Trail Blazers on March 30. Malik Monk led the Kings with 19 points, and Shaedon Sharpe led the Trail Blazers with 30 points. The Kings and the Trail Blazers boast a star-studded line-up with players such as Damain Lillard, Harrison Barnes, and De'Aaron Fox. NBA picks experts and computers are placing their bets on the Kings to win this game, considering the Trail Blazers' recent form. However, NBA picks and parlays experts suggest that the Trail Blazers, despite their recent slump, still have the potential to clinch this game. Prediction: The Kings will likely win this game, considering their recent form, offensive dominance and the absence of key Trail Blazers players due to injuries. However, the Trail Blazers, with their star power, might pull off an upset. NBA experts' picks for today show the Kings being favored by 7 points, with the over/under set at 228.5 points.

Kings: Offensive Analysis

The Kings will be facing off against the Trail Blazers who are on a four-game losing streak, and this gives the Kings a good chance to put up some offensive numbers in the game. Sacramento ranks first in the Western Conference in scoring with 121 points per game, which is also the highest in the entire league. They are a high-flying, fast-paced team that likes to push the ball up the floor and get out in transition. Their fast break points per game rate of 15.0 is seventh best in the league. The Kings' solid offensive production is not only limited to their overall scoring, but they also perform well in other important offensive categories. They are fourth in the league in assists per game with 27.1, which is an indication of how well they share the ball and move it around. Additionally, their effective field goal percentage of 57.4% ranks them second in the league. This means they are a highly efficient shooting team and can put up big numbers when they are hot from the field. Sacramento is also a good three-point shooting team, ranking ninth in the league with a 37.2% success rate from beyond the arc. This is important, as they will be facing a Trail Blazers team that ranks 23rd in three-point percentage allowed, which could give the Kings some opportunities to launch some threes. Overall, the Kings' offensive prowess should give them an advantage in this game, and they will look to exploit the Trail Blazers' struggling defense, which has given up an average of 116.4 points per game this season. With a solid offensive output, the Kings may be able to secure a much needed win against the Trail Blazers.

Kings: Defensive Analysis

The Sacramento Kings will face the struggling Portland Trail Blazers on March 31, 2023. Despite being on a four-game losing streak, the Trail Blazers will pose a challenge to the Kings. In this section, we will provide a defensive analysis of the Kings to predict how they will perform in the upcoming game. The Kings have shown great defensive prowess this season, ranking 26th in points allowed per game in the league. They have also been formidable on the fast break, holding opponents to just 11.4 points per game. Their strength in defending the three-point line has also been a key factor in their defensive success, as they rank fifth in the Western Conference with a 3-point field goal percentage of 37.2%. One area of concern for the Kings is their defense at the rim, as they rank 27th in the league in points allowed in the paint. This could be problematic for the Kings, as the Trail Blazers have been averaging 52.7 points in the paint per game, which is the fourth-highest in the league. Overall, the Kings' defense has been consistent this season, holding opponents to an average of 118.0 points per game. They have also been effective in generating turnovers, averaging 13.9 turnovers per game. If the Kings can continue to play tough defense and limit their opponents' scoring opportunities, they have a good chance of coming out on top against the Trail Blazers. In conclusion, based on the Kings' defensive stats and performance this season, we predict that they will be able to hold the Trail Blazers to a relatively low scoring game. The Kings' defense will need to focus on limiting Portland's opportunities in the paint while continuing to be effective in generating turnovers. With good execution on the defensive end, the Kings have a strong chance of picking up a win in this matchup.

TrailBlazers: Offense Analysis

The Portland TrailBlazers are set to take on the Sacramento Kings, but their offense has been struggling lately. With a record of 32-44 and losses in their last four games, the TrailBlazers need a strong offensive performance to turn things around. Let's take a closer look at their offensive statistics and key players. In their last 10 games, Portland has only managed a record of 1-9 and has averaged just 105.5 points per game. They have struggled to shoot efficiently, with a field goal percentage of just 44.0%, while their opponents have averaged 121.4 points per game. Additionally, the TrailBlazers have been plagued by injuries, with key players like Damian Lillard, Justise Winslow, and Jusuf Nurkic all sitting out with various injuries. Despite these struggles, Damian Lillard has been a top performer for the TrailBlazers, averaging 32.2 points and 7.3 assists per game. Shaedon Sharpe has also been playing well, averaging 15.7 points over the last 10 games. However, they will need more support from their role players if they hope to break their losing streak. Defensively, the TrailBlazers will face a tough challenge in stopping the Kings, who boast a strong offense and a record of 46-30. Portland has a record of 16-26 against teams with a winning percentage over .500, further emphasizing the need for a strong offensive showing. Overall, while the TrailBlazers have struggled recently, they still have talented players who can put up points in a hurry. If they can find a way to execute on offense and limit the Kings' scoring opportunities, they have a chance to come away with a much-needed victory. However, against a Sacramento team that ranks fifth in the Western Conference for three-point shooting, the TrailBlazers' defense must be up to the task as well. As always, consult with NBA picks experts, NBA picks computer, NBA picks em, and other NBA predictions before making any NBA today experts' NBA picks, NBA picks and parlay, or NBA experts' picks today to make the best NBA bets today.

TrailBlazers: Defensive Analysis

The TrailBlazers will need a solid defensive performance to snap their four-game losing streak when they face off against the Kings. Portland has struggled on the defensive end, allowing an average of 121.4 points per game over their last 10 games. However, they will have an opportunity to improve against a Sacramento team that ranks 19th in the league in scoring. Portland will need to focus on limiting the Kings' three-point shooting, as Sacramento ranks fifth in the Western Conference in three-point percentage at 37.2%. The Blazers will also need to improve their rebounding, as they have been outrebounded by an average of 2.4 rebounds per game over their last 10 games. The absence of Damian Lillard will be a major blow to Portland's defense, as he is averaging 1.1 steals per game and has been a key contributor on that end of the floor. However, the Blazers will look to Shaedon Sharpe, who has been averaging 1.4 steals per game over his last 10 games, to step up and provide a spark on defense. Injuries have also been a major issue for Portland, with Justise Winslow, Ibou Badji, Jerami Grant, Keon Johnson, Trendon Watford, Jusuf Nurkic, and Anfernee Simons all listed as out. The Blazers will need their remaining players to step up and play tough defense in order to give themselves a chance to win. Overall, the TrailBlazers will need to improve their defense if they hope to snap their losing streak and come away with a win against the Kings. While it won't be easy without Lillard and with several key players out due to injuries, Portland will need to play with energy and intensity on the defensive end in order to give themselves a chance to win.

Injury Report

Sacramento Kings: No injuries to report. Portland Trail Blazers: - Justise Winslow is out with an ankle injury. - Ibou Badji is out with a knee injury. - Jerami Grant is out with a quad injury. - Keon Johnson is out with a finger injury. - Damian Lillard is out for the season with a calf injury. - Trendon Watford is out with an ankle injury. - Jusuf Nurkic is out with a knee injury. - Anfernee Simons is out with a foot injury. The Kings will head into the game with a healthy roster, while the Trail Blazers will be without several key players, including their star point guard Damian Lillard. This could be a significant disadvantage for Portland, as they try to break their four-game losing streak. Sacramento will look to take advantage of Portland's injury situation and continue their strong play against Western Conference opponents.

Betting Trends

The Sacramento Kings head into their matchup with the Portland Trail Blazers on a six-game winning streak, while the Blazers have lost their last four games. The Kings have a 46-30 record and are third in the Western Conference, while the Blazers are 32-44 and sit in 13th place. In terms of betting trends, the Kings have gone 30-16 against Western Conference opponents, while the Blazers have gone 22-24. The Kings are also fifth in the Western Conference in shooting percentage from 3-point range, with a 37.2% success rate. The Blazers have struggled offensively, with an average of just 105.5 points per game in their last 10 games. When it comes to predicting the outcome of this game, NBA picks experts and NBA picks computers may lean towards the Kings based on their recent hot streak and strong conference record. NBA picks and parlays may also favor the Kings, as they have been consistently winning games recently. Overall, predictions for this game may heavily favor the Kings, with NBA experts picks and NBA picks with spread likely pointing towards a Sacramento victory. However, as with any NBA game, anything can happen on the court, and both teams will look to come out with a win.

NBA Prediction: Kings vs. Trail Blazers

The Kings and Trail Blazers meet for the fourth time this season, with Sacramento winning the last matchup by a convincing 40-point margin. Portland comes into this game on a four-game losing streak, while the Kings have won six of their last 10 games. Despite playing on the road, the Kings have been a dominant force against Western Conference opponents, boasting a 30-16 record. They also rank fifth in the conference in 3-point shooting percentage, which should pose a problem for a Portland team that has struggled on defense recently. Furthermore, the Kings have been able to maintain offensive consistency with their dynamic guard De'Aaron Fox and the versatile Harrison Barnes leading the way. The Trail Blazers, on the other hand, have suffered from injuries to key players like Damian Lillard and Jusuf Nurkic and have struggled to find a consistent scoring option outside of Shaedon Sharpe. All things considered, the Kings have the potential to cover this high spread, making them the pick in this matchup. 

Pick: Kings (-14.5)