Sacramento Kings vs Oklahoma City Thunder Preview and Prediction (2/26/2023)

The Sacramento Kings (33-25, third in the Western Conference) will take on the Oklahoma City Thunder (28-31, 11th in the Western Conference) on Sunday, February 26th, at 7 p.m. EST. The game will take place in Oklahoma City, where the Thunder will look to get revenge after losing to the Kings earlier in the season.

Analysis: Sacramento Kings

The Sacramento Kings are currently third in the Western Conference with a record of 33-25. They are coming off a close loss to the Phoenix Suns, where they were able to score 175 points but ultimately fell short by one point. Despite the loss, the Kings have been playing well lately, going 6-4 in their last ten games.

The Kings have been led by De'Aaron Fox, who is averaging 23.8 points per game over the past ten games. He has been shooting 52.2% from the field during this stretch and will look to continue his impressive play against the Thunder.

In addition to Fox, the Kings have also received strong contributions from Kevin Huerter, who is averaging 14.8 points per game and shooting 39.1% from beyond the arc. Buddy Hield is another player to watch, as he is averaging 13.3 points per game and shooting 38.8% from three-point range.

Defensively, the Kings have been average this season, allowing 114.1 points per game. They will need to step up their defense if they want to beat the Thunder on Sunday.

Analysis: Oklahoma City Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder are currently 11th in the Western Conference with a record of 28-31. They have been struggling lately, going 4-6 in their last ten games. However, they have the talent to compete with the Kings and will look to bounce back on Sunday.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the player to watch for the Thunder, as he is averaging 31.0 points per game this season. However, he will be out with an ankle injury for Sunday's game, which will be a big blow to the Thunder. The team will need other players to step up in his absence.

Jaylin Williams is one player who has been playing well lately, shooting 47.7% from three-point range and averaging 12.8 points per game over the past ten games. Josh Giddey is another player to watch, as he is averaging 16.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game this season.

Defensively, the Thunder have been allowing 117.9 points per game this season. They will need to improve their defense if they want to compete with the Kings on Sunday.

Betting Trends

The total has gone over in seven of Sacramento's last eight games.

Sacramento is 5-2 ATS in their last seven games.

Oklahoma City is 14-5-1 ATS in their last 20 games.

The total has gone over in four of Oklahoma City's last six games against Sacramento.

Public Betting Data:

According to the public betting data available on multiple sportsbook platforms, the majority of the bets are being placed on the Sacramento Kings to cover the spread and win the game outright. The public has shown a lot of confidence in the Kings, with 63% of the bets favoring the team from Sacramento. The total betting action on this game has also been more in favor of the over, with around 61% of the bets placed on the total going over.

Prediction:

This game promises to be an exciting matchup between two teams with different objectives in the Western Conference. The Sacramento Kings, currently sitting third in the conference, are looking to strengthen their position in the playoffs, while the Oklahoma City Thunder are looking to push themselves into the playoff picture.

Based on our analysis, we predict that the Sacramento Kings will win the game, but Oklahoma City Thunder will cover the spread. We also predict the total will go under the given total of 242.5 points.

Pick: Sacramento Kings (-3.5)

The Kings have been in excellent form lately and have won six out of their last ten games. They have a better overall record than the Thunder, and their record against the Western Conference is also better. They will be playing at home and will have a strong home crowd to back them up.

Pick: Sacramento Kings (moneyline)

As per our analysis, the Sacramento Kings are the clear favorites to win the game. They are the better team on paper, and they are in better form compared to the Thunder. The Kings also have the home-court advantage, which further strengthens their chances of winning.

Pick: Under 242.5 (total)

Both teams have solid defenses and have been able to restrict their opponents to relatively low scores in their recent games. The Kings, in particular, have been in good form defensively, allowing an average of just 113.9 points per game in their last ten games. We predict that this game will see a lower scoreline and the total will go under 242.5 points.

Conclusion:

The game between the Sacramento Kings and the Oklahoma City Thunder is sure to be an exciting matchup with lots of opportunities for betting enthusiasts. Our analysis suggests that the Sacramento Kings will win the game, but Oklahoma City Thunder will cover the spread, and the total will go under. However, as with any sports game, anything can happen, and the final result may differ from our prediction. So, it is always essential to be cautious and bet responsibly.