NBA odds: Sacramento Kings over Knicks a strong selection

Wednesday, the New York Knicks got their 1st win since Nov. 18. NBA odds say it’s unlikely to happen again when they visit the Sacramento Kings on Friday.

UPDATED as of 2 p.m. Eastern. New information in availability reports will be in bold italics,

It’s likely you’ve heard the old adage about lightning striking twice in the same spot. While the New York Knicks may not be in the same spot as they were Wednesday — when they got their first win since Nov. 18 at Golden State — the NBA odds don’t favor the Knicks repeating the feat against the Sacramento Kings on Friday night.

The Knicks did end their 10-game losing streak with a 124-122 win in overtime over the Warriors on Wednesday night, but have not put back-to-back victories together this season. Sacramento comes in as an eight-point favorite — a line that changed to the Kings being favored by 8½ points by early Friday afternoon, according to information provided courtesy of The Action Network, and the Kings are 15-4 against the spread in their last 19 games.

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They’ve also won three games in a row outright, including a Texas-sized road sweep of the Mavericks and Rockets on a back-to-back Sunday and Monday, After a five-game losing skid to open the season, Sacramento is 11-8 straight up and is right in the mix at the bottom of the Western Conference playoff race, tied for seventh place with the Thunder and Suns.

With their win Wednesday, the Knicks no longer have the worst record in the NBA. They are now a half-game ahead of the Warriors in the NBA’s overall standings. They are also just 2-4 ATS in their last six games and have lost four in a row to Sacramento, including being sliced and diced at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 3, where the Knicks fell 113-92 as 1½-point road underdogs.

The Kings also got Marvin Bagley III back in their win over Oklahoma City Wednesday after he missed 22 games with a broken thumb and coach Luke Walton has them at least treading water so far while De’Aaron Fox nurses a sprained ankle. Sacramento is 8-7 without Fox, who was third in the Most Improved Player voting last season.

New York Knicks at Sacramento Kings (minus 8½)

Line adjusted from Kings (minus 8)

TV: MSG Network, NBC Sports California
Tickets: Golden 1 Center, 10 p.m. Eastern (7 p.m. local)
Records: New York 5-20 (12-13 ATS, 6-6 road ATS), Sacramento 11-13 (15-9 ATS, 6-7 home ATS)

Availability report (as of 1:30 p.m. Eastern on Friday)
New York: OUT–Kadeem Allen (two-way, G League), Reggie Bullock (cervical disc herniation), Wayne Ellington (sore left Achilles), Ivan Rabb (two-way, G League); DOUBTFUL–Allonzo Trier (concussion-like symptoms, downgraded from AVAILABLE); PROBABLE–Dennis Smith Jr. (illness).
Sacramento: OUT–De’Aaron Fox (left ankle sprain), Kyle Guy (two-way, G League), DaQuan Jeffries (two-way, G League); PROBABLE–Cory Joseph (low back soreness).

Here’s what to look for on the rest of Friday night’s nine-game NBA slate:

Houston Rockets (minus 5½) at Orlando Magic

Line adjusted from Rockets (minus 6)

TV: AT&T Sports Net-Southwest, Fox Sports Florida
Tickets: Amway Center, 7 p.m. Eastern
Records: Houston 16-8 (11-13 ATS, 5-7 road ATS), Orlando 11-13 (10-13-1 ATS, 4-8-1 home ATS)

Availability report (as of 1:30 p.m. Eastern on Friday)
Houston: OUT–Tyson Chandler (illness, downgraded from DOUBTFUL), Michael Frazier (two-way, G League), Eric Gordon (right knee arthroscopy), Gerald Green (left cuneiform fracture), Nene Hilario (left adductor strain); PROBABLE—Austin Rivers (illness, upgraded from DOUBTFUL).
Orlando: OUT–Al-Farouq Aminu (right knee, torn meniscus), B.J. Johnson (two-way, G League); DOUBTFUL–Nikola Vucevic (right ankle, lateral sprain); QUESTIONABLE–Markelle Fultz (stomach virus, upgraded from DOUBTFUL).

Notable: The Houston Rockets are just 1-4 ATS in their last five games and have only gotten the cover five times in their last 19 trips to the Magic Kingdom. The Orlando Magic, by contrast, are 4-1 ATS over their last five games. However, they’ve covered just once in their last six games at Amway Center.

This is the first meeting this season between the Rockets and Magic, who split last season’s two-game series with each team winning on its own court. Both teams are 5-5 SU over their last 10 games, with the Magic 6-4 ATS and Houston 4-6 ATS. Over that period, the Rockets are 2-3 ATS on the road, while Orlando is 1-3 ATS at home.

New Orleans Pelicans at Philadelphia 76ers (minus 8)

Line shifted from 76ers (minus 9½)

TV: Fox Sports New Orleans, NBC Sports Philadelphia
Tickets: Wells Fargo Center, 7 p.m. Eastern
Records: New Orleans 6-19 (9-15 ATS, 3-8 road ATS), Philadelphia 19-7 (13-13 ATS, 7-6 home ATS)

Availability report (as of 1:30 p.m. Eastern on Friday)
New Orleans: OUT–Zylan Cheatham (two-way, G League), Josh Gray (two-way, G League), Darius Miller (right Achilles surgery), Zion Williamson (right knee scope); QUESTIONABLE–Derrick Favors (personal).
Philadelphia: OUT–Jonah Bolden (G League), Al Horford (left knee soreness/left hamstring tightness), Marial Shayok (two-way, G League), Zhaire Smith (G League); report had not been filed Thursday night.

Notable: With their loss at Milwaukee Wednesday coupled with the Knicks winning the same night at Golden State, the New Orleans Pelicans now have the NBA’s longest active losing streak at 10 straight games. The Philadelphia 76ers have won four in a row and eight of their last 10, including a win at Boston Thursday night.

This being a SEGABABA for the Sixers is likely keeping the spread lower. But the Pelicans are 0-7 ATS in their last seven games, with Philadelphia covering in four of its last six. New Orleans has won just two of their 12 road games this season, while the Sixers are 13-0 at home so far and haven’t lost a regular-season game at Wells Fargo Center since April 4.

Los Angeles Lakers (minus 5½) at Miami Heat

Line shifted from Lakers minus 4½

TV: Spectrum SportsNet, ESPN
Tickets: AmericanAirlines Arena, 7 p.m. Eastern
Records: Los Angeles 22-3 (16-8 ATS, 8-4 road ATS), Miami 18-6 (15-8-1 ATS, 9-2 home ATS)

Availability report (as of 1:30 p.m. Eastern on Friday)
Los Angeles: OUT–Kostas Antetokounmpo (two-way, G League), Devontae Cacok (two-way, G League), DeMarcus Cousins (right knee rehabilitation), Kyle Kuzma (left ankle sprain, downgraded from QUESTIONABLE); PROBABLE–Avery Bradley (right leg, hairline fracture), Anthony Davis (right shoulder soreness), Rajon Rondo (left hamstring strain, upgraded from QUESTIONABLE).
Miami: OUT–Goran Dragic (right groin strain), KZ Okpala (G League), Dion Waiters (team suspension), Justice Winslow (lower back strain); QUESTIONABLE–Tyler Herro (sick); report had not been filed Thursday night.

Notable: Two of the NBA’s newly minted elites collide, with the Los Angeles Lakers riding a five-game winning streak during which they have covered every game. The Miami Heat have won six of their last seven, but are just 2-4 ATS over their last six games. The Lakers have covered four of their last six against the Heat.

That includes a 95-80 win in Los Angeles as 8½-point favorites back on Nov. 8. The Heat are also just 1-3 in their last four games as an underdog and have covered three of their last five at home. Los Angeles is 5-2 ATS in its last seven games on the road.

Indiana Pacers (minus 6) at Atlanta Hawks

TV: Fox Sports Indiana, Fox Sports Southeast-Atlanta
Tickets: State Farm Arena, 7:30 p.m. Eastern
Records: Indiana 16-9 (12-11-2 ATS, 6-6 road ATS), Atlanta 6-19 (11-14 ATS, 6-5 home ATS)

Availability report (as of 1:30 p.m. Eastern on Friday)
Indiana: OUT–Brian Bowen (G League), Victor Oladipo (right knee rehab); QUESTIONABLE–JaKarr Sampson (sore lower back).
Atlanta: OUT–Charlie Brown (two-way, G League), John Collins (league suspension), Brandon Goodwin (two-way, G League).

Notable: The Indiana Pacers are stepping into what could be a trap game, coming off an emotional win at home Wednesday over the Celtics. The Atlanta Hawks have lost three of their last four, getting blown out at Chicago Wednesday after losing by 14 in overtime at Miami on Tuesday. The Pacers are 6-4 ATS in their last 10, including 3-2 ATS on the road.

Atlanta has covered five of its last 10 despite winning just two of them outright, but is 2-4 ATS over its last six games. This is the second meeting of the season between Indiana and the Hawks, with the Hawks covering as 11-point road underdogs in a 105-104 loss at Indianapolis on Nov. 29. Atlanta is just 1-4 ATS in its last five at home against the Pacers.

Charlotte Hornets at Chicago Bulls (minus 6)

TV: Fox Sports Southeast-Charlotte, NBC Sports Chicago
Tickets: United Center, 8 p.m. Eastern (7 p.m. local)
Records: Charlotte 11-16 (13-13-1 ATS, 6-6-1 road ATS), Chicago 9-17 (13-13 ATS, 7-7 home ATS)

Availability report (as of 1:30 p.m. Eastern on Friday)
Charlotte: OUT–Robert Franks (two-way, G League), Caleb Martin (G League), Jalen McDaniels (G League), Kobi Simmons (two-way, G League), Marvin Williams (right knee soreness); DOUBTFUL–Nicolas Batum (left hand discomfort); PROBABLE–Malik Monk (right fifth finger discomfort).
Chicago: OUT–Adam Mokoka (two-way, G League), Otto Porter (left foot fracture), Max Strus (two-way, G League); DOUBTFUL–Cristiano Felicio (right wrist fracture), Chandler Hutchison (right shoulder sprain); PROBABLE–Ryan Arcidiacono (right elbow sprain), Wendell Carter Jr. (tailbone contusion, head contusion), Kris Dunn (right knee, patellar tendinitis), Zach LaVine (right shoulder strain), Denzel Valentine (left ankle surgery); AVAILABLE–Tomas Satoransky (turf toe).

Notable: The Charlotte Hornets have split their last 10 games right down the middle — 5-5 SU, 5-5 ATS. The Chicago Bulls snapped a three-game slide with a blowout of the Hawks on Wednesday, but are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games. Charlotte is 4-1 in its last five games against the Bulls, who have won six of their last seven SU at home against the Hornets.

This is the third of four meetings between the teams this season. Chicago lost 126-125 as 3½-point road favorites at Charlotte on Oct. 23 and won outright but failed to cover as two-point road favorites in a 116-115 victory at Charlotte on Nov. 23. In keeping with their down-the-middle theme, the Hornets are 2-2 ATS in their last four road games.

Milwaukee Bucks (minus 10) at Memphis Grizzlies

Line shifted from Bucks (minus 8)

TV: Fox Sports Wisconsin, Fox Sports Southeast-Memphis
Tickets: FedExForum, 8 p.m. Eastern (7 p.m. local)
Records: Milwaukee 22-3 (13-12 ATS, 6-6 road ATS), Memphis 8-16 (10-14 ATS, 5-8 home ATS)

Availability report (as of 1:30 p.m. Eastern on Friday)
Milwaukee: OUT–Dragan Bender (right ankle sprain), Kyle Korver (back soreness), Frank Mason (two-way, G League), Cameron Reynolds (two-way, G League); QUESTIONABLE–Giannis Antetokounmpo (right quad tendon soreness).
Memphis: OUT–Grayson Allen (right ankle soreness), Brandon Clarke (left oblique injury maintenance), Andre Iguodala (not with team), Josh Jackson (G League), Ja Morant (back injury maintenance).

Notable: This game is in a bit of flux with the questions about Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s status, but on Wednesday the Milwaukee Bucks hammered the Pelicans 127-112 without the reigning MVP. The Memphis Grizzlies will be without their two standout rookies and return to FedEx Forum, where they have lost their last six games.

While the Grizzlies have won six of their last eight games at home against Milwaukee, the first six of those were while the Grit ‘n’ Grind era was still at or near its peak. The Bucks are 5-1 ATS over their last six games and have won 16 straight games, the longest winning streak in the NBA since the 76ers won 16 in a row in March and April 2018.

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Golden State Warriors at Utah Jazz (minus 13½)

Line shifted from Jazz (minus 12½)

TV: NBC Sports Bay Area, AT&T Sports Net-Rocky Mountain
Tickets: Vivint Smart Home Arena, 9 p.m. Eastern (7 p.m. local)
Records: Golden State 5-21 (11-14-1 ATS, 7-8 road ATS), Utah 14-11 (10-15 ATS, 5-7 home ATS)

Availability report (as of 1:30 p.m. Eastern on Friday)
Golden State: OUT–Ky Bowman (two-way, G League), Stephen Curry (left hand fracture), Draymond Green (rest), Eric Paschall (left hip soreness, downgraded from DOUBTFUL), Alen Smailagic (G League), Klay Thompson (left ACL rehabilitation).
Utah: OUT–Mike Conley (left hamstring tightness).

Notable: If ever a team needed a visit from the worst squad in the NBA, it is the Utah Jazz. Utah has lost four of six and six of nine and is just 2-4 ATS over those last six games. The Golden State Warriors will rest Draymond Green for this one and come in 1-4 ATS over their last five games and have covered just once in their last eight games against the Jazz.

Utah has won the first two meetings with the Warriors this season, covering as eight-point road favorites in a 122-108 win in San Francisco on Nov. 11, but failing to cover as 16-point favorites in a 113-109 victory at Salt Lake City on Nov. 22.. The Jazz have split their last four home games ATS; Golden State is 3-3 ATS in its last six on the road.

LA Clippers (minus 6) at Minnesota Timberwolves

Line shifted from Clippers (minus 5½)

TV: Fox Sports Prime Ticket, Fox Sports North, ESPN
Tickets: Target Center, 9:30 p.m. Eastern (8:30 p.m. local)
Records: LA 19-7 (14-11 ATS, 5-7 road ATS), Minnesota 10-14 (9-14-1 ATS, 2-8-1 home ATS)

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Availability report (as of 1:30 p.m. Eastern on Friday)
LA: OUT–Patrick Beverley (concussion), Amir Coffey (two-way, G League), Landry Shamet (high left ankle sprain); Lou Williams (sore right calf, downgraded from AVAILABLE); QUESTIONABLE–JaMychal Green (tailbone contusion); PROBABLE–Rodney McGruder (right hamstring strain).
Minnesota: OUT–Jake Layman (left toe sprain), Kelan Martin (two-way, G League), Jordan McLaughlin (two-way, G League), Jaylen Nowell (G League), Naz Reid (G League); QUESTIONABLE–Keita Bates-Diop (flu-like symptoms), Jeff Teague (left ankle soreness).

Notable: These are two trains headed in completely opposite directions. The LA Clippers have won three straight and eight of their last 10; the Minnesota Timberwolves have lost six in a row and eight of their last 10. The Clippers are 5-1 ATS over their last six games; the Timberwolves haven’t covered once during their six-game losing streak.

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This will be the first meeting this season between LA and Minnesota, with the Timberwolves 6-3 ATS in the last nine games between the clubs. But the Clippers are 6-6 SU on the road while Minneapolis has not exactly been home, sweet home for the Wolves. They are 3-8 SU at Target Center this season and have lost six straight at home, last winning there on Nov. 13, a month ago.

Sacramento Kings over the Knicks strong NBA odds selection

By Phil Watson | Dec 13, 2019