The Trail Blazers are on their way to Sacramento to take on a struggling Kings team sitting at 9th in the West. This is a battle between two groups who can’t wait for the end of the season. After another challenging year for both organizations, this game has the potential to bring a slight spark into what has been a dismal year.
Toumani Camara Questionable
Jerami Grant Doubtful
Deandre Ayton Out
Robert Williams Out
Jake LaRavia Questionable
Malik Monk Out
Devin Carter Questionable
Yet another year for the Kings, sitting at the back end of the playoff standings. They’ll have to win two games to even make the playoffs. With vibes low and morale souring, things in Sacramento aren’t amazing. The future of this team seems to be in parallel as this group falls below expectations once again in the brutal Western Conference.
Portland is in a similar position record-wise, but with the season expectations far below Sacramento, they’ve overachieved in some ways. Even though they were better than expected, their ultimate end-of-season goal to make the play-in might be out of reach. With their only regular-season goal slipping away, Portland might pack it in and bench some key players.
This makes calling the matchup somewhat challenging. If Portland were entering this game with a purpose, they might have had a solid chance to defeat Sacramento. However, with a few key players missing, including possibly Camara, the Kings will have the advantage.
The Kings will have the advantage in scoring in most positions tonight. With Sabonis taking on Clingan in the post, the crafty vet will probably be able to knock Clingan off his spots and find some high-percentage shots. We’ve seen Clingan struggle against post players with talented footwork and size, which might open up the middle for Sacramento. Murray has been on fire from three-point range lately, teaming up with Sabonis and going 9 for 13 against OKC on Tuesday! If he can keep his shooting streak going, it will really open things up for DeRozan and LaVine to shine in their midrange game.
Portland will have to focus on team defense. With so many talented scorers across the Kings' roster, they’ll have to play smart defense. The point of attack defense will be the most important, especially with the Kings down Monk. If Portland can prevent their guards from penetrating the paint and forcing jump shots they'll look good.
Ultimately, this game will come down to scoring. The Kings have the scorers to make shots but lack a true playmaker who can carry them past strong defensives. Given Portland's recent defensive performance, this could pose a problem for Sacramento. However, Portland has struggled to surpass the 120-point mark on offense. So, if the Kings are feeling confident and running up the score, they’ll have a great chance to win tonight. This game will be somewhat of a coin flip, but I believe the Kings have a slight edge.
Money line: POR (+200) / SAC (-245)
Total Points: 226
Spread: +6 POR (-112) / -6 SAC (-108)
Portland is definitely the value pick for tonight! The Kings have so much going for them and deserve to be the favorites in this matchup, but Portland’s odds are just too tempting to ignore. The Blazers have been playing some solid basketball recently, with several players stepping up as the season winds down. Considering Sacramento's recent slump and Portland’s success, they're likely to keep this game competitive.
The primary factor making the under more appealing here is probably the free throws. Recently, the Kings have drastically reduced their attempts at the line. They seem more willing to settle for midrange shots or three-pointers rather than finding contact when driving to the basket. Given that the last matchup between these teams finished with a total of only 210 points, I doubt we'll see the score much higher tonight either.
Portland has a good chance to stay in this game, if not clinch a win! Their strong defensive effort has kept the team competitive. Considering the Kings' recent performance, it seems unlikely they’ll pull ahead with a huge lead in this matchup.
LaVine hasn’t been the scorer he was earlier in the month. However, looking at the schedule, the Kings have faced off against some challenging competition lately. He could have a solid night against a Portland team that isn’t playing for anything, especially if Camara is out. Even money looks solid tonight.
Clingan’s rebounding consistency has truly been impressive for a rookie! Right now, he's averaging just under 10 rebounds a game in March, and he’s been on fire these last two weeks. He’s regularly snagging over 10 boards, with just one exception against Boston. While going up against Sabonis will be a challenge, he's sure to get plenty of playing time tonight since Portland doesn’t have any stronger options to match up against him.
We’ve seen Avdija’s three-point shot improve tremendously as the season has progressed. This month, he’s shooting 46% from three, making just under three per game. His attempts have also increased to seven per game, up from only four in February. Considering the favorable odds on three-pointers and how he’s performed lately, this is a worthwhile bet on a player who has been consistently trending upward.
DeMar might not be known for his passing, but it’s a talent that he has embraced much more later in his career. With Monk out tonight, DeRozan will likely see an even larger load on offense than usual. Considering he’s almost averaging six assists a game in March, and has only been short of 5 assists four times this month, this looks like a sweet line.