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The Golden State Warriors are currently on a two-game losing streak without their All-Star Steph Curry as they visit the Sacramento Kings who are coming off a big win against the red-hot Atlanta Hawks. With that said, it’s time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Warriors-Kings prediction and pick.
The Warriors continue to be empty-handed without Curry as they have lost seven of their last ten games and currently find themselves in the tenth seed in the western conference with a record of 22-22. Meanwhile, the Kings have been able to win two straight games towards a record of 19-25 as they sit in 12th seed in the Western Conference.
Here’s how sportsbooks have set the opening Warriors-Kings odds.
NBA Odds: Warriors-Kings Odds
Golden State Warriors +2.5 (-105)
Sacramento Kings -2.5 (-115)
Over 226.5 Points (-111)
Under 226.5 Points(-109)
Why The Warriors Could Cover The Spread
The Warriors are without Curry for the fourth straight game as they visit the Kings Thursday night.
In that time frame, the Warriors lost against the Memphis Grizzlies and a Philadelphia 76ers team without Joel Embiid.
In those two losses, the Warriors had an opportunity in the fourth quarter to win the game. Against the Grizzlies, the Warriors were up by one-point with three minutes left to play but ended up falling to the Grizzlies by eight points. Against the 76ers, the Warriors were up by six points with seven minutes left to play, but again ultimately lost to the 76ers.
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What these two losses show is that the Warriors without Curry are desperately missing is a closer.
The Warriors are a solid team and can keep up with any team given solid performances from Andrew Wiggins, Kelly Oubre, and Draymond Green; but taking a look at the current team without Curry, what they lack is someone to pass the ball in order to get them a bucket in the fourth quarter.
Luckily for the Warriors, the Kings are a very poor defensive team which bodes well for the Warriors who are without their main offensive weapon in Curry. That said, the Warriors will still need a big offensive game from their main pieces in Wiggins, Oubre, and Green in order to cover the spread against a very hot De'Aaron Fox and Kings team.
Why The Kings Could Cover The Spread
The Kings are currently on a two-game winning streak behind consecutive 30-plus points from their star De'Aaron Fox.
Fox who has been special for the Kings this season has been averaging 24.1 points, 7.3 assists, and 3.4 rebounds.
The Kings also have five other players who contribute double-digit points per game, most notably Buddy Hield, Harrison Barnes, and their rookie Tyrese Haliburton. The problem for the Kings has not been their offense as they have the 12th best offensive rating in the league, but rather their defense where they are dead last in defensive rating.
The Kings currently allow 119 points per game by their opponents which is second to last in the NBA. Luckily for the Kings team, they are facing an empty-handed Warriors team who are without their star point guard in Curry.
Given that the Warriors are also a not-so-great defensive team, the Kings should cruise on the offensive end of the floor Thursday night behind Fox.
That said, the Kings should easily cover the spread Thursday against the Warriors if they prevent Wiggins, Oubre, or Green from having a big offensive performance.
Final Warriors-Kings Prediction & Pick
The Kings are coming off two straight big wins against the Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks. In those two games, Fox was able to put up 30-plus points performances. Against a much worse defensive team in the Warriors, as compared to the Cavaliers and Hawks, Fox should have another big performance seeing that the Warriors don't have a guard that can keep up with him as well. Without Curry, the Warriors also can't out-compete the Kings on the offensive end and don't have the defensive intensity to make up for the loss in offensive production either. Ultimately, the Kings should cruise past the Warriors to their third-straight win as the Warriors drop below .500 Thursday night.
FINAL SCORE PREDICTION & PICK FOR WARRIORS-KINGS: GSW 106, SAC 122 (SAC -2.5)
