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The Sacramento Kings (43-27) visit the Utah Jazz (34-36) on Monday night! Action tips off at 9:10 p.m. ET. Below we continue our NBA odds series with a Kings-Jazz prediction, pick, and how to watch.
Sacramento has won three straight and sits in second place in the Western Conference. The Kings covered 58% of their games while 51% went over the projected point total. Utah has won three of its last four games and sits in 11th place in the West. The Jazz covered 57% of their games while 57% went over. This will be the third of four meetings between the conference foes. Sacramento holds a 2-0 advantage thus far although both prior matches were decided by less than three points.
Here are the Kings-Jazz NBA odds, courtesy of FanDuel
NBA Odds: Kings-Jazz Odds
Sacramento Kings: -6.5 (-108)
Utah Jazz: +6.5 (-112)
Over: 238.5 (-110)
Under: 238.5 (-110)
How To Watch Kings vs. Jazz
TV: NBCS California, ATTSN Rocky Mountain
Stream: NBA League Pass
Time: 9:00 p.m. ET/ 6:00 p.m. PT
*Watch NBA games LIVE with fuboTV (click for a free trial)*
Why The Kings Could Cover The Spread
Sacramento has continued to be one of the best stories in the league this season as they are well on their way to clinching a playoff berth and snapping the longest playoff drought in the NBA. The Kings could move even further up the Western Conference ladder considering they are currently tied for second and just four games behind first place. Sacramento features one of the best offenses in the sport as they average a league-leading 121.1 PPG. The Kings love to push the ball and share it amongst themselves as they rank sixth in fast break scoring and third in assists per game. Additionally, those extra passes lead to a ton of open looks considering the Kings rank second in field goal percentage. They also generate a ton of open looks from beyond the arc, ranking seventh in both made and attempts threes and eighth in three-point percentage.
The Kings feature a ton of capable scorers as seven players have averaged over 10 points per game since the All-Star break. That being said, the team lives through the point guard-big man combination of De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis. Both players have been exceptional since the All-Star break. Fox has averaged 27.5 PPG, 6.0 APG, and 1.9 SPG while shooting 54% overall. He's been especially aggressive from beyond the arc, averaging two threes per game over that span. As for Sabonis, he's putting up Nikola-Jokic-type numbers with 20.9 PPG, 13.5 RPG, and 8.3 APG. Sabonis has been highly efficient when scoring himself, shooting 62% from the floor and 78% from the free-throw line.
Why The Jazz Could Cover The Spread
Utah has fallen off since a red-hot start to their season but the Jazz remain a formidable foe on a night-to-night basis thanks to their strong offense. Utah averages 117.2 PPG – the sixth-highest mark in the league. They are also a strong passing team who averages the ninth-most assists per game. Those passes lead to great looks from three as they average the sixth-most threes per game. That being said, Utah's clearest path to cover tonight is on the glass. Utah ranks fourth in offensive rebound rate while Sacramento ranks fifth in defensive rebound rate. That battle on the glass will likely determine if the Jazz are able to keep things tight considering they are sizable home underdogs.
Utah has a number of frisky scorers as eight players are averaging 10 points per game since the All-Star break. That being said both Lauri Markkanen and Jordan Clarkson are out tonight. With those two out, they will turn to a number of their young players with the hope that someone will step up. The most likely candidate would be forward Talen Horton-Tucker. The former Laker has thrived on the Jazz since the All-Star break. Over his last ten games, THT averaged 16.3 PPG, 5.1 RPG, and 5.6 APG. He's been impactful on the defensive end as well, putting up 1.6 STOCKS (steals plus blocks) per game.
Alongside THT, rookie Ochai Abaja has begun to show signs of life after his playing time fluctuated throughout the season. A key prize in the Donovan Mitchell trade, Abaji has averaged 11.7 PPG since the All-Star break. The rookie out of Kansas is a lights-out shooter who averages 2.3 threes since the break and should see a ton of open looks against a vulnerable Kings defense.
Final Kings-Jazz Prediction & Pick
With Utah missing both Markkanen and Clarkson, the Kings' high-powered offense should have no problem taking care of the Jazz. That being said, this could be a low-scoring affair if Utah tries to keep possessions low.
Final Kings-Jazz Prediction & Pick: Sacramento Kings -6.5 (-108)