The NBA regular season continues with games on Friday. The Houston Rockets will travel to take on the Sacramento Kings. It's time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Rockets-Kings prediction and pick.
These two teams have had somewhat similar starts to the season. The Houston Rockets are 12-31 but are coming off a solid win. While the Sacramento Kings are 17-27 and are also coming off a win. This should be a good matchup between two fairly even teams.
Here are the Rockets-Kings NBA odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
NBA Odds: Rockets-Kings Odds
Houston Rockets: +5 (-110)
Sacramento Kings: -5 (-110)
Over: 239 (-110)
Under: 239 (-110)
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Why The Rockets Could Cover The Spread
The Houston Rockets have had a very disappointing start to the year. Through the first half of the season, they have only managed to win 12 games and have lost an astonishing 31 of their matches. With that said, the Rockets are coming off a solid four-point win over the San Antonio Spurs. Houston will look to carry that same energy and momentum into Friday’s match. The Kings are a beatable team for the Rockets and if they come into this game ready they could walk away victorious. If Houston can have a similar performance to their last game then they should have no problem winning on Friday.
The Rockets had a very solid all-around game against the Spurs. Houston was most impressive in their scoring, putting up 128 points, and in their efficiency. The Rockets made 45 of their 82 shot attempts. From beyond the arc, they went 16 for 36. Additionally, they got to the line 32 times in that game. The area they need to improve is actually making their free throws. Houston was only able to make 22 of their 32 shots from the stripe. However, if the Rockets can mimic this performance on Friday then that should be enough to beat the Kings. Houston is an offensive heavy team, but that means that their weakness lies inherently in their defense. If the Rockets can limit Sacramento’s scoring then they will win on Friday.
Houston is lucky to be largely unaffected by COVID and injuries. Currently, the Rockets only have two players listed on their injury report. None of their key starters are unavailable, and Houston will essentially be at full health. When this Rockets team is healthy they have the potential to put up big numbers. They have a balanced roster with scoring threats everywhere on the court. If Houston gets going they will be tough to stop. Expect the Rockets to do everything they can to try and extend their win streak to two.
Why The Kings Could Cover The Spread
The Sacramento Kings have also had a disappointing start to the year. Through the first half of the season, the Kings have a losing record with only 17 wins and 27 losses. However, the Kings did manage to win their last game against the Lakers by nine. Sacramento will look to carry that same level of energy into Friday's game against Houston. The Kings had lost five games in a row before they played the Lakers and they are hoping that one win will turn into two on Friday. Sacramento is trying to turn things around before it's too late.
The Kings played very well against the Lakers. The most impressive part of their win was their efficiency. Los Angeles took 98 shots in that game and only made 42. Sacramento shot the ball 89 times and made it on 49 of those attempts. The Kings' efficiency allowed them to mount a comeback in the third quarter, outscoring the Lakers 40-23. That is when the tide shifted and the Kings took control. If Sacramento is able to play that high level of basketball on Friday then they should have no problem taking down the Rockets.
COVID and injuries have certainly affected this Kings team, however, it is not nearly as crippling as it is to other teams. The Kings currently only have four players listed on their injury report. Of those four, two are listed as questionable for Friday's game. Both Richaun Holmes and Tristan Thompson could be available for Sacramento's battle against Houston. If the Kings' big men return to action this would be a huge gain for the team. Regardless, the Kings have shown that they can compete either way.
Final Rockets-Kings Prediction & Pick
This is a tough decision. This game could go either way. Houston has the ability to pour on offense, while the Kings have shown that they can grind through games. If the Rockets start hitting shots it will be tough for Sacramento to keep up. But the Kings have looked a lot better than the Rockets in their past couple of games and they should be your pick. Pick Sacramento to win and cover.
FINAL ROCKETS-KINGS PICK: Sacramento Kings -5 (-110)
FINAL ROCKETS-KINGS SCORE PREDICTION: Kings 120 – Rockets 112
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