The Oklahoma City Thunder will look to extend their winning ways when they take on a Sacramento Kings team that is playing their best basketball of the season heading into their Thursday night showdown at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City. With both teams looking to make a push for the playoffs, let’s find out which team is offering the best value against their NBA Odds for the Kings vs Thunder.
Kings vs Thunder 2020 NBA Game Preview & Betting Odds
- When: Thursday, February 27, 2020 at 8:00 PM ET
- Where: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, OK
- TV: NBCS California, FS Oklahoma
- NBA Odds: Oklahoma City -6.5 / Total: 222.5
Why Bet On Sacramento
The Kings are on a nice roll right now, having won three straight and six of their last eight games overall including a 112-94 road win over Golden State on Tuesday. Harrison Barnes and De’Aaron Fox each scored a team-high 21 points while Buddy Hield added 19 points off the bench in the win.
“It’s motivating,” veteran swingman Kent Bazemore said of Fox. “You can see him wincing out there, but he’s pushing through. It means a lot that he’s bought in. We have his back and he is still demanding a lot of attention, dominating the game.”
The Kings are four games in back of eighth place Memphis in the race for the final spot in the loaded Western Conference.
“It’s a big goal,” Kings coach Luke Walton told reporters about his team’s push for a playoff berth. “But the way you achieve a big goal is by focusing on the present and what we’re working on, and showing up and playing a certain style every night. If we do that, we’ll give ourselves a better chance to achieve the big goal at the end of the day.”
Sacramento averages 108.4 points per game (23rd) on 45.8 percent shooting (19th) while allowing 110.6 points per game defensively (16th) on 46.8 percent shooting (20th). The Kings are 12-18 on the road this season.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 108.42
- Field Goal %: 45.77
- Three Point %: 36.44
- Free Throw %: 75.72
- Total Rebounds: 42.12
Defense
- Total Score: 110.61
- Field Goal %: 46.73
- Three Point %: 35.25
- Free Throw %: 79.9
- Total Rebounds: 43.93
Sacramento Kings Betting Trends
- Kings are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.
- Kings are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games overall.
- Kings are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Kings are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games as an underdog.
- Kings are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 road games.
Why Bet On Oklahoma City
The Thunder have won four straight and eight of their last 10 games overall including a 124-122 road win over Chicago on Tuesday. Danilo Gallinari put up a team-high 24 points while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Dennis Schroeder each scored 21 points in the win. Point guard Chris Paul chipped added 19 points and nine assists.
“We were just moving the ball and my teammates were finding me at the right time,” Gallinari told reporters. “It was just ball movement and good rhythm.”
Oklahoma City is four games behind Denver in the race for first place in the Northwest standings.
“I think they understand that it’s just not going to be smooth sailing on the road. There’s going to be challenges,” Oklahoma City coach Billy Donovan told reporters, “and I think that when it gets hard, our guys really, really kind of pull together.”
Oklahoma City averages 111.2 points per game (16th) on 47.4 percent shooting (4th) while allowing 108.1 points per game defensively (10th) on 45.7 percent shooting (14th). The Thunder have gone 19-12 at home this season.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 111.24
- Field Goal %: 47.4
- Three Point %: 35.67
- Free Throw %: 80.53
- Total Rebounds: 43.17
Defense
- Total Score: 108.07
- Field Goal %: 45.67
- Three Point %: 34.3
- Free Throw %: 79.41
- Total Rebounds: 44.14
Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Trends
- Thunder are 20-7 ATS in their last 27 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
- Thunder are 19-7 ATS in their last 26 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Thunder are 20-8 ATS in their last 28 games overall.
- Thunder are 22-9 ATS in their last 31 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Thunder are 19-8 ATS in their last 27 games following a straight up win.
- Thunder are 17-8 ATS in their last 25 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Kings vs Thunder Expert Analysis and Prediction
While Sacramento is playing fantastic basketball right now, the Kings are facing a Thunder team that has also found a nice groove recently while recording some quality wins over the Spurs, Nuggets and Pelicans.
While the Kings have gone 5-2 ATS in their last seven road games and 6-2 ATS in their last eight games overall, Oklahoma City has gone a bankroll-boosting 20-7 ATS in their last 27 games against a team with a losing record, 19-8 ATS in their last 27 games following a win and 20-8 ATS in their last 28 games overall.
Not only that, but the Thunder also routed the Kings 120-100 in Sacramento on Jan. 29 to easily cash in as a 2.5-point road dog that day and I believe they are going to back that win up with another, slightly less convincing win in this matchup. Oklahoma City is laying at home with a ton riding on the line and their edge in experience and depth will be what leads them to the win and narrow ATS cover!
Pick: Oklahoma City 115 Sacramento 105
