The Boston Celtics will look to bounce back from their latest head-scratching loss when they host the Sacramento Kings on Friday night. A participant in three of the last four Eastern Conference Finals, Boston has played some uneven basketball all season long. Despite having two, young all-stars on their roster, the C’s sit in seventh place in the Eastern Conference standings.

In Sacramento, the Kings are sitting in 13th place, but just four games behind Boston in the win column. Are the Celtics set to rebound from their latest loss or are the C’s ripe for another ‘upset’ loss in what has been a season full of them already?

Let’s get to my expert NBA odds analysis and ensuing prediction for Kings Vs Celtics affair.

NBA Betting Picks – Sacramento at Boston

Sacramento Kings (16-24) Vs Boston Celtics (20-20) Game Info

• When: Friday, March 19, 2021 at 7:30 PM ET
• Where: TD Garden, Boston, MA
• TV: NBC Sports Boston NBC Sports California
• Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub, KHTK Sports 1140 AM

Rebuilding Kings Are Dangerous

Sacramento is 16-24 on the year, but the young Kings are dangerous because of their high-scoring offense. Sacramento ranks an impressive eighth in scoring by putting up 115.0 points per game to rank eighth in scoring. Sure, Sacramento’s defense leaves a lot to be desired, but the Kings have at least been competitive more often than not this season.

Sacramento has split their last four games evenly and comes into this affair fresh off a thrilling 121-119 road win over Washington on Wednesday night. De’Aaron Fox scored a team-high 28 points and sank a game-winning jumper with 0.7 seconds left in regulation to lift the Kings to victory.

“It was one of those moments where it could’ve gone either way,” said Kings coach Luke Walton. “That’s why I say, it’s so good for these guys to be in these type of games.”

Sacramento started three players age 23 or younger, including the 23-year-old Fox. The Kings allow 120.0 points per game defensively and have gone 7-12 on the road this season.

Boston’s Baked Beans

Boston got their beans baked for the second straight game on Wednesday night. After getting smacked around at home by Utah 117-109 on Tuesday, Boston was on the wrong end of a 117-110 road loss against Cleveland on Wednesday. Boston got a team-high 29 points from Jayson Tatum and 28 points from Jaylen Brown, but the C’s lost for the third time in their last four games.

“Sometimes, that’s the way the game goes,” said head coach Brad Stevens, following his team’s latest loss.

Boston was without starting point guard Kemba Walker (knee injury) and veteran big man Tristan Thompson (health and safety protocols). The Celtics are averaging 112.1 points per game (12th) while allowing 111.3 points per game defensively (11th). Boston has gone 12-6 at home this season.

Expert Analysis and Prediction

I’m going to get right to the point by saying that I just don’t trust Boston this season. The C’s have suffered some head-scratching losses this season and just don’t play defense they way the have for the last few seasons. Sacramento has a nice collection of young players starting with De’Aaron Fox and first round draft pick Tyrese Haliburton.

Six players average double figures for a Kings team that can put points on the board with any team in the league. Sacramento is 3-2 ATS in its last five games and an identical 3-2 ATS in its last five road games. Conversely, Boston has gone 1-4 ATS in its last four games and an uninspiring 3-7 ATS over its last 10 games.

I’m going with Boston to get the narrow home win out of sheer desperation, but I’m going with Sacramento to keep it close until the very end to cover the ATS betting odds.

Pick: Boston 118 Sacramento 115

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