The Indiana Pacers beefed up their roster Wednesday with the acquisition of Raptors wing Pascal Siakam. Whether he’ll be able to help his new team snap out of a two-game funk when they visit the Sacramento Kings is still to be determined.
The Kings have been tabbed as eight-point favorites in the NBA odds — despite the fact they’ve lost three straight — which has dropped them into the West Play-In.
With star Tyrese Haliburton still out for Indy, is there any chance they hold their own in SacTown? Find out in my free NBA picks for the Pacers vs Kings on January 18.
Pacers vs Kings odds
Pacers vs Kings predictions
While Haliburton’s hamstring injury will keep him out for at least two more weeks, the main player the Indiana Pacers dealt him for — Domantas Sabonis — enters this matchup on fire.
Since the start of 2024, Sabonis has been supercharged as the hub of the SacTown offense, nearly averaging a triple-double with 22.6 points, 13.8 rebounds and 9.3 assists in nine games. His efficiency is also off the charts, as he’s shooting a blistering 68% from the field on around 14 field goal attempts per game.
The Pacers are the NBA’s top-scoring team but are among the league’s worst on defense, surrendering 123.5 points per game (28th), and allowing teams to shoot 50.2% from the field.
Indiana is also reeling, with Obi Toppin (calf), Ben Mathurin (ankle), Aaron Nesmith (shin) all questionable for Thursday, while Bruce Brown was dealt to the Raptors.
If active, Pascal Siakam could provide a more athletic, live body to throw at the Kings’ big man. But with Sacramento essentially playing four wings around Sabonis, it’s his advantage against Myles Turner, Jalen Smith, Siakam, and whoever else Indy wants to toss his way.
Sabonis has 11 triple doubles on the year, including five in his last eight contests. If there’s ever a time to wager on him picking up another one, it would be Thursday.
My best bet: Domantas Sabonis to get a triple-double (+140 at DraftKings) 50% boost available
Pacers vs Kings same-game parlay
Domantas Sabonis to get a triple-double
De'Aaron Fox Under 2.5 threes
Under 245.5
One of the beneficiaries of Sabonis' passing excellence has been star guard De’Aaron Fox. Last time out against the Suns, he dropped a game-high 33 points, which included a deft 6-for-10 mark from downtown.
In the month of January, Fox is shooting 37.3% from distance, and he’ll be lining up against a Pacers’ side that ranks Bottom 10 in 3-point shooting defense.
That last game might have inflated his number a bit, because Fox’s 2.5 threes made line could be considered high as he’s crossed that mark just three times in his last eight games. Plus, in eight career games against the Pacers, Fox has never made three triples in a single outing.
Minus Haliburton, the Pacers were able to average 119 ppg against the Wizards and Hawks. However, as the competition levelled up, they mustered just 107 ppg in losses to the Nuggets and the streaking Utah Jazz.
These teams have seen the Under hit in four of the last five head-to-heads, with none of those Unders crossing 240 points. Even though the Kings are eighth in scoring at 118.2 ppg, they've also seen the Under hit in three of their last four.
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Pacers vs Kings spread and Over/Under analysis
The spread has stayed consistently at above eight points, with the majority of the books pegging the Kings as 8.5-point favorites. Indiana is a Top 5 against the spread team in the NBA, with a 23-16-1 ATS record, while Sacramento is inside the Top 10 at 22-18-0 ATS.
Sacramento has struggled to cover at home, though, going 9-11-0 ATS at Golden 1 Center.
With the NBA’s leading scoring team against a Top 10 offense in the Kings, the total has crept from an opening line of 241.5, to a high of 245.5. Sacramento has split its total record at 20-20, while the Pacers have seen the Over go 24-16-0 in their games this season.
Pacers vs Kings betting trend to know
Sacramento has four of the last six head-to-head matchups. Find more NBA betting trends for Pacers vs. Kings.
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Pacers vs Kings game info
| Location: | Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA |
| Date: | Thursday, January 18, 2024 |
| Tip-off: | 10:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | Bally Sports Indiana, NBC Sports Southern California |
Pacers vs Kings latest injuries
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