Two teams at opposite ends of the Western Conference gauntlet battle at the Golden 1 Center, when the Houston Rockets visit the Sacramento Kings tonight at 10 p.m. ET.
The surprising Rockets are slight 2-point road favorites while SacTo is just trying to work itself into the play-in picture. However this shakes out, my Rockets vs. Kings predictions anticipate plenty of buckets.
I explain why with my NBA picks on Tuesday, December 3.
Rockets vs Kings prediction
My best bet
Over 224.5 (-110 at bet365)
My analysis
The Houston Rockets are coming off one of their best performances of the year, a signature victory over the OKC Thunder, matching the Thunder’s 15 wins that currently lead the West.
The Rockets have reeled off three wins in a row and have lost just twice in the last 12.
They match a scoring offense just outside the Top 10 at 114.6 points per game with an elite defense that allows just 106.3, the third-best mark in the NBA.
Houston squeezes offenses into 42.9% shooting and 33.8% from distance, numbers that both sit inside the league’s Top 3.
The Sacramento Kings are right there with Houston scoring, ranking just one spot behind them in 12th at 114.2 points per game.
However, they’re nowhere near the defensive excellence the Rockets bring to the court, a big reason they’ve dropped six of seven.
Four of those losses came at home, where they are bleeding points, surrendering 118.5 per game on 50.6% shooting and a scorching 46.8% from 3-point range.
Houston has dominated this head-to-head of late, with three straight wins, and I don’t think Sacramento can hold up defensively.
Not only that, but Houston is the top rebounding and offensive rebounding team in the league, which is part of the reason it ranks second in second-chance points, and grabbing all those boards jump-starts the running game, where it's second in fast break points.
I see this game being played at the Rockets’ Top-10 pace, which has allowed teams to top 110 points in each of their last three wins, and SacTo can still run and gun.
These teams have hit the Over in seven of 10, and this total is low enough to take the Over Tuesday night.
Rockets vs Kings same-game parlay
Over 224.5
Fred VanVleet Over 2.5 threes
Domantas Sabonis double-double
Veteran guard Fred VanVleet has found his stroke from distance of late, including when he drilled 5-for-9 from downtown en route to a game-high 38 points in that win over the Thunder.
FVV has a very makeable 2.5 line tonight, and he’s hit at least three triples in three straight and seven of nine. SacTo is a Bottom-3 unit in defending the arc, allowing teams to shoot a blistering 38.2% from 3-point land this season.
Death, taxes, and Domantas Sabonis double-doubles. The Kings big man has had a double-double in points and rebounds in all but one game this season — opening night.
Since then, he’s accomplished the feat in 18 straight games.
Houston is the best rebounding team in the league, but who else from Sac is cleaning glass? Aside from Keegan Murray’s 7.8, every other player is pulling down five or fewer boards per game.
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Rockets vs Kings odds
Rockets vs Kings live odds
Rockets vs Kings opening odds
- Spread: Houston -3 (-105) | Sacramento +3 (-115)
- Moneyline: Houston -135 | Sacramento +115
- Over/Under: Over 224.5 (-110) | Under 224.5 (-110)
Odds courtesy of bet365
Rockets vs Kings spread and Over/Under analysis
- Houston is 4-0-0 against the spread vs the Kings in the last four matchups
- The Kings are 2-2 at home against the Rockets in the last four at Golden 1 Center.
- The Over has cashed in seven of the last nine head-to-head matchups.
- Sacramento has gone Over the total in three of its last four.
Rockets vs Kings trend
Houston has covered the spread in 10 of their last 11 games. Find more NBA betting trends for Rockets vs. Kings.
How to watch Rockets vs Kings
| Location: | Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA |
| Date: | Tuesday, 12-3-2024 |
| Tip-off: | 10:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | SCHN, NBCSCA |
Rockets vs Kings latest injuries
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