Sacramento Kings vs. Houston Rockets Preview
Where: Toyota Center – Houston, TX
When: Tuesday, January 31, 2017, 8:00 PM ET
Line: Sacramento Kings vs. Houston Rockets – view all NBA lines
NBA News & Predictions
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- 2017 NBA Draft Sleepers
- 2017-18 NBA Championship Odds Update
Betting on the Sacramento Kings (19-29)
Monday night, the Kings became the latest victim of the surging Sixers, 119-116. DeMarcus Cousins was once again a one-man wrecking crew, scoring 46 points, 15 rebounds, and five assists, while also splashing four threes.
Moving forward, he could very well continue as the team’s only solid threat, especially since number two option Rudy Gay is done for the year (achilles). The All-Star big is currently pacing the Kings in scoring (28.4 PPG), boards (10.6 RPG), dimes (4.4 APG), and trifectas (1.7).
Cousins has only played in one of the two meetings that the Kings and Rockets have had this season, although he didn’t make enough difference as they got dominated on both occasions. In his only game against Houston on the year, he poured in great offense and defense – 32 points and season-highs five blocks and five treys – and they still lost, 117-104. In their next meeting, where “Boogie” sat out (rest), the margin of defeat stretched to 34 points, 132-198.
The Kings are 3-7 in their last 10 games (5-5 ATS).
Betting on the Houston Rockets (35-16)
The Rockets continued slumping this past Sunday, as they took another loss, this time to the up-and-down Indiana Pacers, 120-101. James Harden only went 3-for-17, while also committing eight turnovers.
Their team defense was just as bad, as Indy collectively shot 54 percent from the floor and had six guys that tallied double-digit points. With the loss, Houston is now just 4-7 in their last 11 games (3-8 ATS).
Don’t let it hinder you from betting on the Rockets in this game, though. If there’s a matchup that can erase all the doubt generated by the mediocre three-week stretch they are having, it’s with the Kings.
As mentioned, they have met with Cousins and company twice this season. In those contests, they won by 13 and 34 points, and have made a combined a whopping 43 three-pointers and 67 assists. Looking at those numbers, it definitely looks like that the Rockets are just having fun battling their West rivals.
Harden, who like Cousins, leads his squad in points, rebounds, assists, and treys, was efficient in that 34-point blow out victory. “The Beard” only took seven attempts, and still managed to record a triple-double, registering 15 points, 11 rebounds, and 14 assists.
Expect him and his crew to blast the visitors on offense. The Rockets are second overall in points (114.3 PPG) and offensive efficiency, and also paces the league in threes (14.5 per game).
Writer’s Prediction
The Rockets win, 123-115.
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