Even without All-Star Kawhi Leonard in their lineup, the San Antonio Spurs continue to find ways to win on their current road trip. Next up for them is a Wednesday night clash with the Sacramento Kings, who are fresh off a quality win themselves last night in Denver .
Can the Spurs overcome another game without their MVP, or will the Kings continue to surge just in time for an elusive playoff push? Let’s take a closer look at this Western Conference showdown below.
Afterwards, check out our previews for Golden State vs. Miami and Washington vs. Chicago to be on top of a couple of other equally enticing matches on tap.
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San Antonio Spurs vs. Sacramento Kings Preview
Where: Sleep Train Arena, Sacramento
When: Wednesday, February 24, 10:30 PM ET
Line: San Antonio Spurs at Sacramento Kings – view all NBA lines
Betting on the San Antonio Spurs (47-9)
Tony Parker scored a team-high 22 points and LaMarcus Aldridge had a double-double with 19 points and 10 boards in a game that was too close for San Antonio’s comfort against the disappointing Suns. The Spurs played their third-consecutive game with star forward Kawhi Leonard, who is still dealing with a nagging calf injury.
Thankfully, Patty Mills stepped up in place of Leonard on Sunday by pitching in 21 points of his own, with 18 of those points coming from beyond the arc. Mills’ role this Wednesday will be crucial again should Leonard sit out another contest, as his team needs to do more on offense given how San Antonio’s defense has been shaky of late.
All five of the Spurs’ recent victories were each decided by less than 10 points, and those were even against the likes of the Suns, Magic, Heat and Lakers (twice). There was even a 19-point blowout loss to the Clippers in between those wins on the schedule.
Then again, San Antonio still boasts the league’s best scoring defense this season, allowing just an average of 92.7 points per contest. The team’s plus-12.4 point differential is still tops in the NBA as well, but their latest results suggest otherwise.
What the Spurs have to be glad about is that their next meeting with Sacramento will likely put them back into high gear, as they have won 18 of their last 20 games against the Kings (11-9 ATS).
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Betting on the Sacramento Kings (24-31)
The Sacramento Kings nearly blew a 17-point lead in the second half against the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday, but they still came away with the victory, 114-110, to extend their winning streak to three games.
To nobody’s surprise, DeMarcus Cousins had another monstrous night for Sacramento. Cousins finished with 39 points – along with two made shots from downtown – for his 20th 30-point game of season. He also added nine boards in the win to place the Kings just four-and-a-half games behind the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Much of Sacramento’s season has been all about Cousins. On Wednesday night, however, the team’s other big men also pitched in well, and should continue to be integral contributors for the remainder of the regular season in order for the team to make the postseason for the first time in a decade.
Rudy Gay finished with a double-double (16 points, 10 boards), and Omri Casspi added 14 points and nine boards to complement Cousins’ strong play in the paint with their own prowess from the perimeter. In turn, the Kings shot a solid 51.8 percent from the floor that night, and would need to replicate such a performance this Wednesday against mighty San Antonio and its stifling D.
Yes, the Spurs have owned the Kings for what feels like an eternity, but at least the boys from Sactown are pretty competent of late on their own home court. They are a decent 6-4 over their last 10 at Sleep Train Arena (5-5 ATS), with two of those four losses coming from surefire playoff contenders Chicago and Golden State.
Writer’s Prediction
San Antonio demolishes the Kings, 110-95.
