NBA Picks: The surprising Sacramento Kings host the Indiana Pacers on Friday in a game that can be seen on NBA TV. Even though the calendar has turned to December, the Kings don’t have a losing record. Normally at this time of the season the Kings are already buried in the NBA standings but that is not the case right now as the Kings were 9-8 before Tuesday’s game against Toronto. They will be favored on Friday night in this match-up against the Pacers. Let’s look at the game and NBA predictions.
3-in-4 and Back-to-Back for Pacers
The Pacers are in a tough spot on Friday as they will be playing their third game in four days and with no rest. This is the finale of a four-game road trip. They started with a loss in Cleveland on Saturday and then they were in Phoenix on Tuesday, off on Wednesday and at Portland on Thursday.
Normally in this type of situation you would automatically go against the Pacers but keep in mind that the Pacers were a sparkling 7-1 ATS in their first eight road games. Their first loss against the number on the road came in that contest on Saturday in Cleveland. The Pacers are allowing just 95 points per game while scoring 93 points per game so many of their contests are close. Surprisingly, seven of their first eight road games went over the total.
Good Upcoming Schedule for the Kings
Sacramento had dropped three straight games before their contest against Toronto on Tuesday. Part of the reason they lost was the opponents as they faced Houston, San Antonio and Memphis and it also didn’t help that leading scorer DeMarcus Cousins missed time due to illness. He should be back for this game on Friday and the schedule really eases up on the team as they get the Pacers, Magic, Jazz and Lakers before a tough game against Houston. They then get Detroit, Oklahoma City, Milwaukee and the Lakers again. They team could easily win seven or eight of their next nine games.
Game Notes
The Kings have relied upon Cousins who leads them in points, rebounds, steals and blocks. The Kings have struggled in this series against the Pacers, going 3-7 in the last ten meetings. The teams met twice last season with the Pacers winning 116-92 at home and 116-111 in Sacramento. The last four in this series have gone over. The Pacers have won six of the last ten in Sacramento.
NBA Predictions
We’ll lay the points and take the Kings on Friday night.
