In a matchup highlighted by two of the NBA’s top scorers, James Harden (27.2 PPG) and the Rockets (50-24) welcome DeMarcus Cousins (24.1 PPG) and the Sacramento Kings (26-47) to the Toyota Center. Action begins at 8:00 pm ET on Wednesday, Apr. 1 and can be seen on CSN-CA and ROOT-SW.
The Rockets are are hoping for a better outcome after their 99-96 loss to the Raptors on Monday. Harden was the team’s leading scorer with 31 points. The Kings, meanwhile, are feeling some disappointment after the 97-83 loss against the Grizzlies on Monday. Rudy Gay had a game-high 24 points.
This one might be a mistake-prone game for the Kings offense, which ranks 27th in the NBA in miscues (turnover percentage of 15.9%). They’re matched up against the disruptive Houston defense, which causes the fifth-most turnovers in the league (15.7%).
The Rockets have emerged victorious in both games against the Kings this year, including a 113-109 win the last time these two teams met. In the victory, Harden led all scorers with 44 points.
The odds for Houston and Sacramento are even, while the Over/Under (O/U) is currently unavailable. The Rockets come into this game 50-24 Straight Up (SU) and 43-31 Against The Spread (ATS). They are 28-17 SU and 25-20 ATS against the Western Conference. The Rockets lead the NBA in three-point field goals, making 847 from beyond the arc (11.4 per game). Crossing over to the defensive side of the court, the Rockets prevent teams from making three-pointers on the defensive end, ranking first in the league with a .318 opponent field-goal percentage from three-point range. Houston’s defenders rank third in the NBA in steals with 9.5 per game. Houston is one of the league’s top scoring teams off turnovers with an average of 19.0 points per game.
In the other locker room, the Kings have 26-47 SU and 28-43-2 ATS records. Sacramento has not performed well ATS during its last 10 games, earning a 3-7 record. The Kings get to the line and convert their free throws at a high volume, leading the league with 1,651 made (22.6 per game).
The Rockets’ win over Sacramento in their last game bumped their SU record to 7-3 over the Kings in the last 10 meetings. The Rockets also lead the matchup ATS with a record of 7-3. Houston held the advantage in field goals, rebounds, and three-pointers four times in the last 10 matchups. On the other side of the court, Sacramento never accomplished this feat in that span.
Predictions: SU Winner – HOU, ATS Winner – HOU
Notes
Sacramento ranks 14th in points per game with 100.9, while Houston ranks 16th in points allowed with an average of 100.1 given up.
Sacramento ranks 11th in points per away game with 100.4 points, while Houston ranks ninth in points allowed at home with 97.2.
Sacramento has a solid 15-7 record when it allows under 100 points this season. Houston is 12-13 when it puts up under 100.
The Sacramento Kings have a subpar 11-40 record in games where they have allowed at least 100 points. The Houston Rockets are 38-11 when they hit the century mark.
The Kings have an offensive rating of 101.7 (ranked 17th), while the Rockets rank fifth for their defensive rating of 100.2.
Houston has an average field goal percentage of 44.1%. Sacramento is an underachieving 5-40 when opponents have a similar or higher field goal percentage.
The Houston Rockets rank lower for their field goal percentage (21st) than they do for their effective field goal percentage (seventh), but the Sacramento Kings have a better FG% ranking (15th) than their EFF% ranking (22nd).
Houston makes an average of 22.3 assists per game (ranked ninth), while Sacramento makes 19.9 assists per game (ranked 29th).
Houston makes an average of 4.7 blocks per game (ranked 11th), while Sacramento makes 3.9 blocks per game (ranked 28th).
Houston is ranked sixth in offensive rebounding. Sacramento ranks ninth in defensive rebounds.
The Houston Rockets average 9.5 steals per game (ranked third). The Sacramento Kings have a poor record of 10-27 when they allow at least 9 steals.
