The Golden State Warriors’ three-game road trip did not get off to a good start, as they traveled to Utah and got blown out by the Jazz. Coach Steve Kerr was not happy with the effort from his team and they should be re-focused next time out. That’s not a good thing for the Sacramento Kings, who will likely be staring down a Golden State team intent on getting back on track.
Sacramento is at home for this matchup but that’s about the only thing it has going for it. The Kings will be significant underdogs as they are facing off against the best team in the NBA and one of the best in the history of the league.
The Rockets are hanging around in Golden State’s rearview mirror in the Western Conference standings and the Warriors are hoping to step on the gas pedal and wrap up the top seed. They should have no trouble cruising past the Kings.
Don't miss the hardwood action from the Golden 1 Center at 10:30 p.m. ET on Friday, February 2, 2018. Catch every moment of the game live on ESPN.
We'll have NBA odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the NBA Friday schedule.
Odds Analysis
The Warriors are 40-11 straight up and 22-28-1 against the spread. They have covered in 12 of 26 attempts on the road this season. Golden State has been favored in every game this season and should be a double-digit favorite in this matchup.
The Kings are 16-34 straight up and 21-26-3 against the spread. Sacramento has covered in nine of 21 attempts at home on the year. The Kings are 19-22-2 as the underdog and they are used to being in this role, as they have only been favored seven times.
Key Stat
20. That’s the percentage the Warriors shot from three-point land against the Jazz last time out as they fell 129-99. Golden State is usually ridiculously good at shooting from long range but went cold in that one.
The Warriors are the highest-scoring team in the NBA but mustered only 14 points in the fourth quarter and didn’t hit the century mark, which is a rarity. Steph Curry was only 1-of-7 from downtown against Utah while Kevin Durant missed all five of his three-pointers.
Klay Thompson was the only player who had it going, as he finished the game with 27 points on 12-of-17 from the floor. The Kings aren’t as stingy as the Jazz are defensively but the goal will be the same: to contest three-pointers and hope Golden State misses its fair share of perimeter jumpers.
However, Thompson, Curry and Durant are such marksmen that it is not a tactic that can be relied on game to game. Look for all three of them to shoot well from the three-point line against the Kings.
Player To Watch
Buddy Hield -- If the Kings plan on improving in the next couple of seasons, much will depend on the maturation of their young but talented backcourt. De’Aaron Fox has had some nice moments as a rookie and his counterpart, Hield, has been up and down but also still has promise.
Hield is averaging 12.4 points and 3.5 rebounds per contest. He is shooting 44.1 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from three-point range. Hield’s last five games have been inconsistent, much like his season. He had three straight games of scoring in double figures, including 24 points in a narrow win over the Heat, but followed that up with no points on 0-of-5 shooting against the Spurs.
Hield had only eight points last time out against the Pelicans and must assert himself as a bigger part of the offense down the stretch.
Free NBA ATS Picks
The Warriors are mad at themselves for the way they played last time out and will be taking it out on the Kings. Sacramento has some intriguing young pieces but nothing compared to the Golden State dynasty.
Take the Warriors to overwhelm Sacramento and cruise to the win. The spread will be something to watch, though, as Sacramento could make up some ground late when the Golden State stars are on the bench.
NBA Odds: Warriors 117, Kings 106
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