Rockets vs Kings NBA Odds, Betting Preview & Prediction

Rockets vs Kings NBA Odds, Betting Preview & Prediction

Written by on April 2, 2019

The NBA’s longest playoff drought will continue for the Sacramento Kings, but they still have the carrot of potentially finishing with a winning record for the first time in years. The Kings, though, are home dogs on NBA lines Tuesday vs. the Houston Rockets.

Rockets vs Kings NBA Odds, Betting Preview & Prediction

Season Series

The Rockets are looking for their third series sweep of the Kings over the past five seasons and have won 17 of the past 19. The teams just played Saturday in Houston and the Rockets won 119-108. Houston led 106-102 with 4:16 remaining before scoring the next five points to pull away for good; Sacramento shot 21.7% in the quarter. Overall, the Rockets outshot the Kings 47.0% to 44.7% and shot 24-of-27 from the line. This year in the series, the Rockets are averaging 126.0 points on 49.2% shooting while Kings are averaging 107.0 ppg on 44.3% FGs.

Why Bet on Houston?

In Saturday’s win, James Harden had 50 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. Harden had his 42nd career triple-double and third 50-point game in the past six. He made seven 3-pointers to become the ninth player in NBA history to reach 2,000 career 3s. It was his NBA-record fifth 50-point triple-double, which is two more than second-place Russell Westbrook and the second this season.

Clint Capela dominated against the Kings with 24 points, 15 boards, one assist, two blocks and one turnover in 42 minutes.  Chris Paul scored 22 points with two rebounds, five assists, two steals and three 3-pointers in 30 minutes. It’s the first time he’s hit the 20-point mark since March 17. Paul needs 2 steals to pass Alvin Robertson (2,112) for the ninth-most in NBA history.

Houston has won 16 of its past 19 games, including a season-high nine straight from 2/23-3/11. Dating back to 12/11, Houston has gone 38-14 after starting the season 11-14.  The Rockets are 29-12 when Capela, Harden and Paul play together this season after going 42-3 in 2017-18 (all 3 losses coming by six or fewer points).

The Rockets have won 25 games by double-digits this season. Houston won a franchise record 38 games by 10+ points in 2017-18. Houston is 38-5 when leading after three quarters of play this season and 11-23 when tied or trailing.  The Rockets outscored opponents by an average of 9.3 points per game in March. Houston is outscoring the opposition by 3.6 ppg overall this season.

Team Statistics

Offense:
  • Average Score For: 112.94
  • Field Goals: 44.69%
  • Three Points: 35.10%
  • Free Throws: 79.18%
  • Rebounds: 41.73
Defense:
  • Average Score Against: 109.35
  • Field Goals: 46.76%
  • Three Points: 34.13%
  • Free Throws: 77.32%
  • Rebounds: 45.27

Why Bet on Sacramento?

The Kings have played once since Saturday, winning 113-106 in San Antonio to end a two-game skid and end an 11-game losing streak there. Buddy Hield dropped 26 points, hitting 8-of-15 shots with five rebounds, three assists, one steal and four triples.

Hield now has 254 three-pointers this season and is just the eight player in NBA history with 250 three-pointers or more for a single season; Hield and Peja Stojakovic are the only two Kings player with 240 or more made three-pointers in a single season. Hield also holds the NBA record for the most three-pointers in a single season by a third-year player. Hield could become the fifth player in NBA history to average 7.0 or more attempts from beyond the arc while knocking down .425 percent of those.

Harrison Barnes scored 15 points with four rebounds, two assists and one triple in 34 minutes. He hit a huge layup with 1:32 to play in the fourth quarter for the 25th and final lead change of the game, giving the Kings their first ever season sweep of the Spurs (3-0).

Nemanja Bjelica played through his illness on Sunday vs. the Spurs, finishing with 10 points, six rebounds and one triple in 26 minutes. Fellow big men Marvin Bagley (illness) and Harry Giles (quad) both sat this one out. Coach Dave Joerger said before the game that he hoped to have Giles back on Tuesday. He’s dealing with a thigh bruise. Bagley should play Tuesday.

The Kings are currently in the top 10 in these statistical categories: ninth in points (114.2) and offensive rebounds (10.92) per game, seventh in turnovers (13.6) and in steals (8.4) per game and sixth in assist to turnover ratio (1.88).

Team Statistics

Offense:
  • Average Score For: 114.06
  • Field Goals: 46.36%
  • Three Points: 37.86%
  • Free Throws: 72.59%
  • Rebounds: 45.55
Defense:
  • Average Score Against: 114.71
  • Field Goals: 46.24%
  • Three Points: 33.97%
  • Free Throws: 77.37%
  • Rebounds: 47.99

Rockets vs Kings NBA Betting Trends

  • Houston is 13-6 ATS in the last 19 games when playing Sacramento
  • Houston is 16-3 SU in the last 19 games
  • The total went UNDER in 5 of Houston’s last 5 games
  • Sacramento is 2-4 ATS in the last 6 games
  • Sacramento is 13-5 SU in the last 18 games at home
  • The total went UNDER in 5 of Sacramento’s last 7 games

Expert NBA Betting Prediction

Rockets 116, Kings 113