Memphis Grizzlies vs Sacramento Kings 01/02/20 NBA Betting Odds and Prediction

The Memphis Grizzlies head to the Golden 1 Center to take on the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night.

The Grizzlies head to Sacramento having split their last 10 games. Memphis has won two out of its last three games played and they are coming off a win over the Charlotte Hornets. On the other hand, the Sacramento Kings try again at home after losing to the Los Angeles Clippers in their last outing. The Kings have lost eight straight games and are 12-22 SU on the season. Sacramento lost to Memphis 115-119 in their first meeting of the season last December 21st in Memphis.

Playing Better in December

The Memphis Grizzlies are still eight games below the .500 mark this season with their 13-21 SU record but Memphis has enjoyed success as of late as they have been playing much better in December as the Grizzlies are 8-8 SU during the final month of the calendar year.

In their last game, the Grizzlies defeated the Charlotte Hornets behind 20 points from Dillon Brooks. Memphis is 8-0 SU this season when Brooks scores 20 or more points this season. Brandon Clarke shot 7-12 from the floor and finished with 18 points while Jonas Valanciunas added 16 points for Memphis.

The Grizzlies rank 15th in the league in scoring at 111.1 points per game. They are 18th off the glass at 45.1 rebounds per contest and are 2nd in passing at 27.2 assists per game. Memphis is allowing their opponents to score 116.2 points per game, 4th most in the NBA this season.

Kings in a Terrible Funk

It seemed like yesterday when the Kings won four out of five games and were nearing the .500 mark. Right now, Sacramento is in a terrible funk and the Kings have lost eight consecutive games to fall to 10 games below the .500 mark. In their last game played, Sacramento was manhandled by the Los Angeles Clippers 87-105.

Richaun Holmes led Sacramento with 22 points and 10 rebounds while Buddy Hield added 20 markers although he shot just 3-10 from behind the three-point line. De’Aaron Fox only had nine points in 32 minutes of action while playing with back spasms. Marvin Bagley missed the game due to a midfoot sprain.

The Kings are the 5th lowest-scoring team in the league at 105.5 points per game this season. Sacramento is 28th in rebounding at 42.2 boards grabbed per contest and they are 23rd in passing at 22.5 assists per game. The Kings are allowing their opponents to score 108.4 points per game this season.

Who Wins?

Memphis is 3-2 SU in their last five games played. The Grizzlies are 6-9 SU in 15 games played on the road, and 1-10 SU in their last 11 January games played. Sacramento is 0-8 SU in their last eight games played. The Kings are 6-9 SU in 15 home games played this season, and 0-6 SU in their last six games against the Western Conference. Head to head, the Kings are 4-2 SU in their last six games played against the Grizzlies.

Memphis has split its last six games and they are coming off a win over the Charlotte Hornets at their home floor. Dillon Brooks scored 20 points against the Hornets and Memphis is 8-0 when he scores at least 20 points in a game this season. Ja Morant had his lowest-scoring game of the year with only six points but had seven dimes for the Grizzlies.

The Kings suffered their 8th straight loss to the Clippers on New Year’s eve. Sacramento has now lost 14 in a row to the L.A. Clippers. Worse, the Kings are now 10 games under the .500 mark at 12-22 SU on the year. Marvin Bagley is out with a midfoot sprain while De’Aaron Fox had been dealing with back spasms in the last couple of days.

Memphis is just 6-9 SU on the road but that’s the same record that Sacramento has on its home court. The Kings are in a terrible funk right now and will be without Marvin Bagley while playing with a possibly compromised De’Aaron Fox. I don’t like the Kings’ body language right now so I have to go with the visitors.

Prediction: Memphis Grizzlies

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Other Bets to Make

The Grizzlies are 8-3-1 ATS in their last 12 games played. Memphis is 7-7-1 ATS in 15 road games played this year, and 5-1-1 ATS in their last seven games played against the Western Conference. The Kings are 1-7 ATS in their last eight games played. Sacramento is 5-10 ATS in 15 home games played this year, and 4-2 ATS in their last six Thursday games played. Head to head, the Grizzlies are 6-4 ATS in their last 10 games played against the Kings but Sacramento has covered two out of the last three games.

Memphis beat Sacramento by four points in their first meeting of the season and covered the two-point spread in that game. This one’s played in Sacramento and the Kings are out not just for vengeance but to end their losing streak. Sacramento will still be without Marvin Bagley III and De’Aaron Fox has been bothered by back spasms. I like the Grizzlies to cover the spread here.

Prediction: Grizzlies +4

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The total has gone over in eight out of the last 10 games played by the Grizzlies. The under is 6-3 in Memphis’ last nine games on the road. The under is 21-13 in Sacramento’s 34 games played this season. The total has gone under in ten out of their 15 home games played this year. The under is also 10-2 in their last dozen games played in January. Head to head, the total has gone under in 13 out of the last 18 meetings between these two teams. The under is also 9-2 in the last 11 games between these two teams in Sacramento.

These teams have combined to score an average of 210.0 points per game in their last three meetings and Memphis is in the middle of the pack when it comes to scoring points. However, they are allowing the 4th most points per game in the league this season. On the other hand, the Kings are the 5th lowest-scoring team in the NBA this season and are in the Top half in scoring defense. The Grizzlies don’t play much defense this season and gave up 145 points against the Spurs last December 23rd. Sacramento has scored at least 110 points in two out of their last three games played. I like the teams to hit the over.

Prediction: Over 222.5

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