PHOENIX vs SACRAMENTO
When: 12/26/2020 10:00 PM
Where:

TV: 10:00 PM
LINE: 3.5
PREDICTION: SACRAMENTO , PHOENIX

Oddsmakers currently have the SACRAMENTO listed as 3.5 point favorites versus the PHOENIX, while the game’s total is sitting at 228.5.

The Sacramento Kings haven’t made the playoffs over the past 14 seasons, and the Phoenix Suns have gone 10 seasons without qualifying for the postseason.

But one long-suffering franchise will get off to a 2-0 start in the 2020-21 season, as the Suns and host Kings square off Saturday night in the first of back-to-back matchups in the California capital.

The Kings posted a dramatic 124-122 overtime win over the host Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, while Phoenix held off the Dallas Mavericks for a 106-102 home win on the same night.

Sacramento was trying to prevent losing in overtime when Harrison Barnes stole the ball from Nuggets star Nikola Jokic in the final seconds. Barnes drove and missed a contested shot, but Buddy Hield tipped the ball in at the buzzer for the victory.

Hield then raced down the court and into the tunnel leading to the locker room with his teammates in pursuit.

It capped a strong effort from Hield, who made five 3-pointers while scoring a team-best 22 points. Barnes and DeAaron Fox each added 21 points for the Kings.

Overall, Sacramento had seven players score in double digits. One of them was first-round draft pick Tyrese Haliburton, who had 12 points and four assists in 30 minutes off the bench to help fuel the win.

“I hope it says we’re hungry,” Haliburton said after the triumph. “Hungry to get Sacramento back where they belong and just win games. Guys that have been here are tired of not winning as much as they expect to and us young guys are just trying to bring young blood, new blood here and get Sacramento back to their winning ways.”

Fox was among the players highly impressed with the 20-year-old Haliburton, who was the 12th overall choice from Iowa State.

“He didn’t get rattled,” Fox said of Haliburton. “He makes big shots, we know he can shoot the ball. For me, if someone steps in defensively, my first instinct is to kick it out. We all have the utmost confidence in him to make big plays.”

Phoenix also played well down the stretch of its win over Dallas. The score was tied at 100 before the Suns scored five straight points, capped by Devin Booker’s jumper with 40.2 seconds left en route to the victory.

Booker scored 22 points in his initial backcourt pairing with 10-time All-Star Chris Paul, who was acquired from the Oklahoma City Thunder in the offseason.

Paul, who has been nursing an ankle injury, was quiet for most of the contest. He had just eight points on 3-of-9 shooting in 27 minutes. He also had five assists and committed three turnovers.

However, Paul knocked down a big shot with 1:20 to play to push Phoenix ahead by three prior to Booker’s basket.

“I like guys who are willing to take the shots,” Suns coach Monty Williams said afterward. “And we’ve got a few guys who will take those shots. Booker and CP have been in those situations before.”

Mikal Bridges added 18 points and was among the Phoenix players — as well as Williams — who cited the team’s 19 turnovers as something that needs to be reduced. Booker committed eight.

“It’s confidence,” Bridges said. “We know what we can do on the other end offensively. We have the guys for it. Once we know we get stops, and we’re just like, ‘Alright, we’re missing shots that we work on, some turnovers that we gotta clean up’ but as long as we’re out there guarding and helping each other out, that’s going to be the key for our success: just keep defending as a team.”

The teams split four meetings last season.

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PORTLAND vs SACRAMENTO
When: 10:00 PM  ET, Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Where: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, California

TV: 10 p.m. ET, NBATV, NBCS Northwest (Portland), NBCS California (Sacramento)
LINE: 2
PREDICTION: Kings 109, Trail Blazers 107

Oddsmakers currently have the SACRAMENTO listed as 2 point favorites versus the PORTLAND, while the game’s total is sitting at 222.5.

The Sacramento Kings have discovered their offense and they look to post their fourth win in the past five games when they host the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday. Sacramento was a torrid 18-of-31 from 3-point range in Friday’s win over the Atlanta Hawks and averaged 118 points during a 2-1 road trip.

The Kings struggled during a 0-5 start, dropping games by 32 points to the Utah Jazz and 29 to the Phoenix Suns in addition to a 122-112 loss to the Trail Blazers. A more-balanced approach is working as Sacramento had six players score 13 or more points against Atlanta and the club scored at least 28 points in each quarter. Portland halted a four-game slide on Sunday as it dominated the overtime to produce a 124-113 overtime win over the visiting Hawks. “I don’t think we could have played that five minutes any better than we did when the game was on the line and such a big situation for us,” Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard said of outscoring Atlanta 17-6. “So I was just excited for our team.”

TV: 10 p.m. ET, NBATV, NBCS Northwest (Portland), NBCS California (Sacramento)

ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (4-6): Lillard had 30 points, seven rebounds and six assists against Atlanta, two nights after scoring a career-best 60 points in a 119-115 home loss to the Brooklyn Nets. The NBA’s second-leading scorer at 33 points per game enjoyed a solid all-around game in last month’s win over the Kings when he contributed 35 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals. Center Hassan Whiteside excelled with 22 points on 9-of-10 shooting and collected nine rebounds in the win over the Kings and he had a stellar effort against Atlanta with 21 points, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots.

ABOUT THE KINGS (3-6): Bench players Bogdan Bogdanovic (5-of-6) and Trevor Ariza (4-of-6) combined for half the 3-point makes against the Hawks and Bogdanovic has made 11-of-17 over the past two games while averaging 21 points during the stretch. “We have really good shooters on our team,” Kings coach Luke Walton told reporters. “We know that. … When our guys are open we want them letting it fly.” Point guard De’Aaron Fox is averaging 19.8 points and eight assists over the past six games but sprained an ankle in practice on Monday and will be sidelined for at least three to four weeks.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Trail Blazers won six of the past seven meetings.

2. Sacramento SG Buddy Hield scored 22 against Atlanta for his third straight 20-point outing and sixth of the season.

3. Portland swingman Rodney Hood (back) could miss his second straight game.

PREDICTION: Kings 109, Trail Blazers 107

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SACRAMENTO KINGS vs LA CLIPPERS
When: 10:30 PM ET, Wednesday, December 26, 2018
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California

TV: 10:30 PM
LINE: -5.5
PREDICTION: LA CLIPPERS , SACRAMENTO

Oddsmakers currently have the LA CLIPPERS listed as -5.5 point favorites versus the SACRAMENTO, while the game’s total is sitting at 238.

The Los Angeles Clippers attempt to extend their winning streak over Sacramento to seven games when they host the Kings on Wednesday. Los Angeles prevailed in this season’s first meeting as forward Tobias Harris scored 28 points in a 133-121 road triumph on Nov. 29.

The Kings recovered from double-digit deficits to win each of their last two games — 102-99 over the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday and 122-117 over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday. “The identity that we’re never out of a game, we love,” Sacramento coach Dave Joerger told reporters. “The identity of starting slow because we’re going to catch you later is not what I’m looking for. We’ve got some young bodies, some young minds, and the best is in front of us.” The Clippers are slipping with seven setbacks in the past 10 games, including a 129-127 loss to the defending champion Golden State Warriors on Sunday. “We don’t really take moral victories,” Los Angeles point guard Patrick Beverley told reporters. “We could have – and we should have – won but we came up short.”

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Sacramento), FS Prime Ticket (Los Angeles)

ABOUT THE KINGS (18-15): Center Willie Cauley-Stein scored 22 points and collected a career-high 17 rebounds against New Orleans for his second straight double-double and 12th of the season, the latter matching a career best. Cauley-Stein is averaging 12.8 points and 9.3 rebounds with five double-doubles so far in December. Shooting guard Buddy Hield scored 28 points against the Pelicans to score 20 or more for the 10th time in the past 11 games and he is 53-for-112 from 3-point range during the stretch.

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (19-14): Los Angeles was a superb 18-of-23 from 3-point range in the loss to the Warriors and its 78.3 percentage was the best in NBA history (minimum 20 attempts). Harris (32 points) and forward Danilo Gallinari (25 points) were hotter than lava from long range with Harris draining 6-of-7 attempts and Gallinari knocking down all five. “Myself and Gallo, we’re shooters and the offense is predicated on us getting good looks and being able to take them and expand the court and get open 3s,” Harris told reporters. “So that’s something that’s a focus for us, really.”

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Clippers won 14 of the past 16 meetings.

2. Sacramento SG Bogdan Bogdanovic scored a career-high 26 points in last month’s loss to the Clippers.

3. Los Angeles G Lou William scored 25 points against Golden State for his 12th 20-point effort of the campaign.

PREDICTION: Clippers 112, Kings 108

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SACRAMENTO KINGS vs CHICAGO BULLS
When: 8:00 PM  ET, Monday, December 10, 2018
Where: United Center, Chicago, Illinois

TV: 8:05 PM
LINE: 2.5
PREDICTION: CHICAGO , SACRAMENTO

Oddsmakers currently have the CHICAGO listed as 2.5 point favorites versus the SACRAMENTO, while the game’s total is sitting at 225.

Fresh off the worst loss in franchise history, the Chicago Bulls are struggling to figure out their new coach and his methods. The Bulls will try to bounce back and put together a more competitive effort when they host the Sacramento Kings on Monday.

Chicago dropped a 133-77 decision to the Boston Celtics on Saturday and interim coach Jim Boylen subbed out all five of his starters in both the first and third quarters, a move that didn’t sit well with all the players. “It sucks man, sitting there and watching the score go up and up,” Bulls guard Zach LaVine told reporters. “I know we’re competing, but you know you can help. And sometimes you don’t feel like you do anything wrong. We got blitzed to come out. Obviously, (Boylen) didn’t like that. That happens in the NBA sometimes. We responded in the second quarter. I don’t know. I do not know. There’s a lot of questions you could ask, but I really don’t know.” The Kings are coming off a loss as well after watching a three-game winning streak come to an end with a 107-97 setback at Indiana on Saturday. “We just sucked,” Sacramento shooting guard Buddy Hield told reporters. “The second half, we didn’t get back on defense (and) turnovers killed us; turnovers and not making shots. We’re supposed to make shots.”

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Sacramento), NBCS Chicago

ABOUT THE KINGS (13-12): Sacramento was playing the second night of a back-to-back at Indiana on Saturday and looked sluggish while seeing a string of nine straight games scoring at least 111 points come to an end. “It will just be like a mental day, refresh, re-Zen, get yourself right again,” Kings center Willie Cauley-Stein told reporters while looking forward to a day off on Sunday. “Monday’s game is a must-win for us. I think everybody in this locker room is together, really together, and really wants to win, so this day off is going to be big for us.” Cauley-Stein collected 14 points, nine rebounds and a pair of blocks in the loss.

ABOUT THE BULLS (6-21): Boylen is increasing the frequency and intensity of practices since taking over for Fred Hoiberg last week and sat his starters for nearly the final 22 minutes on Saturday in anticipation of a spirited Sunday practice. “That’s not the standard of our program, to get down like that at home,” Boylen told reporters. “We were just following them around. We were a step slow on everything, mentally and physically. Is it want to? Is it effort? What is it? I don’t know what it is. I just wasn’t going to stand for it. I just pulled them together and told them all these people paid the money to see you guys play, and you’re not giving them the effort you gotta give them. It’s disappointing. We need some leadership to step up.” LaVine, who leads the team in scoring at an average of 24 points, finished with 11 in 19 minutes on Saturday.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Bulls PG Shaquille Harrison scored a career-high 20 points in 29 minutes off the bench on Saturday.

2. Kings SF Justin Jackson is 10-of-16 from 3-point range over the last five games.

3. Sacramento took both meetings last season, including a 107-106 victory at Chicago.

PREDICTION: Kings 116, Bulls 103

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SACRAMENTO KINGS vs CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
When: 7:30 PM  ET, Friday, December 7, 2018
Where: Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio

TV: 7:35 PM
LINE: 3
PREDICTION: CLEVELAND , SACRAMENTO

Oddsmakers currently have the CLEVELAND listed as 3 point favorites versus the SACRAMENTO, while the game’s total is sitting at 221.5.

The surprising Sacramento Kings continue to rack up wins and have a chance to make it three in a row when they visit the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday. The Kings began their four-game road trip with a 122-105 triumph at Phoenix on Tuesday before switching time zones and will play the next three against Central Division foes.

Sacramento is excelling in part because of its roster depth and watched five reserves score in double figures at Phoenix while no starter logged more than 27 minutes. “I think it was good for us,” Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox told reporters. “We’re on this road trip for about a week and (it’s good to) get the first game out of the way. Our guys were able to rest, everybody’s playing, and the energy is up, so (we’re about) to go to Cleveland in good spirits.” The Cavaliers’ spirits aren’t quite as high after the team was crushed 129-105 by the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday in a rematch of the last four NBA Finals. “They’ve got so, so many weapons and so much firepower and you have to really just sustain as much as you can against them because they keep coming and keep coming and keep coming,” Cleveland coach Larry Drew told reporters of the Warriors. “They actually wore us down. It’s the reason why they are the defending NBA champs.”

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Sacramento), FS Ohio (Cleveland)

ABOUT THE KINGS (12-11): Sacramento is above .500 23 games into the season for the first time since the 2004-05 campaign and set the tone in Phoenix by racing out to a 36-9 lead after the first quarter. Center Willie Cauley-Stein led the way with four steals in the first eight minutes as the Kings put on a show defensively. “(Cauley-Stein) was just aggressive defensively,” Fox told reporters. “He was up denying, he was able to push catches out, and when he’s denying, as a guard, you don’t want to have an easy pass, so as soon as he did that our guards started pressuring and he was able to get his hands on a lot of balls, and we were able to get steals and get out in transition early.”

ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (5-19): No longer the juggernaut that battled Golden State in the last four NBA Finals, Cleveland is trying to rebuild while looking for positive signs from its young players. Rookie point guard Collin Sexton scored 21 points on 7-of-14 shooting on Wednesday – his 14th straight game scoring in double figures. “One thing about Collin is that he’s not going to back down,” Drew told reporters. “He’s a fierce competitor and he’ll accept any challenge. Tonight, I thought he did a good job against a pretty good guard in (Stephen) Curry. Curry scored 42, but Collin kept competing. The message that I was hearing from him in the huddles was, ‘Hey guys, come on, let’s keep playing hard, let’s keep going at it, and that’s a sign of growth.”

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Kings rookie PF Harry Giles scored a season-high 13 points on 4-of-5 shooting in 10 minutes on Tuesday.

2. Cavaliers C Tristan Thompson is averaging 16 points and 16 rebounds over the last four games.

3. The teams split the two-game series in each of the last two seasons.

PREDICTION: Kings 113, Cavaliers 108

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SACRAMENTO KINGS vs MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
When: 8:00 PM  ET, Friday, November 16, 2018
Where: FedExForum, Memphis, Tennessee

TV: 8:05 PM
LINE: -7
PREDICTION: MEMPHIS , SACRAMENTO

Oddsmakers currently have the MEMPHIS listed as -7 point favorites versus the SACRAMENTO, while the game’s total is sitting at 213.5.

The Memphis Grizzlies look to post their fourth victory in the past five games when they host the Sacramento Kings on Friday. Memphis continued its stellar season-opening play with a 116-113 road victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.

The Grizzlies bounced back from Monday’s home loss to the Utah Jazz with the impressive showing while handing the Bucks their first home setback of the season. “I couldn’t be more proud of the guys with their effort,” Memphis coach J.B. Bickerstaff told reporters. “This is a hell of a win for our ballclub coming off a loss and not allowing ourselves to lose two in a row.” Sacramento is also playing well and Monday’s 104-99 home win over the San Antonio Spurs was its seventh in the past 10 games. Second-year point guard De’Aaron Fox has played solidly during the stretch by averaging 19.5 points and 7.2 assists.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Sacramento), FS Southeast (Memphis)

ABOUT THE KINGS (8-6): Shooting guard Bogdan Bogdanovic recently returned from knee surgery and scored 22 points against the Spurs in his third game of the season. “He’s trying to find his rhythm a little bit and he’s also playing with some guys that maybe he hasn’t played with before,” Sacramento coach Dave Joerger told reporters after Bogdanovic played 25 minutes. “But I thought he was really feeling it and did a terrific job.” Center Willie Cauley-Stein recorded back-to-back doubles and is averaging 18.5 points and 9.5 rebounds over the past four games.

ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (8-5): Center Marc Gasol scored a season-high 29 points and point guard Mike Conley added 26 in the impressive win over the Bucks. “That’s who we live and die with. We were riding with those two guys – they are our horses,” Bickerstaff said. “The other guys understand that and play their part. They understand how to make their teammates better, so it works well together.” Gasol needs 16 rebounds to pass Zach Randolph (5,612) – now a member of the Kings – for most rebounds in franchise history.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. SG Buddy Hield scored 23 points as the Kings posted a 97-92 victory over the Grizzlies on Oct. 24.

2. Memphis backup PG Shelvin Mack scored 15 points against Milwaukee to reach double digits for the sixth time in the past eight games.

3. Sacramento backup C Kosta Koufos (calf) could miss his second straight game.

PREDICTION: Grizzlies 104, Kings 102

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SAN ANTONIO SPURS vs SACRAMENTO KINGS
When: 10:00 PM  ET, Monday, November 12, 2018
Where: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, California

TV: 10:05 PM
LINE: 3
PREDICTION: SACRAMENTO , SAN ANTONIO

Oddsmakers currently have the SACRAMENTO listed as 3 point favorites versus the SAN ANTONIO, while the game’s total is sitting at 218.

San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich called his team soft after a loss at Miami on Wednesday, and the players responded with a gritty defensive effort in a win over Houston on Saturday. The Spurs will try to maintain that effort when they begin a three-game road trip at the Sacramento Kings on Monday.

The Spurs held the Rockets to 33.3 percent shooting in the 96-89 win, limiting them to 18 fourth-quarter points as they put the game away. San Antonio is allowing an average of 100 points in its last seven games after surrendering 121.8 in its first four contests. The Kings were lighting up the scoreboard before suffering a letdown on Saturday in a 101-86 home loss to the Los Angeles Lakers that marked the team’s lowest output of the season. Sacramento played that game with a haze hovering at the top of the arena due to smoke in the area from local wildfires, and the team continues to monitor the situation.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (San Antonio), NBCS California (Sacramento)

ABOUT THE SPURS (7-4): San Antonio star forward LaMarcus Aldridge suffered through one of his worst games while going 2-of-14 from the floor in the loss at Miami but found his shooting stroke on Saturday. The All-Star scored 27 points on 10-of-21 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds while playing a large part in the defensive effort that held the Rockets starting frontcourt to 5-of-16 from the floor. Spurs point guard Derrick White played his second game on Saturday after missing the first nine with a foot injury and took control of the offense with 14 points and eight assists in 30 minutes.

ABOUT THE KINGS (7-6): Sacramento went 3-1 on a road trip through the east coast but is having a more difficult time at home with losses in two of the first three games of the four-game stand. Center Willie Cauley-Stein is off to the best start of his career and is one of the few bright spots on the homestand, averaging 20.3 points and 8.3 rebounds in the last three contests. The Kings also continue to get strong efforts from second-year point guard De’Aaron Fox, who scored a team-high 21 points in Saturday’s setback and is averaging 18.7.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Spurs SF Rudy Gay (heel), C Pau Gasol (foot) and C Jacob Poeltl (ankle) are all questionable for Monday.

2. Sacramento leading scorer Buddy Hield (19.1 points) struggled to 3-of-17 from the floor on Saturday.

3. San Antonio is enjoying a 14-game winning streak in the series.

PREDICTION: Spurs 102, Kings 96

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LA LAKERS vs SACRAMENTO KINGS
When: 10:00 PM  ET, Saturday, November 10, 2018
Where: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, California

TV: 10:05 PM
LINE: 5.5
PREDICTION: SACRAMENTO , LA LAKERS

Oddsmakers currently have the SACRAMENTO listed as 5.5 point favorites versus the LA LAKERS, while the game’s total is sitting at 240.

The Los Angeles Lakers attempt to reach the .500 mark for the first time this season when they visit the Sacramento Kings on Saturday. Los Angeles dropped its first three games of the season and five of its first seven but has won three of its last four entering the contest against the Kings.

Forward LeBron James has scored 24 or more points in nine of his first 11 games with the Lakers and narrowly missed a triple-double with 24 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists in Wednesday’s 114-110 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Power forward Kyle Kuzma has topped 20 points in each of the past two outings to raise his season average to 19.2 as he settles in as the second offensive option behind James. The Kings snapped a two-game slide with a 121-110 victory over the Timberwolves on Friday as center Willie Cauley-Stein scored 25 points. Sacramento’s offense has been clicking well by topping 100 points in all but one contest and Friday’s effort marked the fifth time the Kings have scored 120 or more.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, Spectrum SportsNet (Los Angeles), NBCS California (Sacramento)

ABOUT THE LAKERS (5-6): Point guard Lonzo Ball departed Friday’s practice with a mildly sprained left ankle and his availability will be firmed up Saturday. “Hopefully it’s nothing serious,” Los Angeles coach Luke Walton told reporters. “We got him out of the end of practice. He went in and got some treatment, and I haven’t seen him yet since.” Ball is averaging nine points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists in his second season and veteran Rajon Rondo (averages of 10.6 points and seven assists) will start if he can’t play.

ABOUT THE KINGS (7-5): De’Aaron Fox recorded 16 points and 10 assists in the win over Minnesota and the point guard didn’t commit a turnover in 33 minutes.”My decision-making is getting better,” Fox told reporters after the victory. “Most of my turnovers come from passes. I was able to put the ball on the money. It was a great game.” Fox got the better of Ball in the Sweet 16 of the 2017 NCAA Tournament when he scored 39 points for Kentucky in a victory over Ball’s UCLA squad, and the two engaged in spirited matchups last season as NBA rookies.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The teams split last season’s four meetings.

2. Cauley-Stein is averaging 24.5 points on 21-of-31 shooting over the past two games.

3. Los Angeles C JaVale McGee scored 16 points on 8-of-10 shooting against Minnesota and has reached double digits in nine of 11 games.

PREDICTION: Lakers 115, Kings 113

The post LA LAKERS vs SACRAMENTO 11/10/2018 Odds, Picks & Preview appeared first on IdealCapper.

TORONTO RAPTORS vs SACRAMENTO KINGS
When: 10:00 PM  ET, Wednesday, November 7, 2018
Where: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, California

TV: 10:05 PM
LINE:
PREDICTION: SACRAMENTO , TORONTO

Oddsmakers currently have the SACRAMENTO listed as 8 point favorites versus the TORONTO, while the game’s total is sitting at 232.5.

The Toronto Raptors are piling up the victories and strive to add another when they visit the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday. Toronto is tied with the Golden State Warriors for the best record in the NBA and is looking to complete a sweep of a four-game road trip.

The availability of Raptors standout small forward Kawhi Leonard is unknown due to the left ankle injury that led him to miss the past two games. Leonard suffered the injury against the Phoenix Suns on Nov. 2 and sat out victories over the Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz. Sacramento was obliterated 144-109 by the Milwaukee Bucks in its last outing to see a five-game winning streak evaporate. “We just went 3-1 on a four-game road trip,” Kings forward Justin Jackson said after the loss. “Obviously, it hurts a little bit to lose like that, but I think we’re extremely happy of how we played this road trip.”


TV: 10 p.m. ET, TSN (Toronto), NBCS California (Sacramento)

ABOUT THE RAPTORS (10-1): Power forward Serge Ibaka connected on all eight shots while scoring 17 points in Monday’s 124-111 win over the Jazz just one night after scoring a career-best 34 points on 15-of-17 shooting in a 121-107 victory over the Lakers. Ibaka registered three career 30-point outings and two of them have occurred in the past five games. Point guard Kyle Lowry is also playing solid with nine straight outings of 10 or more assists while averaging 17.9 points and an NBA-best 11.5 assists.


ABOUT THE KINGS (6-4): Sacramento looks to move on from the pounding it absorbed with a four-game homestand that concludes against the San Antonio Spurs on Nov. 12. The Kings have ramped up the offensive attack this season and rank fourth in scoring (118.7) but the defense has been suspect and stands 26th while allowing 119.3 points per game. Shooting guard Buddy Hield had 19 points against the Bucks to fall a point short of his sixth straight 20-point game and the third-year pro is shooting a stellar 48 percent from 3-point range.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Raptors won each of last season’s two meetings by 15 points after the Kings won the previous four.

2. Sacramento backup SG Ben McLemore won’t play Wednesday as he grieves the death of his brother, Kevin.

3. Toronto G Norman Powell (shoulder) was injured against Utah and is unlikely to play Wednesday.

PREDICTION: Raptors 116, Kings 113

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SACRAMENTO KINGS vs MILWAUKEE BUCKS
When: 3:30 PM  ET, Sunday, November 4, 2018
Where: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

TV: 3:35 PM
LINE: -10
PREDICTION: MILWAUKEE , SACRAMENTO

Oddsmakers currently have the MILWAUKEE listed as -10 point favorites versus the SACRAMENTO, while the game’s total is sitting at 235.

The two biggest surprises in their respective conferences through the first three weeks might be the Milwaukee Bucks and the Sacramento Kings, who are both exceeding expectations. The Kings will try to pick up a sixth straight win while the host Bucks attempt to bounce back from their first loss on Sunday.

Milwaukee won seven straight to begin the campaign before falling at Boston 117-113 on Thursday, and superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo remained encouraged despite the setback. “Definitely have a lot of confidence, we still think we are one of the best teams,” Antetokounmpo told reporters after the game. “Tonight, we didn’t have an A or B game, probably a C game, but we were still close to winning the game in Boston – one of the best teams in the East. We are still going to believe in ourselves, going to continue to get better.” The Kings looked like a sure bet to miss the playoffs prior to the start of the season but are watching their young players mature rapidly during the hot stretch. Sacramento won the first three stops on the four-game road trip, capped by a 146-115 win at Atlanta on Thursday that featured second-year guard De’Aaron Fox’s first career triple-double.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Sacramento), FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)

ABOUT THE KINGS (6-3): Fox recorded career highs in all three categories with 31 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds on Thursday while going 9-of-13 from the field. “He’s our best player. I think if he’s not on the court, we can’t be as successful as we are because of the way he pushes the ball and attacks the rim,” shooting guard Buddy Hield told reporters of Fox. “He’s taken on a leadership role, which is what we need from him.” Hield is stepping up as well and scored a season-high 27 points on Thursday to mark his fifth straight game with 20 or more points.

ABOUT THE BUCKS (7-1): Milwaukee small forward Khris Middleton was one of several players who struggled while going 6-of-18 from the floor on Thursday, but he wasn’t ready to take anything major away from the contest. “It’s just one game,” Middleton told reporters. “It’s too early, it’s not even 10 games into the season. … It’s one game out of 82. It’s not a playoff game right now.” Middleton averaged 24.3 points during the first four games but watched that number drop to 16 over the last four contests.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Kings PF Nemanja Bjelica is averaging 21.3 points while going 15-of-27 from 3-point range during over the last four games.

2. Bucks C Brook Lopez was held to a season-low two points on 1-of-4 shooting on Thursday.

3. Milwaukee took the last four meetings by an average of 18.5 points.

PREDICTION: Bucks 121, Kings 115

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