Sacramento Kings Vs. Philadelphia 76ers: Predictions, Starting Lineups (1/12/24)
For the first time this season, the Philadelphia 76ers and Sacramento Kings will duel in a non-conference bout. Unfortunately, the 76ers’ superstar Joel Embiid will again be held out of battle. Will we fade the Sixers in Embiid’s absence? Find our Sacramento Kings vs. Philadelphia 76ers predictions, betting picks, and in-depth game analysis below!
Sacramento Kings Vs. Philadelphia 76ers Prediction
If the Most Valuable Player award in the NBA is truly about the player who makes the most impact on a particular team (how well they do when that player is available versus not available), then Joel Embiid should be in line to win his second straight MVP award this season. That is, if he can meet the minimum required number of games (65) to be eligible to win.
The Sixers hold a 21-6 record when he plays and a 2-7 when he does not suit up. Their net rating plummets from +12.1, which would give them by far the highest net rating in the NBA if he had played in every game, to an astonishingly poor -4.7 when Embiid is sidelined.
Further, in the only home game that the Sixers have played without Embiid this season, the Utah Jazz hung 120 points on them and won by double-digits. That information cannot make you feel good about backing Philadelphia in this spot.
So, we will make it easy for you. We are backing the Sacramento Kings on the road.
This season, the Kings have a road record of 10-7, which gives them the third-highest winning percentage of any team in the NBA away from home. Sacramento has also won four of its past five games, with the only blip coming against the New Orleans Pelicans, a team that has steamrolled six of their past seven opponents.
In the past five games, Sacramento has shot over 50% from the field and 40% from behind the arc as a team; the Kings also have the fourth-highest offensive-rebounding percentage, which could be an additional cause for concern for Philly, as it will have an Embiid-less frontcourt.
As a matter of fact, without Embiid, the Sixers are only rebounding 70.1% of their opponent’s misses, which would rank dead-last in the NBA, even behind Washington. The signs just point to a Kings’ victory in this spot and we try to follow directions around here.
Sacramento Kings Vs. Philadelphia 76ers Prediction: Kings +1 (-112)
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Sacramento Kings Vs. Philadelphia 76ers Best Odds
The sportsbooks are indicating that this game is a toss-up! The Philadelphia 76ers are narrow one-point home favorites (-108) against Sacramento (-115) on Friday night; however, both teams have Moneyline odds of -110. The Over/Under for this enthralling matchup between two of the best teams on their respective coasts hangs around 242.5 points, with the Under holding odds of -115.
Sacramento Kings Starting Lineup
PG: De’Aaron Fox
SG: Kevin Huerter
SF: Harrison Barnes
PF: Keegan Murray
C: Domantas Sabonis
Philadelphia 76ers Starting Lineup
PG: Tyrese Maxey
SG: De’Anthony Melton
SF: Tobias Harris
PF: Nic Batum
C: Paul Reed
Sacramento Kings Vs. Philadelphia 76ers Injuries
Once again, the Sacramento Kings enter a matchup with a clean bill of health, or as close to it as you can be to it as an NBA organization. Kevin Huerter (ankle) is the only player listed on the injury report; he is questionable to play on Friday night and will likely be a game-time decision.
Meanwhile, Philadelphia won’t have the same luck as Sacramento, as its star player and the reigning MVP, Joel Embiid, will remain out due to a lingering knee injury that has become a cause for concern. Further, the Sixers will miss newly-acquired Kenneth Lofton Jr. (shoulder) and 3-and-D wing Robert Covington (knee.)
