Philadelphia 76ers vs Sacramento Kings Preview (1/21/23): Prediction, Starting Lineups, Odds

Philadelphia hopes to continue its recent four-game road winning streak when it heads to Sacramento for a date with the Kings.

Below, you can get our betting predictions and picks, as well as the updated odds, starting lineups, and injury news for both teams. Let’s get into it.

Philadelphia 76ers Vs. Sacramento Kings Betting Odds

The Philadelphia 76ers are 3.5-point favorites on Saturday night against the Sacramento Kings.

Philadelphia finally has a fully healthy roster, while Sacramento has Domantas Sabonis, Alex Len, and Matthew Dellavedova all listed as questionable heading into this matchup.

Philadelphia 76ers Vs. Sacramento Kings Prediction

The Sixers are winners of four straight games, all on the road, and appear to be a legitimate contender in the Eastern Conference after a lackluster start to the 2022-23 NBA season.

What changed? For one, Joel Embiid has marched back onto the MVP scene, posting roughly 35 points, ten rebounds, four assists, and two blocks in his past 26 games. Embiid has been an absolute menace from all over the floor.

Second, James Harden has quietly had an All-Star-caliber year, averaging close to 22 points, 11 assists, and seven rebounds on the second-best 3P% of his career.

He may not be the player that averages 30-36 points per game anymore as he did for several seasons in this league, but his playmaking has not fallen off even a bit.

Lastly, the Sixers’ defense has been to thank for their recent success in the past month. Philly ranks second in opponent 3P%, seventh in opponent eFG%, and third in defensive efficiency.

When you have two weapons like Harden and Embiid on offense and have guys that can knock down three-pointers outside of them (fourth in 3P%), you are in good shape.

However, when you have all of that and a top-five defense, too, you could compete for a title.

Don’t look now, but the Sacramento Kings are in third place in the Western Conference!

After the Tyrese Haliburton for Domantas Sabonis trade at the deadline last season, it was clear that the Kings believed they could be in “win-now” mode. However, not many others believed that they were at that level yet.

Sacramento’s high-octane offense ranks third in offensive rating and sixth in pace; it loves to get up and down the floor, constantly applying pressure in transition.

The Kings rank third in eFG% and tenth in 3P%, although they have the capability to get scalding hot from deep on any given night.

They are a legitimate threat in the Western Conference, especially if they continue to play at this level. The only things that could hold them back are injuries or a refusal to improve, even slightly, on the defensive end of the floor, where they are a bottom-ten team.

For this matchup, we should see a tight game by the end of the fourth. I like Sacramento keeping it close.

Betting Trends

• Philadelphia is 10-11 ATS on the road in 2022-23
• Sacramento is 12-11 ATS at home in 2022-23
• The combined over record of these two teams is 48-39-1 in 2022-23

Key Matchups

Two of the league’s three best centers create our obvious key matchup between the 76ers and Kings. Check out whether Joel Embiid or Domantas Sabonis has an advantage in this battle between two of the hottest teams in the NBA.

Joel Embiid vs. Domantas Sabonis

Domantas Sabonis has had an unbelievable season of basketball, operating as a key facilitator in a high-powered Kings offense; he’s averaging an electric 19 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists.

While Embiid and Jokic are in a tier of their own, Sabonis is not as far off as one might think. As a matter of fact, Sabonis is arguably the third-best center in the NBA, trailing only those two.

He continues to improve every year, and his role in Sacramento fits his skillset to perfection. It turns out that maybe Sacramento’s front office isn’t as inept as previously thought.

Meanwhile, Joel Embiid has once again topped all of his previous seasons to date; he’s hovering between first and second in points per game in the entire NBA.

Further, Embiid has catapulted himself into the MVP picture. If the Sixers overtook the C’s in the Eastern Conference and Denver and Dallas slipped in the West, he could win.

Sabonis is one of the only bigs in the NBA who can match Joel Embiid’s physicality. It helps Sabonis that this game is in Sacramento, as Embiid may not get as favorable of a whistle as he usually does.

Regardless, Sabonis posted an impressive 22/10/5 line in their first meeting on 80% shooting from the field.

Embiid impressed with 31 points and seven rebounds, but altogether, Sabonis has a relative advantage. Embiid doesn’t like to play at a super fast pace, and the Kings do just that. Advantage: Sabonis.

Philadelphia 76ers Starting Lineup

PG: James Harden
SG: De’Anthony Melton
SF: Tobias Harris
PF: P.J. Tucker
C: Joel Embiid

Sacramento Kings Starting Lineups

PG: De’Aaron Fox
SG: Kevin Huerter
SF: Harrison Barnes
PF: Keegan Murray
C: Domantas Sabonis

Key Injuries

Philadelphia 76ers Injuries: None

Sacramento Kings Injuries: Alex Len (Q), Domantas Sabonis (Q), Matthew Dellavedova (Q)