Phoenix Suns at Sacramento Kings 2/9/19: Starting Lineups, Matchup Preview, Betting Odds

Phoenix Suns at Sacramento Kings Preview

The Phoenix Suns journey to Northern California Sunday evening to take on the Sacramento Kings. These two teams have struggled over the last few years, usually finishing near the bottom of the Western Conference. Yet while the Suns continue to struggle, the Kings’ team is showing promise. Sacramento comes into the matchup three games above .500 at 29-26. Phoenix, on the other hand, comes in struggling at 11-43, one of the worst records in the NBA and one of the worst records in Suns history.

Yet, the last matchup between these two teams saw the Suns come out victorious 115-111. The January 8th matchup was a letdown for Kings fans to say the least: The Kings led for almost the entire game just to give it up in the 4th quarter. However, the Kings got the best of the Suns in the other two games they played this season, winning by scores of 106-102 and 122-105. Sunday nights forth matchup should feature an interesting dynamic as the Kings fight to continue their playoff run and the Suns fight to win their first game in their last fourteen. 

TV Schedule

Date: 02/10/19
Time: 6:00pm ET
Arena: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Channel: FSA, NBCSCA

Phoenix Suns Starting Lineup

PositionStarter
PGTyler Johnson
SGDevin Booker
SFMikal Bridges
PFJosh Jackson
CDeAndre Ayton

Suns Analysis

phoenix suns

Ouch. The Phoenix Suns enter Sunday nights matchup in desperate need of a turnaround. Not only have they lost their last 13 games but are currently deep in last place in the Western Conference (29.5 games out of first place). They are also more than 10 games behind the team in second to last place, the Memphis Grizzlies. It is certain that any shot at the playoffs is completely out of the picture for this organization. However, the Suns hope to finish their season on a more positive note and put themselves in better shape for 2019-20. 

Any hope of a bright Suns future can be seen first and foremost in Devin Booker. The 22-year old, Michigan native is currently averaging 24.9 points per game, numbers that rival those of stars like Kyrie Irving, Blake Griffin, and Damian Lillard. Booker also comes in averaging close to 7 assists per game and is shooting an impressive 85% from the free throw line. Defensively, Deandre Ayton leads the team with 10.6 rebounds per game and the Suns as a team rank 2nd in the NBA in steals per game. Yet overall, the Suns rank in the bottom 3 in the NBA in both overall offensive and defensive ratings.

One might also add that the only win the Suns have in the pacific division came against the Kings earlier this year. Could the Suns repeat and steal the Kings throne in Sacramento on Sunday? The odds are against them, but an upset isn’t out of the question.

Suns Quick Links: Suns Starting Lineup, Suns Roster, Suns Depth Chart, Suns Injuries, Suns News, Suns Schedule

Sacramento Kings Starting Lineup

PositionStarter
PGDe'Aaron Fox
SGBuddy Hield
SFBogdan Bogdanovic
PFNemanja Bjelica
CWillie Cauley-Stein

Kings Analysis

Sacramento Kings

This decade has seen little-to-no talk about the Sacramento Kings… until this season. The last time the Kings were heavily featured in NBA talks and analysis was early in 2017 when the Kings traded DeMarcus Cousins to the Pelicans. Now with a winning record, the Kings look to end their twelve-year postseason drought and cement themselves as a strong, young, and up-and-coming basketball organization.

Much of the Kings success has come in part due to that Cousins trade, in which the Kings acquired sharp shooter Buddy Hield. Hield has proven to be a strong offensive asset, leading the team with an average of 20.5 points per game. Young stars De’Aaron Fox and Marvin Bagley III have also brought some fire to the team. Fox averages 17.2 points per game and is one of the quickest point guards in the leauge. On the other side of the court, Bagley III holds down the defense, always turning in a handful of blocks and rebounds. 

A lot of Kings conversation has also circled around their recent trades. Kings fans were certainly most disappointed by the departure of Iman Shumpert, who was recently traded to Houston. Justin Jackson and Zach Randolph were also big losses and team favorites. Yet, the acquisition of Harrison Barnes, Alec Burks, and others might be exactly what the Kings need to nab one of those last playoff spots. 

In their most recent 102-96 win against the Heat, Barnes got his first chance to play in a Kings uniform. He knocked down 12 points and added 7 rebounds in the win. However, the offense was carried by Buddy Hield who added 23 points as well as 7 rebounds and an assist. Kings fans look forward to seeing Barnes in action again Sunday night and are hopeful that he can continue to contribute to his new organization. 

Kings Quick Links: Kings Starting Lineup, Kings Roster, Kings Depth Chart, Kings Injuries, Kings News, Kings Schedule

Phoenix Suns at Sacramento Kings Betting Odds

Against the spread, the Suns are 24-16-17 and the Kings are 31-14-10. The Kings are the favorites to win tonight, and they are 17-11 at home and 13-1 as the favorite, while the Suns are 4-24 on the road and 10-43 as the betting underdog.

Odds & Line Movement Links: Phoenix Suns at Sacramento Kings, Vegas Odds (All NBA Games Today)

Bet on Matchup

If you’re in Pennsylvania, you can bet on this matchup. Sports betting is legal in PA. Our top rated online sportsbook bonus offers can be found in our articles: Fanduel Sportsbook promo code, DraftKings Sportsbook promo code & Pointsbet promo code.

DraftKings & FanDuel Fantasy Picks

Find all of our Fanduel and Draftkings projections here: https://www.lineups.com/nba/nba-fantasy-basketball-projections. 

Noah Wadhwani lives in Sacramento, California but grew up in Boston as a die-hard New England sports fan. He is currently a freshman at the University of California, Berkeley and is intending to major in applied mathematics or economics. Aside from sports, Noah’s other main passion is travel and has spent time living abroad in Denmark and Argentina.

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