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Rockets vs. Kings Prediction and Odds: Houston Looking for Quick Revenge after Friday's Loss

By Matt De Saro

The Sacramento Kings tip-off against the Houston Rockets in their second game against each other in a row.
The Sacramento Kings tip-off against the Houston Rockets in their second game against each other in a row. / Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
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The  Houston Rockets hit the road this evening to the Golden 1 Center to take on the Sacramento Kings for the second game in a row. The pair played on Friday night when the Kings won 126-114 and are now 18-27 on the year. Houston fell to 12-32 and is one of the worst teams in the NBA in terms of overall record.

Can they bounce back tonight and even this short series up? If the Rockets' offense played the same way they did on Friday, they certainly have a shot. All five Houston starters scored in double-digits on Friday night with Christian Wood scoring 26 points to go along with eight boards. While this is a good sign, the Rockets have some gaping holes on defense that continue to let them down. 

Here are the odds for this Western Conference showdown courtesy of WynnBET: 

Rockets vs. Kings Odds, Spread, and Total

Spread:

  • Rockets +5.5 (-110)
  • Kings -5.5 (-110)

Moneyline:

  • Rockets +190
  • Kings -230

Total: 

  • 239 (Over -110/Under -110)

Rockets vs. Kings Prediction and Pick

Houston might be able to keep pace on offense, but they have to get their shit together on defense if they have any hopes of climbing out of the basement in the West. As of writing this article, the Rockets’ defense is ranked 30th in points surrendered per game, fast break points per game, and 29th in opponent points in the paint. They are allowing teams to shoot over 55 percent from the two-point range and 34.9 percent from deep. Jalen Green is part of the problem as he has the worst defensive plus-minus marks in the NBA. But, their underachieving has been a team effort for the most part.

Meanwhile, the Kings have been playing decent basketball over the last week. They are coming off back-to-back wins over the Lakers and Rockets after losing five straight earlier in the month. They are tied for 10th place in the Western Conference and slowly clawing their way towards a playoff berth. So, unlike the Rockets, the Kings have a reason to win this game other than pride. While I think the Rockets keep this game tight for a half or so, the Kings eventually pull away with a far better roster and a bit of momentum to get them over the hump. 

Pick: Sacramento Kings -5.5 (-110)

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