New Orleans Pelicans (21-14) vs. Sacramento Kings (20-13)
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Sacramento Kings 1/7/24 – On Sunday evening at 6:00 PM ET, two highly anticipated NBA showdowns await us: New Orleans Pelicans will face Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Basketball enthusiasts and handicapper predictions today look forward to this matchup which promises thrilling action on the court. This should be a very competitive game between teams battling for playoff positioning in the Western Conference.
Led by All-Star Brandon Ingram’s 22.8 points per game, New Orleans features an explosive offense averaging 115.9 points per game, good for 6th best in the NBA. However, the Pelicans have been vulnerable away from home, going just 8-7 against the spread on the road this season. The Pelicans boast impressive offensive metrics, including 48.5% shooting from the field and 37.3% from downtown. However, New Orleans has struggled on the defensive glass, allowing 10.9 offensive rebounds per game to opponents.
Meanwhile, the Kings come into this matchup having won three of their last five games to reach 20 wins on the year. Sacramento is led by star point guard De’Aaron Fox, who is playing at an All-NBA level this season with 29.4 points and 6.1 assists per contest. The Kings sport the league’s 5th highest scoring attack at 117.8 points per game, thanks in large part to Fox’s brilliance. Sacramento has also defended its home court well, covering in nine of fifteen contests at Golden 1 Center. The Kings have shot the ball extremely efficiently this year, knocking down 47.4% of their field goals and 36.8% of tries from three-point range. But Sacramento does turn the ball over quite a bit, coughing it up 12.9 times per contest.
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Sacramento Kings 1/7/24 Game Info
| When: | Sunday, January 7, 2024, at 6:00 PM ET |
| Where: | Golden 1 Center |
| TV: | NBCS-CA |
| Stream: | NBA League Pass |
Brandon Ingram SF vs. De’Aaron Fox PG
Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram has taken his game to new heights this season, averaging career highs in points (22.8), rebounds (4.8), and assists (5.5) per game. Ingram excels at scoring from all three levels and getting to the free throw line. However, he has struggled with efficiency lately, shooting just 41% from the field over his last five contests.
Kings guard De’Aaron Fox has been simply sensational in recent weeks, tallying 29.4 points and 6.1 assists per night. Fox is lightning-quick off the dribble and has greatly improved his outside shooting. Nevertheless, he can still be turnover prone at times, coughing the ball up 2.6 times per contest.
This matchup will likely come down to which star player can exploit favorable mismatches against the opposing defense. Ingram has a significant size advantage over Fox and could look to punish him in the post. Meanwhile, Fox’s quickness could give the slower-footed Ingram issues. Whichever player gets going first could lift their team to victory.
NBA Odds/Point Spread: TBD, Total Odds: TBD
As of now, the betting odds and spreads for this matchup are yet to be determined. However, this could be an enticing game for bettors to keep an eye on once the odds are released.
New Orleans Pelicans Betting Trends
The Pelicans have been solid against the spread lately, covering in three of their past five overall. New Orleans is also a respectable 8-7 against the number away from home this season. Furthermore, with the scoring output these clubs are capable of, bettors may want to lean towards the over (9 overs in Pelicans’ last 19 home games).
Sacramento Kings Betting Trends
The Kings have struggled against the spread recently, failing to cover in three of their previous five contests. However, Sacramento has been consistently strong at home, going 9-6 versus the number at Golden 1 Center. The Kings also have one of the highest over percentages in the league, going over the total in 12 of their last 18 games in Sacramento.
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Sacramento Kings 1/7/24 Betting Picks
Considering the statistics and recent trends, this game promises to be closely contested. The Pelicans, with their balanced offensive and defensive approach, will pose a significant challenge to the Kings.
For the final betting picks, it’s a game that could go either way. Bettors might consider looking at prop bets focusing on individual performances, especially Ingram’s scoring and Fox’s playmaking. The over/under for total points could also be an intriguing option.
This matchup has all the ingredients for an exciting game of basketball. As always, keep an eye out for Free NBA insights as game day approaches, as player conditions and team dynamics can influence the outcome.
Free Pick and Prediction: New Orleans Pelicans 117, Sacramento Kings 114.