Kings Take Another for In-Season Tournament Crowning
Pelicans vs Kings Prediction
The second In-Season Tournament game takes place on Monday night and we have our Pelicans vs Kings prediction.
New Orleans hasn’t had the most consistent season, but Zion Williamson and his teammates could cause an NBA odds upset.
However, standing in its way are the Sacramento Kings, who have De’Aaron Fox at their disposal.
Pelicans vs Kings
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Rising to Another Level
The Pelicans need to rise to another level to beat the Kings on Monday.
There is too much inconsistency for bettors to back them with confidence, and they need to rise in the NBA West standings to get taken seriously.
However, they’re in the In-Season Tournament quarterfinals, which is a step in the right direction.
They are currently listed at +148 for an outright win, indicating a level of respect from the sportsbook, despite their less-than-impressive 3-6 record on the road.
The recent setback, a 124-118 loss to the struggling Chicago Bulls, adds to the unease for bettors. However, with a 10-8 record against the spread, the Pelicans vs Kings prediction might not be so simple.
“Our margin for error is smaller when you have guys not available tonight, so we just have to learn from that,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said. “We have to be better with our execution on both ends of the floor.”
The presence of key players like Williamson and Ingram adds a formidable dimension to the team. Williamson’s dominance in the paint poses a challenge for the Kings, who can lack size in the center position.
Additionally, Ingram’s shooting proficiency becomes a significant threat, making the Pelicans a tough team to beat when he’s focus and on form.
Despite the team’s road challenges, the Pelicans hold a 2-0 record against the Kings. Although these victories occurred at home, they serve as a confidence boost for this game, which is their biggest of the year.
Kings Worthy Favorites
In terms of NBA rankings, the Kings are better than the Pelicans.
There is much more upside with the Kings, who own an 11-7 record, and their recent win over the Denver Nuggets is a good example.
Despite Nikola Jokic doing his thing, the Kings were able to withstand the challenge from the defending NBA champions.
“You’re never going to stop (Jokic) with just one guy. A lot of times, even with the whole team, you probably won’t stop him,” Fox said. “You just want to make sure the other guys don’t really get it going. When they do, it’s pretty much pick your poison with that team.”
With recent wins over the Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves, they are in a good position to win the tournament.
They are 4-4 ATS at home, and they’re keen to score their first win against the Pelicans after dropping two on the road.
We put those losses down to the Kings being on the road, and they’re a much better team at Golden 1 Center, so they’re worthy favorites.
Kings to Justify Odds
Our Pelicans vs Kings prediction has the home team winning and covering the -4 spread.
The Pelicans have plenty of scoring threats, but the Kings have Fox averaging 30.3 points per game, and Domantas Sabonis picking up the boards with 11.8 per game, and he also averages 6.9 assists.
They are the more well-balanced team, and if Fox isn’t firing on all cylinders, they have other shooters who can pick up the slack.
We recommend taking the Kings -4 before the line changes. The home team could attract most of the attention on game night, and there is also value in taking the over.
We expect a high scoring contest, which is the usual for Western Conference games. It should be free flowing, with three-point shooting being the flavor of the night.
Pelicans vs Kings Prediction
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