Sacramento Kings vs Indiana Pacers Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 18/01/2024, 09:10  by Devesh Jaganath | Modified on 18/01/2024 at 14:00 in NBA Prediction

The Indiana Pacers will head to Golden 1 Center to take on the Sacramento Kings in the NBA on Thursday night. The hosts are 23-17 and sixth in the Western Conference, while the visitors are also 23-17 and seventh in the Eastern Conference. 

The Indiana Pacers have been in good form, winning nine of their last 12 games overall. However, they aim to avoid a third consecutive defeat after facing a challenging 132-105 loss to the Jazz on the road on Monday. Andrew Nembhard and Buddy Hield led the team in scoring with 14 points each, while Jalen Smith and Myles Turner contributed 12 points each. Indiana currently holds the top spot as the highest-scoring team in the NBA, averaging 125.6 points per game. In contrast, the Sacramento squad ranks 21st in the league defensively, allowing 117.8 points per game. However, defensively, the Pacers find themselves at the bottom of the league, ranking second from the bottom and conceding 123.4 points per game. Notably, they have been giving up 6.0 more points on the road than at home this season. Bruce Brown, Tyrese Haliburton, and Aaron Nesmith are listed as doubtful for the upcoming match.

Meanwhile, The Sacramento Kings find themselves in a bit of a slump, having lost four of their last six games overall, and they aim to break a three-game skid after narrowly falling to the Suns in a 119-117 road defeat on Tuesday. De'Aaron Fox played a stellar role, leading the team with 33 points and six assists on 12-of-24 shooting, while Domantas Sabonis notched a triple-double with 21 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists. Offensively, the Kings rank as the eighth-highest scoring team in the league, averaging 118.2 points per game, while the Indiana Pacers allow the 28th-highest points per game in NBA action, conceding 123.5 points. Defensively, the Kings allow an average of 117.8 points per game, although over their last three matches, they have conceded an average of 121.7 per outing. Sacramento has a full roster at their disposal with no injuries listed for the upcoming match.