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Sacramento Kings vs Los Angeles Lakers Picks and Predictions – December 28
The Sacramento Kings head to Crypto.com Arena on Sunday night to take on the Los Angeles Lakers in a West Coast clash set for 10:30 PM ET. The Lakers (20-10) enter as heavy -11.5 favorites, aiming to continue their recent surge in the standings, while the Kings (13-17) are slipping further behind after a shaky stretch that’s exposed their defensive and depth issues.
Los Angeles has dominated at home and comes in with a clear edge in rest, size, and experience. Sacramento, meanwhile, is grinding through a rough road trip and enters as a significant underdog. With a total of 232.5, the market expects offense — but whether the Kings can deliver their share is another matter.
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Sacramento Kings vs Los Angeles Lakers Odds
Below are the current odds for Sunday’s matchup. Be sure to monitor the latest NBA odds for line movement and injury-related updates throughout the day.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento Kings | +452 | +11.5 (-111) | O 232.5 (-111) |
| Los Angeles Lakers | -616 | -11.5 (-111) | U 232.5 (-111) |
Sacramento Kings Betting Form
The Kings have hit a rough patch after a strong start to the season. They’ve dropped five of their last six games and are just 1-7 ATS in their last eight overall. Offensively, De’Aaron Fox continues to shine, but the rest of the supporting cast has fallen off — especially with Domantas Sabonis banged up and questionable for this one.
Sacramento still plays at a high tempo — currently 6th in pace — but their scoring efficiency hasn’t matched it. They’ve slipped to 19th in offensive rating over the past two weeks, and their defensive issues have only magnified. The Kings are bottom 10 in defensive efficiency, bottom 8 in paint defense, and routinely get beat in transition.
Their road form is a concern too — they’re just 5-10 SU away from home and 3-12 ATS in those games. Combine that with a 3-in-4 travel stretch and a deep frontcourt mismatch against the Lakers, and it’s hard to see a strong case for Sacramento keeping this within single digits.
Make sure to stay updated via the Sacramento Kings injury report before placing bets. A Sabonis scratch or minute limit swings this matchup even further.
Check full trends at the Sacramento Kings stats and results.
Los Angeles Lakers Betting Form
The Lakers are rolling. Winners of eight of their last ten, Los Angeles has finally locked into a rhythm with a healthy LeBron James and Anthony Davis leading the way. They’ve covered in six of those games and come into this matchup with one of the best home records in the league (13-3 SU).
More importantly for bettors, they’ve covered large spreads recently. Over their last four games as double-digit favorites, they’re 3-1 ATS, often pulling away late due to their defense and size advantage. Davis has been dominant in the paint, averaging nearly 14 rebounds per game over his last five, while LeBron continues to control tempo and shot creation in crunch time.
Defensively, L.A. ranks top 5 in opponent FG%, top 3 in rim protection, and first in second-chance points allowed. That’s a brutal setup for a Kings team that relies on interior scoring and has struggled to create open threes in the halfcourt. The Lakers are also top 3 in free-throw rate, creating easy points without burning the clock.
Keep a close eye on the Los Angeles Lakers injury report before tipoff, especially in case of rest management for LeBron or AD in a lopsided matchup.
Dive into recent trends at the Los Angeles Lakers schedule and stats.
Sacramento Kings vs Los Angeles Lakers Matchup Breakdown
On paper, this is a complete mismatch. The Lakers have every edge — personnel, rest, size, shot profile, and late-game execution. Sacramento, short-handed and fatigued, enters this game with one clear path: hitting a flurry of contested jumpers and hoping the Lakers come out flat.
Let’s break down the key matchup angles:
- Paint dominance: L.A. ranks 3rd in opponent points in the paint; Sacramento scores 45% of its points inside.
- Fouling edge: Kings commit the 6th-most fouls; Lakers get to the line more than almost anyone.
- Rebounding gap: Lakers are 2nd in second-chance points; Kings rank 25th in defensive rebounding %.
- Transition defense: Sacramento gives up fastbreak buckets and struggles to stop the ball in the open court — a problem against LeBron.
The Kings also lack a reliable secondary scorer when Fox is off the floor. Kevin Huerter and Malik Monk have both regressed lately, and Keegan Murray’s production has been inconsistent. Unless Sabonis is 100% and plays heavy minutes, Sacramento is massively outgunned in the paint and on the glass.
The Lakers, meanwhile, are rested and motivated. They’re trying to climb in the West standings and are treating these home games as must-wins against sub-.500 teams. There’s very little situational downside here, which makes laying double digits far more palatable.
For more strategic breakdowns like this, visit the NBA betting guide and our detailed sports betting strategy guide.
Sacramento Kings vs Los Angeles Lakers Predictions and Best Bets
This line opened around -10.5 and has climbed to -11.5, which tells you where the sharp money has gone. And it’s hard to disagree. The Lakers are peaking at the right time, and the Kings are leaking oil — both in roster availability and in confidence.
Assuming full availability for L.A., this is a smash spot. The Lakers should dominate the interior, win the rebounding battle, and pile up free throws. If they stay locked in defensively, Sacramento might not get past 105 points. That opens the door for a cover and also supports an Under lean.
If you’re uncomfortable with a full game spread, look at the Lakers -6.5 first half or their team total Over 121.5 (if available). Another derivative option could be Davis rebound props or Lakers points in the paint Over.
Unless Sacramento suddenly finds its offensive rhythm or the Lakers fall asleep, this feels like a one-sided result.
Best Bet: Lakers -11.5 (-111).
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