Phoenix Suns vs. Sacramento Kings Point Spread Pick – Dec 22, 2023

Phoenix Suns (14-13 SU, 10-17 ATS) vs. Sacramento Kings (16-10 SU, 14-12 ATS)

When: Friday, December 22nd, 10:00 PM (ET)

Where: Golden 1 Center, CA, Sacramento

TV: NBCS

Point Spread: Pho +3.5/Sac -3.5

Total: 244.5

Money Line: Phoenix Suns +134/-161

Notable Injuries

Suns

• Bradley Beal (Out) Ankle
• Jusuf Nurkic (Out) Personal
• Damion Lee (Out) Knee
• Josh Okogie (Questionable) Hip

Kings

• JaVale McGee (Questionable) Wrist
• Alex Len (Out) Ankle
• Malik Monk (Questionable) Right Foot

Recent Form

The Suns have a record of 14-13 through 27 games and need a win today to avoid dropping back to .500. When playing on the road, the Suns are 7-5 compared to 7-8 at home.

Coming into today’s matchup vs. the Suns, the Kings are 16-10 overall and are looking to build on their above .500 record. When playing on the road, the Kings are 6-6 compared to their 10-4 record at home.

The Historicals

Through the last 5 matchups between the teams, Sacramento has an ATS mark of 3-2. But, looking at the scoring margin in these games, an average of just 2 points per game separates the teams. Phoenix and Sacramento averaged a combined 238 points per game in these games, leading to an over-under mark of 3-2.

Analysis

In their latest game, the Suns offense put up 104 points against the Trail Blazers. They recorded an overall field goal percentage of 44.7% and made five threes. Currently leading the team in scoring is Kevin Durant, who comes into today’s matchup averaging 31. Devin Booker also heads into the game with a PPG average of 27.9.

Coming into today’s game, the Suns’ defense is giving up an average of 113.8 points per contest.

Phoenix struggled on the boards in their last game vs. the Trail Blazers, giving up 14. For the game, Portland scored 109 points in the game.

The Kings’ offense wrapped up their last game with 119 points, aligning closely with their current season average of 118.2 points per contest. The team’s top scorer is De’Aaron Fox, who comes into today’s matchup with an average of 30.1, while Domantas Sabonis also maintains a PPG average of 18.7 leading up to the game.

Looking at the Kings’ defense, they will be looking for a better performance considering they are currently conceding 118.2 points per game (22).

Sacramento’s defense is currently forcing 12.8 turnovers per game, which is 13th in the league. Additionally, they enter the game ranked 27th in blocked shots, with an average of 4 rejections per game.

Betting Trends

• Across their three previous road games, Phoenix has an ATS mark of 0-3. Their straight-up record in these matchups was 0-3 while averaging 104 points per game.
• Across their ten previous home games, Sacramento has an ATS mark of 5-5. Their straight-up record in these matchups was 5-5 while averaging 111 points per game.
• In their last three games as the betting underdog, the Suns have a straight-up record of 1-2 and an ATS mark of 1-2.
• Although the Kings have a strong straight up record in their last three games as the betting favorite, they have not done as well vs the spread going 1-2.

Joes Pick To Cover The Spread

The Kings will be looking to bounce back after being crushed by the Celtics on Wednesday and are facing a Suns team that will once again be without Bradley Beal. Not only will they be short-handed yet again, but they also just lost to the Trail Blazers and just squeaked past the Wizards. I’m rolling with the Kings to cover at -3.5.