Week 20 of the 2021-22 NBA season tips off Monday, March 7, with eight games around the Association, so we’re taking a closer look at the interconference battle from Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California, to get you the best Knicks vs. Kings betting pick and odds.
New York and Sacramento close down their two-game regular-season series, and the Knicks will try to sweep the Kings for the first time since the 2016-17 season. According to FanDuel NY, the Kings are 3.5-point home favorites for Monday’s clash, while the totals sit at 229.5 points.
The Knicks play without rest
The New York Knicks visit Sacramento on the second night of a back-to-back set. Their Sunday night game against the Los Angeles Clippers has been excluded from the analysis, and the Knicks were looking to put an end to their seven-game losing streak.
Betting on New York has been a complete disaster over its previous 15 outings at any location, going 3-12 straight up and ATS in the process. Also, the Knicks have dropped 12 of their last 14 games on the road, covering four times in that stretch.
Last Friday, the NY Knicks nearly upset the short-handed Phoenix Suns as 6.5-point road underdogs. They suffered a 115-114 defeat, blowing a 14-point fourth-quarter lead. Julius Randle (19.8 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 5.2 APG) was ejected late in the third after shoving Cameron Johnson, who sank the game-winning 3-pointer as the time expired.
The Kings’ iffy form goes on
The Sacramento Kings (24-42; 31-35 ATS) are coming off a tough 114-113 defeat at the Dallas Mavericks this past Saturday. They covered a 4.5-point spread, but the Kings suffered a heart-breaking loss, blowing a 19-point lead.
De’Aaron Fox dropped 44 points on the Mavs, but it wasn’t enough. The Kings scored only 48 points in the second half, finishing the game with 16 turnovers. Domantas Sabonis accounted for 15 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists, while Harrison Barnes had only nine points on 3-for-8 shooting from the field.
The Kings have lost three of their previous five contests, covering the spread three times in the process. They sit at the 13th spot of the Western Conference standings, four and a half games off the tenth-seeded New Orleans Pelicans.
Trends:
New York:
- 3-12 ATS in the last 15 games overall
Sacramento:
- 4-1 ATS in the last five games overall
New York Knicks vs. Sacramento Kings Betting Pick
Both the Knicks and Kings cannot be trusted. They are still alive in the playoff race, but neither side deserves a place in the postseason. I lean the Kings only because the visitors will play on the second day of a back-to-back set and could easily struggle with fatigue.
Sacramento owns the third-worst defensive rating in the NBA, allowing 114.7 points per 100 possessions. However, the Knicks’ defense has struggled mightily over the last few weeks. New York has surrendered a whopping 117.9 points per 100 possessions over its previous ten outings.
New York Knicks vs. Sacramento Kings Pick: Take Sacramento Kings -3.5 at -110
The Total:
With all the defensive issues on both sides, I have to go with the over on the totals. Nine of the Kings’ last 13 games overall and eight of the Knicks’ previous nine have gone over the total.
The Knicks don’t like to rush things, averaging 96.1 possessions per 48 minutes. However, the Kings will look to push the ball in transition whenever they can. De’Aaron Fox loves to play at a fast pace, and the Kings average 99.9 possessions per 48 minutes.
New York Knicks vs. Sacramento Kings Over Under Pick: Go over 229.5 points at -110
