Kings vs Pelicans Expert Predictions & Picks
Domantas Sabonis is owning the glass for the Kings, taking him over 14.5 rebounds and Under 237.5 Game Total when Sacramento visits New Orleans on Thursday, Oct. 29, at 8:00 p.m. ET at Smoothie King Center.
This total is built off the Pelicans' first three games, and the fourth told a different story. New Orleans scored 91 against Denver last night and play again tonight. Last season, in back-to-back games they went under this number in 11 of 15.
Sacramento can't carry an Over on its own. The Kings rank 25th in offensive rating, and three of their four games stayed under 237.5. The last meeting in New Orleans finished 120-94.
Sabonis has 18, 19, 15 and 14 rebounds in almost 37 minutes a night. With Missi out, New Orleans is down to Derik Queen and DeAndre Jordan in the middle which means offensive rebounding is not a high priority.
Key Stats
- New Orleans is on the second night of a back-to-back after scoring 91 against Denver
- The Pelicans' back-to-back games went under 237.5 in 11 of 15 last season
- Sacramento ranks 25th in offensive rating and 30th in net rating
- Sabonis is averaging 16.5 rebounds and has 14 or more in all four games
Head to Head
New Orleans won two of three last season, and two of the three stayed under this number. The Pelicans won 120-94 at home in February, a 214-point game, and the teams split two in Sacramento that finished at 256 and 230. Nothing about this matchup has pointed to a shoot out in New Orleans.
Sacramento Kings Form
The frontcourt is thin. Keegan Murray (ankle), Ben Simmons, Maxime Raynaud and Dylan Cardwell are all out, which is why Sabonis is playing 36.8 minutes over his last three games.
Zach LaVine (27.2 points) and Darius Acuff Jr. (21.5) are doing most of the scoring, and the Kings are shooting 30% from three. The risk to the Under is the other end with Sacramento allowing 125.5 points a game, 29th in defensive rating.
New Orleans Pelicans Form
The shooting has gone cold for the Pels, hitting just 29% from three and turning it over 16.8 times a game, last night's 91 points came at a 102 pace.
Zion Williamson is averaging 21.8 points and Dejounte Murray 17.8 with 6 assists. Missi (knee) is out, and Jordan Poole (ankle) is a game-time call. New Orleans went 4-11 on back-to-backs last season.