The Indiana Pacers (19-9) go head-to-head with the Sacramento Kings (12-15) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The game starts at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, December 20, 2019, and will air on NBC Sports – California.
Sacramento Kings vs. Indiana Pacers Free Prediction
The Kings were unable to cover as 5.5-point favorites in their 110-102 loss to the Charlotte Hornets in their last matchup. The game’s total points (212) were over the projected point total of 208. Charlotte won the rebounding battle. The Hornets had 16 offensive rebounds and 51 total rebounds, while the Kings had 10 and 33, respectively. De’Aaron Fox led Sacramento in scoring with 19 points on 6-for-13 shooting.
In the Pacers’ previous outing, they barely escaped the Los Angeles Lakers, 105-102, despite being 2.5-point underdogs. The total points for the game (207) finished just under the projected point total of 209. The Pacers had a better free throw rate (0.153 vs. 0.088) and had an effective field goal percentage of 0.541 (above their season average of 0.523). Domantas Sabonis was the top scorer from either team with 26 points on 10-for-15 shooting from the field.
After splitting two games last season, these teams will go head-to-head for the first time this year. In the last game, the Pacers won 107-97. The Pacers knocked down 19 of their 22 free throws (86.4 percent) and had a much better offensive rebounding percentage (32.6 vs. 24.5).
Sacramento heads into the contest with records of 12-15 straight up (SU) and 16-11 against the spread (ATS). Of the Kings’ 27 games, 17 have finished under the total.
Meanwhile, Indiana is 19-9 SU and 15-11-2 ATS. Games including the Pacers also have a tendency to go under the O/U total (60.7 percent).
The ineffective offense of Sacramento will battle against the elite defense of Indiana. The Kings currently rank 22nd in offensive efficiency, while the Pacers are fifth in defensive efficiency. The Pacers should have the edge on that side of the ball.
Sacramento Kings vs. Indiana Pacers Free Pick
Free Prediction: ATS Winner – Kings, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
On the road, Sacramento is 11-5 ATS with 10 unders and 6 overs.
At home, Indiana is 8-5-2 ATS with 9 unders and 6 overs.
Sacramento is 6-2 when they allow under 100 points, while Indiana is 5-1.
When scoring over 100 points, the Kings are 11-9 and the Pacers are 19-5.
Indiana ranks eighth in points in the paint per game (48.6) while Sacramento ranks 29th (41.6).
The Pacers rank fourth in steals allowed per game (6.7) while the Kings rank 20th (8.2).
Sacramento ranks 13th in three pointers attempted per game (34.7) while Indiana ranks 29th (26.8).
The Pacers rank 19th in rebounds per game (44.5) while the Kings rank last (41.3).
Indiana ranks fifth in assists allowed per game (22.5) while Sacramento ranks 12th (23.7).
The Pacers average 5.2 blocks per game, which ranks 11th in the NBA. The Kings rank 12th in blocks allowed per game (4.7).
Sacramento leads the NBA with 10.0 fast break points allowed per game while Indiana is second with 11.2 fast break points allowed per game.
Over its last five outings, Sacramento is 2-3 ATS with 3 unders and 2 overs.
Indiana is 4-1 ATS with 4 unders and 1 over over its last five games.
The Kings have outscored opponents by an average of 2.6 points in their last five games. On the season, Sacramento has been defeated by an average of 2.3 points.
During their last five games, the Pacers have scored an average of 108.6 points per game (0.5 below their season average) and allowed an average of 102.8 points per game (1.4 below their season average).
