New Orleans Pelicans vs Sacramento Kings Predictions, Odds & Picks

• Both the Pelicans and the Kings are eliminated from playoff contention.
• This is the second match between these two teams during the restart schedule.
• The Pelicans’ Zion Williamson has been named one of the finalists for the 2020 NBA Rookie of the Year award.

New Orleans Pelicans vs Sacramento Kings Odds

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New Orleans Pelicans vs Sacramento Kings Predictions and Picks

The Sacramento Kings will have the advantage as three different Pelicans players will be unavailable for this matchup. We still expect a high-scoring, defense free game though.

Pick:

Sacramento Kings def. New Orleans Pelicans -105

How to Watch New Orleans Pelicans vs Sacramento Kings

Head-to-Head: New Orleans Pelicans vs Sacramento Kings

The Pels Must Limit Turnovers

A season-best 8 3PM for @jj_redick today#BoldMove | @Zatarains pic.twitter.com/V9CXFPQdEL

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) August 9, 2020

The last meeting between these two sides was an absolute shootout. Neither team was able to stop the other, but the Kings were able to come out on top due to some crucial mistakes by the Pelicans.

The Pelicans committed 17 turnovers to the Kings’ eight in their previous meeting in the schedule. A defensive stand is unlikely between these two teams, so improvement in the ball security department is priority number one.

They had a surprising off night from veteran guard Jrue Holiday. The holiday was a minus-four on the evening with four turnovers to partner his five assists. Primary ball handlers Ball, Holiday, Hart, and Jackson will be crucial in not allowing the Kings additional opportunities.

Which Starter Can Support Fox?

⬆️ B U D D Y ⬆️

⬇️ H A R R Y ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/GZsuSSgEPY

— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) August 10, 2020

The Kings lost to the Houston Rockets in their last match. De’Aaron Fox put together another brilliant game, but no other starter was able to support him consistently throughout the game.

All eyes are on Bogdan Bogdanovic and his expiring contract. Bogdanovic is a capable scorer, who has felt some inconsistency over the course of the NBA‘s restart schedule. Despite averaging 19.0 points on 44.7% shooting over six games, Bogdanovic has been a minus-four.

It’s not that the Kings don’t have options off of the bench, but their starting lineup doesn’t provide enough immediate production to open matches. To beat the Pelicans’ bevy of scorers, Sacramento needs more scoring output.

Kings Key Player: (G) Cory Joseph

The Canadian international isn’t a key factor in the Kings’ scoring scheme, but he is a valuable role player whenever he is on the court.

Joseph is a very understated scorer, but he’s failed to find his range in the bubble. Averaging just 5.3 points and 4.2 assists on 35.7% shooting from the field, Joseph has been a non-factor on the court.

His distribution is still good, but an extra eight to ten points or at least a respectable shooting percentage from deep, would help the Kings’ offense exponentially.

Pelicans Key Player: (G) Lonzo Ball

It’s too early in Lonzo Ball’s career to call him a bust, but the truth is that Ball’s inconsistency is one of the chief detriments to the Pelicans’ success.

Over his six games in the Bubble Ball has averaged 5.7 points on 26% shooting from the field. The ball can still contribute in other ways, as he’s been averaging 5.3 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.0 block during the restart, but it is almost a case of the team playing four-on-five on offense.

With Williamson in the paint, Ball’s opportunities to drive are even more limited than before. With a poor three-point stroke, Ball can’t properly complement his starting lineup. To take a victory from the Kings, Ball must find a way to contribute to the box score.