When you sign-up through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more >
Where: Golden 1 Centre, Sacramento, CA
When: 9:00 PM EST, 1 January 2019
How (TV/Radio): NBC Sports California, NBC Sports Northwest | Rip City Radio 620, KHTK Sports 1140 AM
Head Coach: Terry Stotts {All-Time 407-403 | ATL, MIL, POR}
The Portland Trail Blazers currently boast a record of 20-16 placing them in sixth in the Western Conference. Unfortunately for the Blazers, they share a record with the Los Angeles Lakers which puts them in a tie.
In their last ten, the Portland Trail Blazers are 5-5. In their last five, they’ve alternated wins and losses against some of the more talented Western Conference teams. Sacramento is right on their tale, just a game behind, so the Blazers will look for a win to separate themselves from the pack.
The Blazers will have a tough night on their hands against the Kings. The Kings are young, athletic, and shoot the three with the best of the league. Getting up on shooters will be a priority for the Blazers, while they also need to navigate the Kings defence and shot blocking.
Head Coach: Dave Joerger {All-Time 225-220 | MEM, SAC}
The Kings sit behind the Portland Trail Blazers by a single game at 19-16. Luckily for the Kings, they’ve played two less games than the Spurs on their back so they have some buffer against their challengers.
In their last ten matches, the Sacramento Kings have gone 6-4. While they were blown out by the Timberwolves and the Thunder, they hung on to win nail biters against the New Orleans Pelicans and the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Trail Blazers are a team that play through their dynamic backcourt of Lillard and McCollum. Even on an off shooting night, their playmaking can be dangerous. It’s time for De’Aaron Fox and Buddy Hield to show that they can compete with the best.
Two western conference teams meet again in a classic clash of west coast squads. The Portland Trail Blazers lead the all-time series 90-47.
At fifth in the Western Conference but just a game ahead of the Sacramento Kings, a win for the Portland Trail Blazers would place them just half a game behind the Clippers for fourth place.
The Sacramento Kings are currently eighth in the West, just a game ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies on their heels. A win would tie them for seventh with the rival Los Angeles Lakers.
Can the Blazers swing the ball to success?
Will the Kings maintain their hot shooting?
We are going to compare the Portland Trail Blazers and the Sacramento Kings in an attempt to see who has the advantage in this matchup.
To say the Trail Blazers are a team reliant on their two stars is an understatement. No doubt, Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum are capable isolation threats. Both have proven over their careers that they can score with the best of the league and can win a game on their own.
Despite their individual talents, the Portland Trail Blazers have too much talent and range to forsake their bench. The Blazers boast seven players that shoot 34% or more from three and two of them are big men.
Nik Stauskas may be an X-Factor for the Blazers. He’s a streaky three-point shooter, but when he’s hot he’s difficult to stop. Against his former squad, the Canadian may have something to prove.
The Sacramento Kings are a team filled with absolute snipers from three-point land. With nine, that’s right, nine player that shoot over 34% from three they’ve become a dangerous matchup for many teams.
Specifially, Bjelica, Hueld, and Shumpert are three players averaging over 40% from three. While the majority of those attempts are assisted, it speaks to the playmaking and maturity of the young Kings to follow-through as they have.
The Blazers will surely key in on their shooters. With long and switchable defenders like Leonard and Aminu, the Kings will have to do more than get open via screen. With his athleticism, don’t be surprised to see Willy Cauley-Stein to be given more opportunities as a finisher.
The Trail Blazers have no roster changes of note.
F-C Marvin Bagley (knee) expected to be reevaluated within the week.
Damian Lillard
27.1 PPG | 5.8 APG | 4.7 RPG | 0.9 SPG | 0.5 BPG | 2.6 TOV | .452 FG% | .401 3P%
De’Aaron Fox
18.0 PPG | 7.7 APG | 3.6 RPG | 1.7 SPG | 0.6 BPG | 3.1 TOV | .468 FG% | .393 3P%
Damian Lillard and De’Aaron Fox are two of the speediest players in the NBA. One a three-point gunner, the other more inclined to finish at the rack, both players bring similar skill sets and leadership qualities to the court.
Damian Lillard is an absolute star. At this point in his career, it is very clear what Lillard will attempt to do to defenders. Back them up to create a shooting opportunity or beat them off the bounce in order to score at the rim. The Kings have stout interior defenders, so we’ll see how Lillard responds.
De’Aaron Fox has improved in almost every category this season. He’s settled into his role as primary playmaker and his speed is almost unmatched in the NBA. He will surely look to challenge Lillard and McCollum in order to see how he fares against some of the best at his position.
The odds will be updated as they are made available.
NBA
STARTS IN 1 DAY
Heat vs Nuggets Game 3 Odds: Stealing Home Court
NBA | 7 hours ago | Grant Mitchell
NBA
FIBA World Cup 2023 Winner Odds: The World's Biggest Basketball Competition Tips Off
NBA | 8 hours ago | Christian Jope
NBA
Best NBA Promo Codes, Betting Bonuses 2023
Bonuses | 5 June, 2023 | Richard Janvrin
Christian Jope is a writer, social media strategist, and data analyst. A Queen’s University Alumni, Christian is an author and social media strategist with Raptors Cage, while also working closely with MLSE and Canada Basketball through community-driven events.
Email: [email protected]
More info on Christian Jope
© Rebel Penguin ApS 2023 (a subsidiary of Gaming Innovation Group Inc.)
We support responsible gambling. If you feel like you're losing control over your gambling experience, call
1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, PA, WV), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-522-4700 (NV), 1-800-522-4700
(CO,
TN), 1-855-2CALLGA (IL), 1-800-270-7117 (MI).
WSN.com is run by iGaming Cloud Inc (a Gaming Innovation Group Subsidiary) and is registered with the New Jersey
Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) under affiliate vendor ID
89744,
with the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) under certificate of registration number SWR-000148, approved by
the
Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board as a gaming service provider, under certificate registration number
117656-1,
possesses a Vendor Minor sports betting license from the Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission (account
number 94414163), granted a vendor registration number VR007603-20-001 by the Michigan Gaming Control Board,
an
interim Sports Wagering Supplier license, under license number SWS 066, issued by the West Virginia Lottery
Commission, a sports betting vendor registration, under registration number #100400, issued by the Director
of
Gaming Licensing and Investigations of the Virginia Lottery to operate in the State of Virginia, and a
Vendor
Registration issued by the Sports Wagering Committee of the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation.
Advertising disclosure: WSN contains links to online retailers on its website. When people click on our
affiliate links and make purchases, WSN earns a commission from our partners, including ESPN and various
sportsbooks.