The Portland Trail Blazers return from the NBA All-Star break on Thursday night when they face the host Sacramento Kings in a battle of Western Conference squads looking to get to the postseason. Portland is currently tied for 11th in the Western Conference with the Utah Jazz, a half-game behind the 10th-place Oklahoma City Thunder, and has alternated wins and losses in its last five games before the All-Star break.
Sacramento is atop the Pacific Division standings and third overall in the West, though the LA Clippers and Phoenix Suns are both within 1½ games of the Kings in both races, so they can’t afford a slow start after the break. This will be one of the more exciting NBA matchups of the night, so let’s take a close look at the game and the Trail Blazers vs. Kings odds and determine your best bets.
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Sacramento Kings Odds
The Trail Blazers vs. Kings odds have the home team favored to get the victory, as Sacramento is a six-point favorite. You can get -110 odds on that bet no matter which team you go with.
A moneyline bet will get you -210 odds on the Kings and +175 odds on the Trail Blazers. If you prefer to make an over/under wager, the number is set at 240.5 points, with -110 odds on both sides of the bet.
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Sacramento Kings Matchup Information
Portland Trail Blazers vs Sacramento Kings
Location of the Game: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Date and Time: Thursday, February 23, 2023, 10:00 PM ET
How to Watch: NBA League Pass | https://livestreamsports.co/
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Sacramento Kings Betting Preview
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers record isn’t great, but in a very tight Western Conference, a hot streak could push them up in a hurry. Heading into Thursday’s action, only three games separate the Trail Blazers in a 12th-place tie and the Phoenix Suns, who are currently fifth in the conference.
Of course, the key to any Portland success is guard Damian Lillard, who is coming off a win in the NBA 3-point contest over All-Star Weekend. Lillard ranks fourth in scoring in NBA player stats, averaging 31.4 points per game, while also ranking 10th with 7.3 assists per contest. Lillard was red-hot heading into the break, averaging 36.1 points in the month of February.
Forward Jerami Grant is averaging 20.8 points in his first season with Portland. He’s expected to return for this game after sitting out since Feb. 10 due to concussion protocol. Grant will be counted on to be a scorer immediately, as the Trail Blazers are dealing with a rash of injuries, including guard Anfernee Simons (21.4 points per game) and center Jusuf Nurkic (13.8 points, 9.4 rebounds).
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are one of the pleasant surprises of the NBA this season, and they’re hoping to finish up the season much the same way they began it. The Sacramento Kings schedule will take them on the road for three games after this contest, so getting a win before that trip is key.
Forward Domantas Sabonis earned a trip to the All-Star Game for his outstanding all-around play. The 26-year-old is averaging 18.8 points, league-best 12.3 rebounds, and 6.9 assists, leading the Kings in the latter two categories. Sabonis’ production in so many categories is a big reason the Kings are leading the league in scoring (119.5 points) when you look at the NBA team stats.
Another big reason is guard De’Aaron Fox, who was also among the players who participated in the All-Star Game. Fox leads Sacramento in scoring at 24.8 points per game while also averaging 4.3 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 1.1 steals.
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Sacramento Kings Betting Picks
This could be one of the best games on the NBA schedule tonight, as both teams can be very explosive offensively. Unfortunately for Portland, injuries are a big problem, which is why Sacramento is a favorite when you look at the Trail Blazers vs Kings odds.
We like Sacramento to win this game easily, covering the spread despite Lillard’s best efforts, but it will be a high-scoring game that hits the over.
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