Kings vs Clippers Predictions & Odds (Dec. 3)
- The LA Clippers are laying 1.5 points in the Kings vs Clippers odds on Saturday afternoon (Dec. 3)
- Paul George (hamstring) and Kawhi Leonard (ankle) are both questionable for this matchup
- The complete Kings vs Clippers odds are listed below, along with injury updates and predictions
If the Clippers are going to make a run at the title this season they’re going to need Paul George and Kawhi Leonard to stay healthy.
The duo has barely played together over the past year and a half, while neither player has been suiting up for Los Angeles lately.
That could change on Saturday when the Clippers (13-10, 7-5 home) host the Kings (11-9, 4-5 away). Both players are currently listed as questionable, and with multiple players already ruled out, LA is going to need their superstars in order to cover in the NBA odds.
Kings vs Clippers Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento Kings | +1.5 (-110) | +105 | O 224.5 (-110) |
| LA Clippers | -1.5 (-110) | -125 | U 224.5 (-110) |
Odds as of December 2 at FanDuel. Claim the FanDuel Sportsbook promo code to bet on the Kings vs Clippers game.
LA opened up as a 1.5-point favorite, in a contest that features a total of 224.5. Tip-off is set for 4 pm ET at the crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA, a building where the Clippers are 7-5 at this season.
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Los Angeles Clippers Betting Analysis
Leonard returned for just three games after a month long absence due to a nagging knee issue before he was hurt again. This time it was ankle injury and it’s sidelined him for the past five contests. George meanwhile, has missed the last six games with a hamstring problem and not surprisingly, LA hasn’t thrived in their absences.
The Clippers are 2-3 over their last five games, falling to Utah last time out. George and Leonard have played just four times together all season, and the team is 3-1 in those outings. The latest two instances where they were on the floor together produced five and 22-point victories for LA.
Since George and Leonard arrived in LA, the Clippers have won 69.4% of the regular season and playoff games when both stars play. If you extrapolate that record over a full season, it works out to a 57-25 mark, which would justify their short price tag in the NBA Championship odds.
Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are both QUESTIONABLE vs. the Kings, as expected.
Luke Kennard and Norman Powell are out for the Clippers.
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) December 3, 2022
Per Law Murray of the Athletic, the Clippers have outscored their opponents by 38 points with George and Leonard on the floor together this season over 65 minutes. They’ve also held their opponents to a defensive efficiency rating of 85.6 points per 100 possessions during that time, which would dwarf the best current defensive efficiency mark of any team over this entire season so far.
Bottom line, if George and Leonard are in, consider backing the Clips. As mentioned off the top, LA is desperate for the duo to return. That’s because both Norman Powell (undisclosed) and Luke Kennard (calf) have already been ruled out.
Sacramento Kings Betting Analysis
Sacramento enters play fresh off snapping a three-game losing streak. They took down Indiana 137-114, showcasing an offense that ranks fifth in offensive rating.
The Kings shot 50.5% from the field, and buried 16 triples. They outrebounded the Pacers by 11 and produced 23 more fast break points.
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle on the game vs the Sacramento Kings: "I didn’t have them prepared for what was coming.”
— Cameron Salerno (@cameronsalerno1) December 1, 2022
Prior to their three-game skid, Sacramento had won seven straight and were off to the team’s best start since the 2004-05 season. Losses to the Suns, Celtics and Hawks brought them back down to earth, but there’s no shame in losing to three playoff bound teams.
The Kings rank second in the NBA in scoring, and fourth in field goal percentage. The problem is, they can’t get stops on defense. Sacramento ranks 26th in scoring defense, and second last in opponent field goal percentage.
Kings vs Clippers Prediction
With the status of George and Leonard still up in the air, let’s lean into the trends for our prediction of this game. No team in basketball averages fewer points than the Clippers, which explains why so many of their games fall under the total.
LA games are 7-16 to the under this season, which is highest percentage of under games for any team in the league. 10 of the Clippers 12 home games have gone under the total, as did their only matchup with the Kings this season.
Sacramento is an elite offense but oddsmakers inflate the total of their games. As a result, the Kings have sen three of their past five games fall short of the number, while the under is 6-3 in their nine road tilts.
Pick: Under 224.5 (-110)
As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
