The Sacramento Kings (19-53) and Charlotte Hornets (37-34) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. ET from the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. The game will be broadcast live on FDSSE.
The Hornets are 17.5-point favorites over the Kings on the spread (Hornets -17.5), with the over/under set at 231 total points. Charlotte is a -1400 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Sacramento is +850 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Kings vs. Hornets predictions and NBA picks for Tuesday, March 24.
Kings vs Hornets Prediction, Pick
- Kings vs Hornets pick: LaMelo Ball Over 26.5 Points & Assists (-120)
My Hornets vs. Kings best bet is on LaMelo Ball to combine for over 26.5 points and assists in tonight's game. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Kings vs Hornets Odds
| Kings Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+17.5 -110 | 231 -110o / -110u | +850 |
| Hornets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-17.5 -110 | 231 -110o / -110u | -1400 |
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Kings vs Hornets NBA Preview
The Hornets and Kings just faced off on March 11 in Sacramento, where Charlotte won by a score of 117-109, though they did fail to cover a double-digit spread.
Regardless, the Hornets are huge favorites tonight while mostly healthy, welcoming a compromised, tanking Kings team, as they continue to chase a playoff spot.
Let's look at the injury report.
For Charlotte, Tidjane Salaun (calf) remains out while Kon Knueppel popped up on the injury report as probable with lower back soreness.
You generally play when you are listed as probable, but monitor the injury report closely.
There's a chance Knueppel gets downgraded during the day and Charlotte uses this as a spot to rest their Rookie of the Year candidate, who has played all but one game this season.
The Kings' injury report has about a dozen names listed; not even joking.
Nique Clifford (foot), Zach LaVine (hand), Russell Westbrook (foot), Drew Eubanks (thumb), Keegan Murray (ankle), De'Andre Hunter (eye) and Domantas Sabonis (knee) are all out.
Killian Hayes (foot), Precious Achuiwa (back), Daeqwon Plowden (foot) and Isaiah Stevens (ankle) are all considered day-to-day, though Plowden is the only one of this group who is listed as probable.
Kings vs Hornets Predictions, Betting Analysis
My play here is LaMelo Ball over 26.5 points & assists.
LaMelo's challenge here will be minutes. He's been limited due to management of his history of ankle injuries — but per minute, he's played as well as he ever has as the floor general for this team; playing winning basketball, impacting games on a regular basis.
Numbers-wise, he backs it up as well, despite logging a career-low 27.6 minutes per game.
Ball is averaging about 20 points and seven assists, while having gone over 26.5 PA in four of his last seven outings, including a 30-and-5 performance against Sacramento.
Per 100 possessions, he's at 35.2 points (third-highest of his career) and a personal-best 12.7 dimes. He's third in the NBA in assist percentage behind Nikola Jokic and Cade Cunningham.
The game needs to be competitive enough through three quarters to warrant the minutes, so if Ball logs about 25-28, he should have the opportunities to live within striking distance — and amplify this reasoning if Kon gets downgraded and sits.
Pick: LaMelo Ball Over 26.5 Points & Assists (-120)
