The Sacramento Kings (0-4) and New Orleans Pelicans (0-3) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tip-off is set for 8:00 p.m. ET from the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. The game will broadcast live on Gulf Coast Sports.
The Pelicans are 5.5-point favorites over the Kings on the spread, with the over/under set at 236.5 total points. The Pelicans are -215 moneyline favorites to win outright, while the Kings are listed as +180 underdogs to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Kings vs. Pelicans predictions and NBA picks for Thursday, October 29.
Kings vs Pelicans Prediction
- Kings vs Pelicans pick: Darius Acuff Jr. Over 22.5 Points (-114, DraftKings)
My Kings vs. Pelicans best bet is Darius Acuff to score over 22.5 points, with the best price currently available at DraftKings. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
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Kings vs Pelicans Odds
- Kings vs Pelicans spread: Pelicans -5.5 (-112), Kings +5.5 (-108)
- Kings vs Pelicans over/under: 236.5 (-110o / -110u)
- Kings vs Pelicans moneyline: Kings +180, Pelicans -215
Kings vs Pelicans NBA Preview
Sacramento Kings Betting Preview
This game is a staple for the League Pass sickos out there who want to tune in and see which of these struggling teams is finally going to capture their first win of the season.
The Sacramento Kings are employing a fascinating, albeit chaotic, strategy right now.
From the exact moment they drafted Darius Acuff Jr., the Kings essentially handed him the keys to the franchise and told him to do whatever he wants. They have completely orbited their entire offense around a rookie.
I am not entirely sure if this unprecedented level of immediate usage is actually good for his long-term development or conducive to winning basketball games, but for individual statistical output and prop betting, it is an absolute goldmine.
New Orleans Pelicans Betting Preview
The New Orleans Pelicans have been surprisingly competitive in multiple games this season, but they are entering this matchup disadvantaged on the second night of a back-to-back.
The Pelicans looked genuinely awful last night, and playing on short rest is going to inhibit their ability to play high-level defense.
If there was ever a team that would typically bring defensive resistance to a game like this, it would be the Pelicans, but the heavy legs from the grueling schedule spot negate a large portion of that threat.
This game is going to be incredibly sloppy and fast-paced, which sets up a perfect environment for a high-volume shooter to dominate the box score.
Kings vs Pelicans Pick, Betting Analysis
To be clear, this is not a short-term endorsement of what Acuff will become as an efficient NBA player, but strictly a mathematical play on his absurd current volume.
Through his first four games, he has scored 12, 33, 22, and 19 points while hoisting an outrageous 24, 26, 23, and 20 shot attempts.
Acuff literally hasn't had a single game with fewer than 20 shots as a professional basketball player.
Yes, his efficiency is currently putrid—shooting roughly 34 percent from the field and 21 percent from deep—but the sheer volume and ability to get to the free-throw line (he shot 12 free throws a few nights ago) make him matchup-proof for this specific line.
Even a slight positive regression in his shooting splits toward 38 percent will easily smash this over, given the steady green light he operates with.
I am betting the over on Acuff's points prop, which should hover around 20.5 (and if you find a 19.5, that's even better).
Pick: Darius Acuff Jr. Over 22.5 Points (-114, DraftKings)
