The Utah Jazz (20-47) and Sacramento Kings (17-51) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 10:00 p.m. ET from the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. The game will broadcast live on KJZZ.
The Kings are 3.5-point favorites over the Jazz on the spread (Kings -3.5), with the over/under set at 233.5 total points. Sacramento is a -155 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Utah is +130 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Jazz vs. Kings predictions and NBA picks for Sunday, March 15.
Jazz vs Kings Prediction, Pick
- Jazz vs Kings pick: Brice Sensabaugh Over 21.5 Points (-125)
My Kings vs. Jazz best bet is on Brice Sensabaugh to score over 21.5 points. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Jazz vs Kings Odds
| Jazz Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3.5 -115 | 233.5 -105o / -115u | +130 |
| Kings Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3.5 -105 | 233.5 -105o / -115u | -155 |
Jazz vs Kings NBA Preview
Last night, the Kings got a rare nationally televised game and upset the Clippers, 118-109, in Los Angeles. Maxime Raynaud, Precious Achiuwa and DeMar DeRozan all scored 23 points or more.
Russell Westbrook shot just 4-for-15 from the field, but recorded a triple-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. It was his 209th triple-double of his career, and it came both in his hometown and against one of his former teams.
The Kings began the week with the worst record in the league.
They have now won three of their last four games and improved to third in the NBA Draft lottery positions, though that may not be the best thing at this stage of the season.
With the bottom of the league jockeying for draft position, just two games separate the league's four worst records.
With that in mind, it will be interesting to see who plays for Sacramento on the second night of a back-to-back, though the Kings have not tanked as egregiously as the other bottom teams, particularly compared to their opponent tonight.
The Kings have not submitted an injury report as of this writing, but the Jazz have a lengthy list of players.
In addition to the players out for the season (Jaren Jackson Jr., Jusuf Nurkic and Walker Kessler), the Jazz remain without Lauri Markkanen.
Keyonte George will miss a couple of weeks with a hamstring strain. It would not be a surprise if he has played his last game this season.
Ace Bailey will also miss tonight's game as he is still in concussion protocol, and the team will rest Kyle Filipowski.
With these absences, the Jazz have lost eight of their last 10 games, though they have shown some fight in the first quarter.
Utah has cashed the first quarter moneyline in each of its last three games. In the last two, the Jazz jumped out to double-digit leads over the Knicks and Trail Blazers before proceeding to lose by double digits.
Jazz vs Kings Predictions, Betting Analysis
Brice Sensabaugh Over 21.5 Points / 25+ Points
In Brice Sensabaugh's last two games against the Kings, he has scored 20 points in 28 minutes and 19 points in 24 minutes.
Though he cleared his line on those nights, tonight we will need a few more baskets from him. That should not be much of an issue given the matchup.
The Kings are 24th in 3-pointers allowed to small forwards. Overall, they are 28th in points allowed and 3-point percentage defense.
Sensabaugh has made at least two 3s in seven straight games against the Kings. He has averaged 20 points when George and Markkanen are both out of the lineup, and his usage rate goes up to 30%.
That figure should go up with their additional injuries tonight. Sensabaugh has scored 29 and 31 points in his last two games, and I like him for at least 22 tonight.
Maxime Raynaud 25+ Points and Rebounds
While Filipowski being out will open up a few more shots for Sensabaugh, it will also make the Jazz a small group, considering their other big men are unavailable tonight.
Maxime Raynaud and Precious Achiuwa may not be Domantas Sabonis down low, but they have been an effective tandem.
Raynaud is averaging 16.2 points and 8.8 rebounds over his last 10 games.
He has averaged exactly 25 points and rebounds over that span, clearing 25 PR in six of his last eight games.
Precious Achiuwa 8+ Rebounds
Achiuwa has pulled down eight rebounds in nine of his last 10 games. He is averaging 10.1 rebounds in that span, and he may get there again.
In his last game against the Jazz, he played just 16 minutes but still grabbed five rebounds.
He has averaged 33 minutes per game of late, which should put him on par for eight to 10 rebounds again tonight.
Jazz vs Kings Parlay Picks
- Brice Sensabaugh 25+ Points
- Maxime Raynaud 25+ Points and Rebounds
- Precious Achiuwa 8+ Rebounds
Parlay Odds: +485 via DraftKings
Spread
I'm not taking either side of the spread.
Moneyline
I have no play on the moneyline tonight.
Over/Under
My Jazz vs. Kings betting prediction is Brice Sensabaugh over 21.5 points.
