NBA: Toronto Raptors vs. Sacramento Kings Predictions, Odds for Jan. 5
Raptors vs Kings Preview
The Raptors (14-20), as most people now know, pulled the trigger last weekend, finalizing a huge trade with the New York Knicks – SF O.G. Anunoby, PG Malachi Flynn and C Precious Achiuwa to the Knicks for SF RJ Barrett, SG Immanuel Quickley and a draft pick coming back to Toronto. The Kings are a Top 10 NBA team now, sitting at 20-13, fifth in the Western Conference.
Raptors vs Kings Details
- Date: Jan. 5, 2024
- Time: 10:00 p.m. EST
- Location: Golden 1 Center (Sacramento, CA)
- How to watch: TV: Sportsnet; Radio: Sportsnet 590 The Fan
Raptors Insights
The Raptors are 2-0 since the Knicks trade, after knocking off the Memphis Grizzlies Wednesday night, 116-111. Quickley led the Raps with 26 points, one point shy of his season high. Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes had 24 and 20 points, respectively. The Knicks trade changed the narrative in Toronto – would a scuffling team jettison its tradeable assets, like Anunoby and Siakam, for drafts picks and younger players, throwing the towel down for the season and rebuilding their future around Barnes? Or hold the line and try for one of those NBA Play-In tournament spots?
Turns out they did a bit of both – through two games Quickley and the Canadian Barrett have slotted in nicely. SF Otto Porter is day-to-day with a knee injury. The Raptors are in the middle of a tough six-game west coast road swing, with games against Golden State Warriors, the L.A. Lakers, L.A. Clippers and Utah Jazz taking them through Jan. 12. Both the Raptors and the Kings rank top 5 in the NBA in assists.
Kings Insights
PG De’Aaron Fox has been a big part of the Kings offence this season – 29.4 PPG, 6.1 APG, 39 3P%, 47.4 FG%. The Kings take 41.1% of their shots from three-point distance, which is third in the NBA. The Raps lost an all-star defender in Anunoby. The question for them is if Quickley and Barrett can adequately fill the void facing teams as strong as the Kings. Kings head coach Mike Brown recently moved SG Chris Duarte into the starting lineup, replacing the struggling SF Kevin Huerter.
Player Props
Plenty of betting action around the Kings PF Keegan Murray, with Murray To Score 20+ Points and To Score 15+ Points, along with Quickley Over 17.5 points, leading the way at FanDuel this morning. Most bet player prop at PointsBet Canada is Siakam Over 24.5 Points. And at BetMGM for most bet player props so far, it’s Murray Over 15.5 Points, Quickley Over 17.5 Points and Barrett Over 4.5 Rebounds.
Raptors vs Kings Betting Odds: Our Picks & Predictions
- Moneyline: 2.64 (Raptors), 1.51 (Kings)
- Spread: +5 1.93 (Raptors), -5 1.89 (Kings)
- Over/Under: 238.00
The Raptors are big underdogs heading into this one, as they should be. The Kings are averaging 117.8 points per game, eighth in the NBA, and the Raptors are giving up on average 115.1 (17th). The Raptors are 18th in scoring (114 PPG). We’re going to bet the Under on this one and Kings ATS.
Odds as of 11:30 a.m. EST
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