Sacramento Kings vs LA Clippers Odds, Player Props & Picks (Dec. 12)

Sports Betting Dime

12 December 2023

Sacramento Kings vs LA Clippers Odds, Player Props & Picks (Dec. 12)

Odds as of Dec. 12, 2023, at ESPN Bet. All users can take advantage of a special ESPN Bet odds boost for this game: James Harden and Domantas Sabonis both to record a double-double, which has been boosted from +350 to +400.

Kings Demolish Nets for Fifth Win in Seven Games

Setting a franchise record with 25 threes, the Kings romped to a 131-118 win over Brooklyn last night in Sacramento. De’Aaron Fox had a team-high 29 points and eight assists, almost right on his season average of 30.4 PPG, while Keegan Murray added 24 points and Domantas Sabonis had 15 points and a monstrous 16 rebounds.

The win was the fifth in seven games for the Kings, who would hold the West’s #5 seed in the NBA playoff bracket if the postseason started today.

The Kings were able to tread water when Fox was out for five games, going 2-3 without their star guard. With Fox healthy, they are 11-5 on the season, including wins over the Lakers (twice), Cavaliers, Mavericks, Nuggets, Suns, and Timberwolves – all top-eight teams in their respective conferences.

Clippers Gut Out Win Over Shorthanded Blazers

Last night’s 132-127 win over Portland improved LAC’s win streak to four games and put them two games over .500 for the first time since October. But they didn’t come close to covering as 13-point favorites against a Blazers team that was missing both Malcolm Brogdon, Deandre Ayton, and Jerami Grant.

For the second straight game, Kawhi Leonard spearheaded the offense, which is welcome news for head coach Ty Lue. Leonard needed just 19 shots to put up 34 points, going 11-of-19 from the field (57.9%), including 3-of-8 from three, and 9-of-9 from the free-throw line. Paul George and James Harden added 20 points apiece, and the latter continued his excellent shooting from beyond the arc this season, going 3-of-6. A lifetime 36.3% from three, Harden is now averaging a career-best 41.0% from deep this year.

While the Clippers are only 12-10 on the year, and an ugly 9-12 against the spread, the advanced metrics are indicative of a more dominant team. LAC is currently eighth in the NBA in defensive rating (110.9) and 13th in offensive rating (114.9), which is good enough for the the sixth-best net rating in the league (+4.0).

Kings vs Clippers Player Props

Player props and odds from the DraftKings Sportsbook app on Dec. 12.

The NBA player props for this game list a sparse five players, but they include the biggest stars on both sides. Fox has the highest point total of the night at 29.5, while Leonard – coming off 41 and 34-point performances his past two games – is listed at 26.5.

Sabonis has the highest rebound over/under at 12.5, nearly double any other player listed. Curiously, his over/under threes has a line of +170 for over 0.5. He’s actually hit at least one triple in four of his past seven games (five total) and is shooting 42.3% from beyond the arc. That includes going 2-of-3 from deep when these teams played in November.

Kings vs Clippers Prediction

I was all over the Kings when these teams met in Sacramento and the Clippers were listed as road favorites. I didn’t expect the younger Kings, who were playing the second of a back-to-back on that night as well, to be terribly affected by fatigue.

I was wrong. But I stand by the analysis that Sacramento is better equipped to deal with fatigue than this ageing LAC roster. Leonard, George, and Harden are 32, 33, and 34 years old, respectively. They’re also the only Clippers averaging more than 12.3 PPG.

I am also going to bet on Sabonis to hit at least one three at a tantalizing price of +170. As mentioned, he’s hit at least one triple in four of his past seven games, and hit two of three attempts against the Clippers on Nov. 29. LAC big man Ivica Zubac will have a difficult time staying with the more-mobile Sabonis if the Lithuanian pulls his away from the hoop.

SAC vs LAC Picks: