by Chuck Sommers
Friday, Dec 10, 2021
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
Where to watch: Bally Sports Southeast-Charlotte, NBC Sports California
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Hornets -1
BetMGM: Kings -1.5
Caesars: PK
Season record
Kings: 11-14 (10th place, Western Conference)
Hornets: 14-13 (9th place, Eastern Conference)
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Kings - Hornets preview and analysis
Recent form
Kings: won three straight; won 142-130 vs. Magic on Wednesday
Hornets: lost five of six; lost 110-106 vs. 76ers on Wednesday
After consecutive losses at home this week to the same opponent, I like the Charlotte Hornets to get back on track at the Hive against the Sacramento Kings on Friday.
The Hornets lost two close battles with the Philadelphia 76ers, by three points in overtime and then by four off a ridiculous effort from Joel Embiid.
Charlotte has lost five of six with four of them coming by single digits and has entered another one of its cool-off spells and is just one game over .500 heading into Friday. But the Hornets have been dealing with their own mini outbreak of COVID-19 with Terry Rozier and LaMelo Ball in health and safety protocols, and now Ish Smith is also in the picture.
Gordon Hayward led the way with 31 points on 10 of 18 shooting, and Kelly Oubre also had 22 points.
Yet despite that, the Hornets are getting 1.5 points against the Kings who are favored for the third time since firing Luke Walton on Nov. 21. Sacramento has won three straight and are 5-2 since Alvin Gentry became the interim coach.
The Kings are coming off a 142-point effort against the banged-up Orlando Magic but also gave up 130 in the process.
"It's not acceptable. It's not going to be sustainable as we move forward," said Kings guard Tyrese Haliburton. "If we're not going to guard then we have to score and we did that tonight, but it's not something that we can continue to think that we are able to do."
Haliburton is right. It's not sustainable. That's always been the mantra for Gentry-coached teams, but it's impressive that the Hornets have been able to score as much as they have without some of their top scorers.
Prediction
Even though Charlotte is shorthanded, the Kings have to go on the road and win this game. The Hornets have scored well as of late and Sacramento has to control the leaky faucet that is their defense. I like the Hornets in a rebounding effort and get a much-needed victory. Hornets by 8
Betting trends
The Kings are 49-32 ATS in their last 81 road games.
The Kings are 18-7 ATS when playing four games or less in a 10-day span.
The Kings are 0-7 ATS when scoring 130 points or more the previous game.
The Hornets are 7-1 ATS as a home dog this season and 31-23 in their last 54.
The Hornets are 12-4 ATS in their last 16 off three straight overs.
Projected starting lineup
Kings:
PG: De’Aaron Fox
SG: Tyrese Haliburton
SF: Terence Davis
PF: Harrison Barnes
C: Tristan Thompson
SF: Terence Davis
PF: Harrison Barnes
C: Tristan Thompson
Hornets:
PG: Cody Martin
SG: Kelly Oubre Jr.
SF: Gordon Hayward
PF: Miles Bridges
C: P.J. Washington
SF: Gordon Hayward
PF: Miles Bridges
C: P.J. Washington
Key injuries
Kings: Richaun Holmes (out)
Hornets: LaMelo Ball (COVID, out), Terry Rozier (COVID, out), Ish Smith (COVID, out), Mason Plumlee (COVID & calf, out), Jalen McDaniels (out)
Statistical leaders
Kings:
Points: De’Aaron Fox – 20.6
Rebounds: Richaun Holmes – 9.3
Assists: Tyrese Haliburton – 5.7
Hornets:
Points: Miles Bridges – 20.2
Rebounds: LaMelo Ball – 7.7
Assists: LaMelo Ball – 8.3
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
