The Houston Rockets head to Sacramento to face the Kings on Thursday night at 10:00 PM ET. The game is on TNT, truTV, and Max. Can the Kings cover the 3.5-point spread as home favorites? Keep reading for our Rockets vs. Kings betting prediction.
The Houston Rockets are 27-12 straight up in the regular season this year. They are 23-16 ATS this season.
The Sacramento Kings are 20-20 straight up in the regular season this year. They are 15-22-3 ATS this season.
Rockets vs. Kings Matchup & Betting Odds
531 Houston Rockets (+3.5) at 532 Sacramento Kings (-3.5); o/u 226.5
10:00 p.m. ET, Thursday, January 16, 2025
Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
TV: TNT/truTV/Max
Rockets vs. Kings Public Betting Information
Our NBA Public Betting Information page indicates that 58% of public bettors are currently backing the Rockets when it comes to the spread. This information is subject to change throughout the day, however, so be sure to check the link so you’re receiving the most up-to-date public betting data.
Houston Rockets Daily Fantasy Spin
Rockets power forward Jabari Smith Jr. will miss Thursday’s game against the Kings with a broken left hand. Smith suffered the injury at the beginning of January, and will likely be re-evaluated in 2-4 weeks. Across 33 starts this season, Jabari Smith Jr. is averaging 11.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.
Houston forward Tari Eason (leg) and center Jock Landale (personal) both missed Wednesday night’s game against Denver. The status of both players is unclear at the time of this writing. Eason would be the bigger loss of the two as he’s putting up 11.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game this year.
Sacramento Kings Daily Fantasy Spin
Kings shooting guard Malik Monk has been nursing a groin injury, but he’s probable to play against the Rockets on Thursday. Monk is averaging a career-best 17.2 points per game while playing a career-high 31.2 minutes per game this season.
Sacramento reserve point guard Jordan McLaughlin will sit out Thursday’s contest due to personal reasons. McLaughlin is averaging 2.1 points per game in 7.0 minutes per contest for the Kings this year.
Rockets vs. Kings NBA Betting Trends
Houston is 12-8-1 ATS when playing on no rest since the start of last season.
Houston is an NBA-best 20-9-1 ATS when playing with the rest disadvantage since the beginning of last season.
Sacramento is 22-31-2 ATS as a home favorite since the start of last season.
Sacramento is 43-51-3 ATS in non-division games since the beginning of last season.
Rockets vs. Kings NBA Prediction:
Houston is a young team with a good coach. Those two factors mean that playing on the second night of a back-to-back doesn’t seem to bother them. The Rockets are 4-3 ATS this season when playing on no rest and 7-4 ATS when playing with the rest disadvantage this year. What’s more, Houston has had some success against Sacramento of late. The Rockets are 3-2 straight up and 4-1 against the spread in their last 5 games against the Kings. I know it’s a lot to ask playing on the second night of a back-to-back, but I think Houston will be up to the challenge. The Rockets are the pick.