Pro Hoops on Friday and we will see the Sacramento Kings travel to Memphis, Tennessee to take on the Memphis Grizzlies. The game is scheduled for an 8:00 pm (Eastern) start time and will be televised on Comcast SportsNet California (Sacramento) and SportSouth (Memphis). Currently the odds for the game have Memphis favored by 10 points while the total sits at 191. Check out Sportsbook Spy to see who the Public is taking on all of today's games.
Free Analysis: Sacramento arrives in town having won two straight. Sure, the victories came at the expense of Cleveland and Washington - the two worst teams in the Eastern Conference - but after a four-game skid that saw the Kings surrender an average of 117.8 points, any victories were good for their collective psyche. Sacramento can match its season high with a rare victory in Memphis, where the Kings have won only three times in the last 16 matchups. Sacramento's two-game winning streak has coincided with the return of Tyreke Evans into the starting lineup. Evans had missed 11 games with a sore knee and came off the bench in his first three games back. Since rejoining the starting unit, Evans scored 18 points on 6-for-6 shooting in the win over the Cavaliers before turning in a stellar all-around effort against the Wizards, scoring 21 points to go with eight rebounds, eight assists and three steals Sacramento is ranked 12th in the league in scoring offense, putting up an average of 97.6 points per game. The only problem is Sacramento just can't seem to stop anyone as the Kings are giving up better than 103 points per outing.
The Memphis Grizzlies mauled the Sacramento Kings by 32 points on Jan. 7, a rout that was part of an impressive four-game winning streak. Things have since taken a dramatic downturn for the Grizzlies, who are the ones absorbing the beatings during their current three-game losing streak. As it prepares for a rematch with the visiting Kings on Friday, Memphis will be attempting to get back on track after an ugly stretch that has produced three straight defeats by at least 20 points. Memphis' string of dismal performances is hard to comprehend. The Grizzlies have averaged a mere 79.3 points during the skid while surrendering 102 points - nearly a dozen higher than the club's season average. "I'm at a loss for words right now," coach Lionel Hollins admitted. Burly forward Zach Randolph attributed the malaise to the trade rumors swirling around him and leading scorer Rudy Gay . "We're mentally up and down," Randolph said. "All this trade talk definitely has something to do with (it)." The Grizzlies are dominant on defense as they are allowing just 90.4 points per outing, giving them the second ranked scoring defense in the league.
Free Pick: I am going with the Kings in this one. The Kings have won 2 in a row and yes they have been vs Cleveland and Washington, but those two wins did give them some confidence and I feel they will show up with a big outing in this one. The two game win streak has coincided with the return of Tyreke Evans and he and Demarcus Cousins for a very nice 1-2 punch for the Kings. Allot of trade rumors are swirling around Memphis these days and It may be distracting this team. They have lost 3 in a row by 20+ and are just not playing as a team right now. Their defense has been one of the better in the league, but they have allowed 102 ppg in their last 3 and now take on a Kings team that is healthy and that averages 97.6 ppg. Memphis may be without Randolph (Strained Back) and his 25 double doubles. I feel a healthy Kings team with revenge for an earlier 32 pint beatdown will keep this one close.
-$25 of picks FREE! No Obligation - No Credit Card Required - Becoming a member is Fast and Free!
Get more Free Picks from the Pregame Pros HERE.
Be sure and check out Pregame.tv every week for our videos that include handicapping tips, Webinars, analysis and Free Plays.
NBA Free Picks: Sacramento at Memphis (Best Bet)
What NBA bettors need to know about Sacramento Kings at Memphis Grizzlies on Friday (1/18/13) - a best bet from Pregame.com's Bryan Leonard, with Marco D'Angelo and host Scott Spreitzer.