Nuggets vs Kings Prediction, Picks & Player Props: Will Sacramento cover for the 20th time this season?

After winning one of the most exciting games of the NBA season on Sunday night, the Denver Nuggets return to the court tonight as they visit the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center, with the action set to tip off at 10:00 pm ET.

The Nuggets (21-11, 9-8 away) enter tonight’s NBA slate on a four-game win streak and sit atop the Western Conference standings, a half-game ahead of the New Orleans Pelicans.

On Sunday night, Denver outlasted the Phoenix Suns 128-125 in overtime thanks to a 41-point, 15-rebound, 15-assist triple-double by Nikola Jokic and 28 points and 13 rebounds from Aaron Gordon, who delivered the dunk of the year in the final minute of OT to help seal the win.

EVERY ANGLE OF AARON GORDON'S RIDICULOUS DUNK OF THE YEAR CANDIDATE ?? pic.twitter.com/bFEzWMvRHD

— NBA (@NBA) December 26, 2022

The Kings are playing for the first time since Friday, when they fell 125-111 to the visiting Washington Wizards. Even with the loss to one of the NBA’s worst teams, the Kings are still in the top six in the Western Conference standings over a third of the way through the season.

What bets should you make on tonight’s matchup in California’s capital city? Read on for our Nuggets vs Kings prediction, as well as our favorite Denver vs Sacramento betting picks.

Denver Nuggets vs Sacramento Kings Odds

Game odds are via BetOnline as of Tuesday, December 27, 2022, at 7:30 pm ET. This article may also include odds from our other recommended legal sports betting sites.

Spread

• Denver Nuggets -3.5 (-110)
• Sacramento Kings +3.5 (-110)

Over/Under

• Over 239 (-110)
• Under 239 (-110)

Moneyline

• Denver Nuggets -158
• Sacramento Kings +134

Will Domantas Be Able to Dominate Despite Injury?

In the fourth quarter of Friday’s loss to the Wizards, Kings star Domantas Sabonis suffered a fractured ligament in his right thumb.

The two-time All-Star is listed as questionable for tonight, but according to reports, he plans to play through the injury.

Sacramento Kings star Domantas Sabonis has suffered a fractured ligament in his right thumb. He will attempt to play through the injury and is listed questionable Tuesday vs. Denver.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 27, 2022

If he does take the court tonight against the Nuggets, it will be interesting to see how effective he can be with the injury.

It couldn’t have come at a worse time for Sabonis, who is in the midst of an outstanding stretch.

Last Three Games for Domantas Sabonis

• 12/19: 28 points, 23 rebounds, seven assists vs Charlotte
• 12/21: 13 points, 21 rebounds, 12 assists vs Los Angeles Lakers
• 12/23: 20 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists vs Washington

Sabonis has had at least 13 rebounds in each of his last five games and 10+ boards in 14 of his last 16 games, and he has recorded at least seven assists in each of his last five games.

Maintaining those streaks will not come easy with an injured thumb, but in three matchups with the Nuggets last season, he had 19, 14, and 16 rebounds.

If Sabonis can pull down 15 boards for the fourth straight game, there’s a good chance that the Kings will be able to pull out the win, as they are 6-2 this season when he has had 15+ rebounds.

Denver Nuggets vs Sacramento Kings Prediction and Picks

Nuggets vs Kings Prediction: Nuggets to win

Nuggets vs Kings Picks: Nuggets -3.5 & Nuggets team total over 120.5

Denver is riding high right now, and they have won their last five games against teams that currently sit at .500 or better.

However, our consensus picks heavily back the Kings to both cover the spread and get the win straight up tonight.

All of our sources favor Sacramento to cover the spread for the 20th time this season, while 67 percent of them also back the Kings to end Denver’s win streak.

I like what the Kings are doing this season, and they are 9-8 ATS against teams that currently sit at .500 or better. But with Denver’s form and Sabonis’s injury in mind, I can’t quite get behind the home team tonight.

Denver’s team total is 120.5 at some spots–BetMGM and BetUS are a couple of those places–and 121.5 at others, so if you can grab it at 120.5, do so. The Kings have given up 121 or more points eight times in their 14 losses this season, while the Nuggets have scored 121+ in 11 of their 21 wins.

Denver Nuggets vs Sacramento Kings Player Props

• Jamal Murray over 20.5 points (Best Value: BetOnline)

Murray had 26 points in Sunday’s win over the Suns, and he had 23 in the game before that, a win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday.

Murray has scored in single figures twice in his last five games, so there is some risk involved in backing him to keep the scoring going tonight. But he scores higher on the road than at home, against Western Conference opposition than Eastern Conference opposition, and in wins than losses.