Kings vs. Jazz prediction and odds for opening night (Sacramento undervalued on road)
By Peter Dewey
The Sacramento Kings are fresh off a playoff berth in the 2022-23 season, and they find themselves as road favorites in their season opener against the Utah Jazz.
However, the Kings are just slight favorites despite their impressive 2022-23 season – which included an elite record on the road from a betting perspective (29-15 against the spread).
De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, and company are out to show that last season wasn’t a fluke, and the Kings could do that by winning in a tough environment against what should be an inferior opponent in Utah.
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Kings vs. Jazz odds, spread, and total
Kings vs. Jazz how to watch
- Date: Wednesday, Oct. 25
- Game Time: 9:00 p.m. EST
- Venue: Vivint Smart Home Arena
- How to Watch (TV): NBC Sports California, NBA League Pass
- Sacramento Kings Record: 0-0
- Utah Jazz Record: 0-0
Kings vs. Jazz injury reports
Sacramento Kings injury report
- Chris Duarte (questionable, knee)
- Trey Lyles (out, calf)
Utah Jazz injury report
- No injuries to report
Kings vs. Jazz key players to watch
Sacramento Kings
Keegan Murray: The sharpshooting young forward could be in a spot to make a leap this season in this Kings offense. Murray flashed his scoring potential at times last season, and he should have even more confidence in Year 2.
De’Aaron Fox: Fox had the best season of his career in the 2022-23 season, and he is the catalyst for the fast-paced attack that put the Kings atop the NBA in offensive rating.
Utah Jazz
Lauri Markkanen: Coming off an All-Star season, all eyes are on Lauri Markkanen to see if he can repeat that success in his second season in Utah.
John Collins: Acquired in a deal with the Atlanta Hawks this offseason, Collins is hoping a fresh start can return him to the form he had in the 2020-21 season.
Kings vs. Jazz prediction and pick
I think the Kings are a little undervalued in this spot, making them a great pick on the moneyline to win this matchup.
I broke down that pick in my NBA Best Bets column on BetSided on Wednesday:
The Sacramento Kings were one of the best teams in the NBA last season, earning the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference.
They did that by posting the best against the spread record on the road in the NBA – going 29-15 ATS in road games in the 2022-23 campaign.
Now, they enter the 2023-24 season as a slight favorite against Lauri Markkanen and the Utah Jazz. Utah didn’t make major upgrades, although it did add John Collins in a trade with Atlanta.
Still, I’m not sold on the Jazz taking a major leap this season after the team wilted down the stretch of the 2022-23 campaign.
The Kings had the No. 1 offense in the NBA last season, and I don’t see that changing much against a Utah team that was 23rd in the league in defensive rating by season’s end.
The Jazz competed last season because of a career season from Lauri Markkanen, but the team didn’t add much in the offseason and traded away pieces at last season’s deadline. I think the oddsmakers are giving Utah too much credit against a Kings team that was great on the road last season.
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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
Find Peter Dewey’s NBA betting record here (futures included). You can also follow my daily plays on BetStamp here.