Sean Barnard details his preview and prediction for the Sacramento Kings vs. Memphis Grizzlies NBA matchup.

It is a light three-game slate of NBA action tonight. Tipping off at 8:00 p.m. ET, the Sacramento Kings will face off with the Memphis Grizzlies.

This is the fourth and final matchup between these two Western Conference opponents. The Memphis Grizzlies have picked up victories in each of the three matchups to this point. They won 137-96 on November 20th, 115-107 on November 30th, and 129-125 on February 4th to this point.

Looking at the odds for tonight, the Grizzlies enter as 3.5-point favorites and hold -162 Moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Grizzlies are +136 underdogs with the game total set at 233.5 points.

This article will look at a preview and prediction for the Monday night matchup.

Kings vs. Grizzlies Preview

It has been a bleak season for the Sacramento Kings. They enter this matchup with a 12-46 record on the season, which is the worst record in the NBA. Sacramento has especially struggled of late and enters this matchup on a 16-game losing streak, with their last victory coming on January 16th against the Wizards. On the season, the Kings are a league-worst 22-36 against the spread, and the game total has remained under in 30 of their 58 games played.

Doug Christie’s squad is averaging 110.1 points per game, which ranks 29th in the league. The Kings also rank 28th in offensive rating, 22nd in field goal percentage, 29th in three-point percentage, and 17th in pace. Defensively, opponents are scoring 121.1 points per game against Sacramento, which ranks 28th in the league. They also rank 28th in defensive rating, 30th in opponents’ field goal percentage, and 20th in opponents’ three-point percentage.

Injuries have hit this Kings’ team hard in the second half of the season. Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis, and De’Andre Hunter have each been shut down for the year with season-ending surgeries. Dylan Cardwell also suffered a sprained ankle last week, which is expected to keep him out for three more weeks. Of the available bodies, DeMar DeRozan headlines the production with 18.6 points, 3.8 assists, and 3.1 rebounds. Russell Westbrook adds 15.0 points, 6.4 assists, and 5.5 rebounds per game. Keegan Murray, Maxime Raynaud, and Malik Monk also play key roles in their rotation.

It has been a turbulent season for the Memphis Grizzlies as well. They hold a record of 21-34 on the season, which slots them at 11th place in the Western Conference. The Grizzlies have split their two games back from the All-Star break, beating the Utah Jazz and losing to the Miami Heat in the previous game. On the season, Memphis has gone 25-30 against the spread, and the game total is 26-29 to the over/under.

Memphis is producing 115.5 points per game, which ranks 17th in the NBA. They rank 25th in offensive rating, 23rd in field goal percentage, 21st in three-point percentage, and sixth in pace. Defensively, the Grizzlies are allowing 117.7 points per game, which ranks 22nd in the league. They rank 17th in defensive rating, 15th in opponents’ field goal percentage, and 19th in opponents’ three-point percentage.

The outlook for the season shifted with Jaren Jackson Jr. being traded away at the deadline. They are also dealing with a number of injuries for tonight’s game. Zach Edey and Brandon Clarke remain sidelined for the foreseeable future, while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has been ruled out for the season. Ja Morant continues to work through his UCL injury, which will keep him out at least another week. Cedrick Coward and Santi Aldama have been ruled out for tonight, while Kyle Anderson is listed as doubtful. Ty Jerome has suited up for just seven games with the Grizzlies and is posting averages of 19.3 points and 5.7 assists across this stretch. Jaylen Wells, Taylor Hendricks, Walter Clayton Jr., and GG Jackson are each young players to keep an eye on as Memphis attempts to establish its long-term core.

Kings vs. Grizzlies Prediction, Best Bet

Neither of these teams has particularly lofty expectations for the remainder of the season. Each side is also without some of their top talents due to injury and has shifted the focus to building for next season.

But there is a level of hunger and competitiveness on this Grizzlies roster that has not existed for the Kings of late. Not only is Sacramento on a 16-game losing streak, but nine of these have come by 13+ points, and they have only covered the spread in five of these games. They lost 139-122 to the Spurs, 131-94 to the Magic, 121-93, and 120-94 in their past four games. The Kings were the favorites over this Grizzlies team at home in the previous matchup and lost 129-125 outright.

While the Jaren Jackson Jr. trade signaled that the Grizzlies outlook for this season is no longer to compete, the return of the young talent they brought is noteworthy. Players like Walter Clayton Jr., Taylor Hendricks, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Jaylen Wells, and GG Jackson are each looking to establish themselves as foundational pieces of their future. Expect them to bring high levels of effort and make the most of their auditions for future roles.

In contrast, much of the Kings’ roster is made up of aging veterans who simply have not been good enough. Neither DeMar DeRozan nor Russell Westbrook carries the same level of impact on team success that they did at their peak. Outside these two veterans, Sacramento lacks the necessary level of offensive creators to generate consistent points.

Expect the home crowd and young legs on Memphis’ roster to be the difference in this matchup. There is simply not enough reason for belief in this Kings’ roster to back them. This Sacramento team has not won a game in a month and has looked increasingly concerning in recent games. The Kings are averaging just 100.8 points over their past four, while allowing 127.8 points across this stretch. Memphis is undefeated against this Sacramento team this year, and the Kings have provided little evidence for why tonight will be different. Expect the Grizzlies to put forth a more spirited effort in tonight’s matchup and cover the 3.5-point spread with the home crowd behind them.

Best Bet: Grizzlies -3.5 (-112)