It’s the second of a back-to-back and a quick one-game return home for the Raptors on Wednesday night as they host DeMar DeRozan and the tanking Sacramento Kings. Toronto is -13.5 on the NBA odds with a total of 226.5.

Kings vs. Raptors NBA Betting Odds

In some ways, Wednesday sets up as a bit of a trap for Toronto because it had a potential Eastern Conference playoff preview in Detroit on Tuesday night and then heads right back out on the road for two more games this weekend after hosting the Kings. Also very easy to overlook a 100 per cent tanking opponent.

Sacramento made a few trades ahead of this year’s deadline but held on to former Raptors franchise icon DeMar DeRozan even though the 36-year-old would have helped a contender. The Kings couldn’t really find anyone to take on DeRozan’s three-year, $73 million (US) contract, which has one more season to go. They likely try to peddle him again this summer. The franchise already has shut down arguably its two best players in guard Zach LaVine and former All-Star big man Domantas Sabonis. They are both likely to be shopped this summer, too, with the team in a full-in rebuild. Again.

Toronto is 17-12 all-time as the home club in the series and eyes a season sweep as it rolled 122-109 in California’s capital city on Jan. 21. The Dinos blew it open by outscoring the Kings 43-21 in the third. Scottie Barnes scored 14 of his 23 points in that quarter. Russell Westbrook scored 23 points for the Kings and LaVine had 19.

The teams have split the past 10 meetings overall both SU and ATS, while the over-under is 6-4.

Sacramento Kings

How hard are the Kings trying to lose? In their four-game skid, they have dropped three by double digits including an embarrassing 17-point loss Sunday at equally-tanking Brooklyn. Wednesday concludes a five-game trip through the Eastern Conference.

DeMar DeRozan was held out Sunday but will play in his return to Toronto. He leads all active Kings in scoring at 18.5 PPG. DeRozan continues to be the mid-range king, ranking first in the NBA this season in mid-range field goals (224).

Excellent Sixth Man Malik Monk also missed Sunday but will play. Out are Russell Westbrook and Keegan Murray.

One bright spot this season has been rookie second-round pick Maxime Raynaud out of Stanford. The 7-footer is averaging 12.0 points and 7.0 rebounds and ranks second among all rookies in total rebounds.

The team also may have found another steal in undrafted free agent Dylan Cardwell. He leads all NBA rookies in rebounds at 7.5 per game and is second in blocks at 1.3. The Kings are 3-17 SU in their past 20 road games.

Toronto Raptors

Needless to say, the Raptors seem likely to sit a key player or two in the second of a back-to-back after losing 127-116, in Detroit on Tuesday as the Pistons clinched their first division title in 18 years.

Guard Immanuel Quickley missed a fifth straight game with a foot injury so he’s almost surely out Wednesday too. Brandon Ingram was in question Tuesday after missing the previous game with a minor injury but had 22 points, second on the club behind RJ Barrett’s 24. I’d be surprised if one of them doesn’t take a seat in such a winnable game.

Jakob Poeltl doesn’t play both ends of a back-to-back so you won’t see him Wednesday barring something unusual. Collin Murray-Boyles was questionable Tuesday, but the rookie had one of his best games with a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds off the bench. CMB could start this one if he plays and Poeltl doesn’t. Toronto is 5-0 ATS in its past five at home.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Kings vs. Raptors?