Free NBA Picks Today: Sacramento Kings vs Houston Rockets 1/13/23

The Houston Rockets (10-31, 4-17 Away) will try to slow down the league’s top scoring team when they head to face the Sacramento Kings (22-18, 13-9 Home) on Friday.

The teams face off in their second consecutive game against each other. Sacramento outplayed Houston 135-115 at Golden 1 Center on Wednesday, their third straight head-to-head win.

Domantas Sabonis led the Kings with 25 points, 14 rebounds, and nine assists. Jalen Green had 26 points in defeat. The Rockets are 15th in the Western Conference. The Kings are the fourth seed in the Western Conference.

The Kings’ victory on Wednesday was the teams’ only previous game this season. Green and Kevin Porter Jr., averaging the 21.3 and 19.2 points per game, respectively, are leading the Rockets in scoring this season. Porter Jr. also has dished 5.6 assists per game. Meanwhile, Alperen Sengun is grabbing 8.6 rebounds per game.

De’Aaron Fox (23.8 ppg) has powered the Kings on offense. Sabonis is recording 12.4 rebounds, most in the NBA, and 6.8 assists per game. With 119.2 points per game, the Kings are the top scoring offense in the league.

The Rockets have had the advantage in the last 10 games at Golden 1 Center, winning six. Houston is looking to avoid a fifth consecutive defeat away from Toyota Center this season.

In the last 10 games, Houston is 1-9 with an average margin of -11.1 (108.2-119.3). Sacramento has split the last 10 (5-5), scoring 121.7 points per game on average while allowing 120.4 (+1.3 margin).

ROCKETS HOT/COLD

(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points per game:
Eric Gordon: 14.8 | 11.7 | +3.1
Assists per game:
Kevin Porter Jr.: 4.2 | 5.6 | -1.4

KINGS HOT/COLD

(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Trey Lyles: 15.2 | 11.1 | +4.1
Terence Davis: 6.0 | 9.9 | -3.9
Points per game:
Harrison Barnes: 21.0 | 14.6 | +6.5
Malik Monk: 9.0 | 14.0 | -5.0
Rebounds per game:
Harrison Barnes: 3.4 | 5.1 | -1.6