Phoenix (50-26)
(+6, 206)
at Sacramento (41-37), 10 p.m. Eastern
by Ultimatecapper.com. Staff
The surging Sacramento Kings hope to keep their late push toward the playoffs rolling when they host the Phoenix Suns Tuesday night.
The Kings have won three games in a row and six of their last seven after beating Houston 86-77 Sunday as nine-point home favorites. Sacramento sits in third place in the Pacific, but more importantly is tied with the Lakers for seventh place in the Western Conference, 2 ½ games clear of ninth-place Utah.
Phoenix has clinched the Pacific Division title, and is basically locked into the #2 spot in the Western Conference. But the Suns have lost three of their last four games, and six of their last eight road games. In their most recent outing, Phoenix fell to Seattle 116-114 Sunday as four-point road chalk.
Sacramento is 40-34 vs. the number on the season, 25-13 straight up and 22-14 ats at home.
Phoenix is 40-35 against the spread on the season, 21-16 straight up and 21-15 ats on the road.
The Kings own the tie-breaker against the Lakers, so if the playoffs started today Sacramento would be matched up against Phoenix in the first-round 2-vs.-7 series.
The Kings have won seven of the last 11 games in the series with the Suns, including two of three games this season. In the most recent encounter, Phoenix beat Sacramento 112-104 as nine-point home chalk in February.
Sacramento has outrebounded the Suns in the three meetings this season by an average of 54-43.
On the season, Phoenix is shooting 48% from the field (2nd-best in the NBA), 39% from 3-point range (best in the league) and 81% from the free-throw line (also a league best). The Suns also own a +5.3 points per game differential, 4th-best in the NBA, but a –4.6 rebounds per game margin.
The Kings are shooting 45% from the floor, 35% from long range and 79% (4th-best) from the line. Sacramento owns a +1.3 points per game differential but a –1.8 rebounds per game margin.
Phoenix guard Steve Nash (19 points, 10 assists per game) is nursing a hamstring injury, and although he's listed as probable for tonight, this game means little to the Suns, and some starters may see limited action.
The over is 41-32 in Phoenix games this season, 36-40 in Kings games. And seven of the last 11 games in the series between these two teams have gone over the posted totals.
The Ultimatecapper Pick: Don't get duped into this sucker line! The public is hammering Phoenix yet the line is moving the other way. Sharps are on Sacramento here. We're a bit conservative, so we'll take a poker at the Kings on the moneyline. Good luck!
