OKC Thunder vs. Sacramento Kings: Game Preview, Keys to Game, Betting Odds

The Oklahoma City Thunder are taking on the Sacramento Kings with plenty of things to watch for in the matchup.

Feb 1, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) moves the ball down the court against Sacramento Kings forward DeMar DeRozan (10) during the second half at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images / Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

The Oklahoma City Thunder are closing up shop on a two game road trip in Sacramento on Tuesday by taking on the Kings in a Nationally Televised contest. The Thunder and Kings hypothetically could match up in the NBA Playoffs if the Kings find a way to survive the NBA play-in tournament the best they could do would be land at No. 8 which creates a date with OKC who has already secured the No. 1 seed in the conference.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have won ten straight road games coming into this contest and put that stretch on the line against the Kings.

Oklahoma City has the rest advantage in this game not playing since Sunday while the Kings just fell to Boston on Monday. The Thunder also might get a pair of key rotational pieces back in this tilt.

Feb 1, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) dribbles the ball down the court ahead of Sacramento Kings guard Kevin Huerter (9) during the second half at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images / Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

ODDS:

The Thunder enter the day as 10-point favorites against the Sacramento Kings, and the total over/under is 231 points according to FanDuel.

KEYS TO THE GAME:

The Oklahoma City Thunder will need to start the game engaged on the defensive end in this contest. The Kings are not an imposing team but they have scorers who once they get comfortable putting the ball in the basket it is tough to shut them down. However, if they start out in an uncomfortable position the Kings do not have many players that can adjust. If OKC defends the way they should out of the gate it will go along way in getting a win.

Oklahoma City has to shoot the ball better from beyond the arc and just score the ball better overall than it did on Sunday against the Clippers. That fix should be easy. Isaiah Joe is unlikely to go 0-for-4 again from deep and if they can get the gravity of Holmgren and Williams back on the floor, things will change in a hurry for that offense.

The Thunder will get to stretch its legs against the Kings with its double big lineup if Holmgren and Sabonis each suit up and it will be an interesting case study to college more data on the pairing ahead of the postseason..

RECORDS:

Oklahoma City Thunder (59-12) vs. Sacramento Kings (34-35)

INJURIES:

Oklahoma City Thunder

• Jalen Williams (Hip) Questionable
• Chet Holmgren (Hip) Questionable
• Isaiah Hartenstein (Facial Fracture) Available
• Ousmane Dieng (Calf) OUT
• Alex Ducas (Quad) OUT
• Ajay Mitchell (Toe) OUT
• Nikola Topic (ACL) OUT

Sacramento Kings

The Sacramento Kings are on the second night a back to back set after falling to the Boston Celtics on Monday. They will not submit an injury report until later in the afternoon.

Check out  later today for an updated injury report.

WHEN:

Tuesday, March 25, 2025 at 9:00 PM CT

LOCATION:

Golden One Center - Sacramento, CA

TV/RADIO:

TNT, FanDuel Sports Oklahoma, NBA League Pass, 98.1 FM The Sports Animal

FINAL WORD: 

The Oklahoma City Thunder are wrapping up a two game Western Conference road swing and hoping to push its franchise best road winning streak to 11 games while taking on the Kings team on the second night of a back to back.

Up next, the OKC Thunder will host the Memphis Grizzlies to open up a long home stand inside the Paycom Center.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
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