Sacramento Kings vs Phoenix Suns: Key Matchup and Predictions as Durant’s Absence Looms Large

The Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns are set to clash in an intriguing NBA matchup on Sunday, November 10, at the Footprint Center. This game is marked by significant factors, particularly the absence of Phoenix Suns’ star Kevin Durant due to a calf injury. Durant’s absence is a substantial blow to the Suns, who have been on a seven-game winning streak and boast an impressive 8-1 record this season.

The Sacramento Kings, with a 5-3 record, are looking to capitalize on the Suns’ injury woes. The Kings have been inconsistent this season but have shown glimpses of their potential, especially with their high-powered offense that ranks seventh in the league, averaging 116.4 points per game. Key players like De’Aaron Fox and DeMar DeRozan are averaging 24.6 and 24.2 points respectively, and Domantas Sabonis is a dominant force in the paint.

The swing stat for this game is three-point shooting, an area where the Suns have a clear advantage. The Suns are shooting 38.3% from beyond the arc, ranking seventh in the league, while the Kings are last in made threes per game with a 30.7% shooting percentage. However, without Durant, who was shooting 42.9% from three, the Suns’ three-point shooting might be less potent.

Betting odds and predictions suggest that the Kings could have an edge in this matchup. The road team has covered the spread in each of the Suns’ last six games, and the Kings have covered the spread in six of the last eight meetings between these teams. The absence of Durant and potentially Jusuf Nurkic, who is listed as questionable, further tilts the balance in favor of the Kings.

Experts are leaning towards the Kings for this game, citing the Suns’ recent struggles in Sunday games and their performance as home favorites against Western Conference opponents. The total points line is also a point of interest, with trends indicating that the game might go under the total points line given the recent performances of both teams.