Cleveland (56-12) at Sacramento (34-33)
- When: Mar 19 2025, 10:00 PM
- Where: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA, USA
- TV: NBCS-CA
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Sacramento Kings: Betting Preview & Prediction
Cleveland (-5.5) | Total: 235.5
Sacramento Kings: Struggling for Stability
The Kings have hit a rough patch, losing four of their last five games, and they’ve taken some ugly losses along the way. Their recent skid saw them fall to ninth place in the Western Conference, dangerously close to the play-in bubble with teams like the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns lurking just behind them.
Sacramento finally snapped their losing streak with a 132-122 win over Memphis, but even that victory came at a cost. Domantas Sabonis exited with an ankle injury, and further evaluation confirmed he will likely miss the rest of the homestand. That’s a massive blow for the Kings, as Sabonis has been their most consistent player all season, averaging close to a triple-double.
Without Sabonis, Sacramento will have to rely heavily on Malik Monk, Zach LaVine, and DeMar DeRozan for scoring. Monk led the team with 28 points in their last game, and he’ll need another strong performance to keep the Kings competitive.
While Sacramento is trying to regain its footing, this will be their first matchup with Cleveland this season, with a rematch set for April 6. The Kings are 18-14 at home, but without their star big man, this will be an uphill battle.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Looking to Get Back on Track
The Cavaliers opened their five-game West Coast road trip with a 132-119 loss to the Clippers, marking their second straight defeat. Cleveland still holds the best record in the Eastern Conference, but they’ll need to clean up their defensive issues if they want to maintain their lead.
Cleveland started strong against the Clippers, dropping 45 points in the first quarter, but their offensive rhythm collapsed in the second half. They allowed 132 points—a rare defensive lapse for one of the NBA’s top-ranked defenses.
Donovan Mitchell scored just 18 points, while Darius Garland and Evan Mobley added 17 each, but the team struggled to contain Los Angeles’ perimeter shooting. The Clippers shot 54.8% from the field and hit 16 three-pointers, exposing Cleveland’s defensive gaps.
Head coach Kenny Atkinson was quick to call out his team’s lack of discipline.
“Poor defensive performance by us,” Atkinson said. “Even though they had an elite shot-making game, we didn’t do the little things—fouling, giving up second-chance points. That’s why we gave up 132 points.”
Cleveland will be eager to bounce back and correct their mistakes, especially against a Kings team that’s missing its best player. The Cavs have dropped two straight, but they haven’t lost three in a row all season.
Betting Prediction & Pick
The Kings have been inconsistent and now face an even bigger challenge without Sabonis. Meanwhile, Cleveland will be motivated to snap their losing streak and regain their defensive edge after back-to-back poor performances.
Expect Mitchell, Garland, and Mobley to take advantage of a weakened Kings frontcourt, while Sacramento struggles to replace Sabonis’ production.
🔹 Final Score Prediction: Cleveland 120, Sacramento 113
🔹 Best Bet: Cleveland -5.5 – The Cavaliers are the more complete team and should take advantage of Sacramento’s missing star.
🔹 Lean: Under 235.5 – Without Sabonis, Sacramento’s offense may struggle, and Cleveland’s defense should tighten up after their last two losses.
- NBA Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
