The NBA playoffs are here and it is time to set the field with the Play-in games. That starts with the play-in games that tip-off on the 16th with the Los Angeles Lakers vs the New Orleans Pelicans. The next game that night is the Golden State Warriors vs the Sacramento Kings. This Western Conference matchup will be the #9 seed Kings vs the #10 Warriors at the Golden One Center in Sacramento and the winner will face the winner of the Lakers/Pelicans game. The loser however will be eliminated from the playoffs and will have to enjoy the playoffs from the couch.

Matchup Preview

In this Play-in game, the Warriors hold the advantage in NBA playoff experience. The season series, however, is tied 2-2 with both teams winning once at home and once on the road. 3/4 games were decided by one point and eight points decided the other. Sacramento has won the last two matchups and the most recent in January.

The Kings and the Warriors have had opposite ends to each of their seasons. The Warriors come into the Play-in games with an 8-2 record in their last 10 games. But, the Kings are coming off of 10 game stretch with a 4-6 record. The Warriors played into the NBA Play-in games and the Kings played themselves out of a top-six seed in the West. Both teams are above average in scoring with both teams in the top ten in PPG. They both have almost identical defensive ratings via NBA.com, which sets up for a great matchup.

Matchups to Watch

Stephen Curry vs De’Aaron Fox: Fox missed the November 1st matchup, but when they both played they combined for 67 PPG in the three games. They both play well against each other, and it will come down to whoever can beat the other one-on-one. Stephen Curry is one of the best in the playoffs, so it will be up to the Kings to slow him down.

Domantas Sabonis vs Trayce Jackson-Davis: Jackson-Davis has recently come into a bigger role for the Warriors towards the end of the year. He never played against Sabonis in the earlier matchups so it will be an interesting matchup in the post. Versus the Warriors, Sabonis is averaging 17.3/11.3/9.5 in the 4 games. This is the other matchup that will determine the success of both teams.

Best Bets:

The Warriors are the favorites at a -2.5 spread in this Play-in game. The O/U is 223.5 which has hit in 3/4 matchups and 2/2 times at Sacramento. All odds via (Fanduel)
My best bets are: Over 223.5, Fox over 40.5 Points-Rebound-Assists, and Curry over 29.5 points.

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