NBA Basketball
2026-02-06 - LA Clippers at Sacramento Kings
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : NBA Basketball
Friday 6th February 2025 - Scheduled 10pm
3am (British Time)
Preview
After a slow start to the season, some would have been questioning the motivations of the LA Clippers (23-27) and what they would plan to do with veterans on the roster that could make a difference for those chasing a NBA Championship. Things have changed a little through a solid run of form that has dragged the Clippers back into the top ten in the Western Conference, but there was still time for a big trade to be made.
James Harden has been traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Darius Garland arrives in Los Angeles.
The latter is much younger, which would have been a contributory factor for the LA Clippers, while there is a feeling that his Defensive capabilities were more important than the James Harden Offensive positives.
But the Clippers were not done with that one big trade.
Instead they executed another when sending Ivica Zubic to the Indiana Pacers and bringing in Bennedict Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson. Most importantly, the Clippers have been given a potential First Round Pick in the upcoming Draft which will be awarded to them if the Indiana Pacers land between 5-9 in the selection.
It is the quickest way to speed up what the Clippers feel is a rebuild to become younger and quicker and they can begin to showcase soem of that on Friday night.
Neither Mathurin nor Jackson are expected to be ready to suit up, but Darius Garland could play some part having missed multiple games for the Cleveland Cavaliers. The new LA Clipper has stated that he is ready to compete and the Clippers may ultimately look back at these deals and consider it a pivotal moment, even if they look weaker now than they did a few days ago.
They travel to the Sacramento Kings (12-40) who surprisingly held onto some of the bigger names on the roster, despite a record that suggests they are already thinking of the NBA Draft Lottery.
Ten losses in a row offers little encouragement about any other ambitions and the Kings have been struggling for any kind of balance at both ends of the court.
Back to back losses may have slowed the Clippers surge, but they have won five in a row in this series with the Sacramento Kings, including blowing them out at home at the end of December.
A new look roster will really shape up in the coming days and after the All Star Break, but even the current group available to the road team should have enough Offensive power to come away with a solid road win.
The last week has been tough for the Clippers fanbase, but the team on the court can give them something to smile about with a win and a cover on Friday evening.
The Pick :
Sacramento Kings 112-118 LA Clippers
