kings-6.5
The Lakers (14-35 ATS in division games the last three seasons) will be without injured center Chris Mihm. That means Kwame Brwon will see more playing time and we all know what a bust Brown has been. Mihm, who is averaging 10.4 points per game, will also be replaced by Andrew Bynum.
The Kings have won 12 consecutive games straight-up at home and have won and covered nine straight at Arco since the arrival of Ron Artest. Sacramento is on runs of 4-0 SU/ATS and 7-1 SU/ATS and they will be pumped to punish their division rival as no one with the organization has forgotten those "Queens'' references over the years.
Sacramento has been getting balanced scoring of late while L.A. is still the Kobe show. When he's off, as he was in Sunday's outright home loss to the SuperSonics, then the Lakers really struggle. Look for Kobe to get his points, but Artest will make him work for it.
In terms of the playoff race, and we are beginning to enter the home stretch of the season, this is a big one and the Kings will play with purpose tonight