Trent Reinsmith
- What: Sacramento Kings vs. Utah Jazz
- Date: Tuesday, January 3, 2023
- Location: Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, UT
- Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
- How to Watch: ATTSN-RM, NBCSCA, NBA League Pass
The Utah Jazz play their first game of 2023 on Tuesday when they play host to the Sacramento Kings. The matchup between the two Western Conference teams goes down at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Utah has played 39 games this season and the team sports a 19-20 record. Despite the team having more losses than wins as the midpoint of the 2023 NBA season approaches, the Jazz are in the hunt for a playoff spot. The team is currently the No. 3 club in the Northwest Division and No. 10 in the Western Conference.
Sacramento has a winning record on the 2023 NBA season. With 35 games played, the Kings are 19-16, which is good enough to put them a half-game behind the Pacific Division-leading LA Clippers. As for the Western Conference, Sacramento is the No. 6 team in the conference.
Before we dive into the betting breakdown for tonight’s matchup between the Sacramento Kings and the Utah Jazz, check out our guide to betting on the 2023 NBA Finals and our tips for betting on the NBA.
Sacramento Kings vs. Utah Jazz picks – January 3, 2023
| Teams |  |  |
| Sacramento Kings | +115 | +120 |
| Utah Jazz | -135 | -140 |
Sacramento Kings breakdown
The Kings started the 2023 NBA season poorly. Sacramento opened the season with four straight losses. By November 7, the club had picked up three wins, but they were still 3-6 on the year. Then, starting with a November 9 home win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Kings went on a seven-game winning streak. That run ended with three consecutive setbacks. Since then, Sacramento has not lost more than two games in a row. However, they have not had a winning streak of more than three in a row either. The Kings enter tonight’s game against the Utah Jazz coming off a 118-108 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on the road.
The Kings are an 8-9 team on the road and have an 8-8 record against Western Conference teams. Sacramento averages 113.4 points per game on the road. However, the team gives up more points than the score when they are playing away from home. The Kings give up an average of 114.9 points per game on the road.
De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis are the leaders on the Kings. Fox leads the team in points per game (23.4), while Sabonis is tops on the club in rebounds (12.4), assists (6.6) and minutes (33.8). He also contributes 18.6 points per game.
Utah Jazz breakdown
The Utah Jazz opened the 2023 NBA season with three straight wins. The team then went 7-3 in its next 10 games. However, things took a turn for the worse for the club in the middle of November. Utah is 7-14 since November 21. The team finished 2022 with a four-game losing skid. Utah’s most recent game was a 126-123 loss to the Miami Heat at home.
If there is a positive for Utah heading into 2023, the team has played well at home. While the Jazz might be 7-14 on the road, they are 12-6 at home. Utah is the third highest-scoring home team in the NBA at this point in the 2023 season. The team averages 121.5 points per game at home, while giving up 116.2 points per game.
Lauri Markkanen leads the team in scoring with 23.8 points per game. He is also tops on the team in rebounds with 8.5 and minutes played at 34. Mike Conley is the Jazz leader in assists with 7.5. The Jazz have Jordan Clarkson (20.5) putting up more than 20 points per game so far during the 2023 NBA season.
Our pick
If this game were in Sacramento, the Kings would be the favorite. However, with the way Utah has played at home and the struggles the Kings have had on the road, the best bet for tonight’s Western Conference NBA matchup is to pick the Utah Jazz to beat the Sacramento Kings.
Pick: Utah Jazz to beat Sacramento Kings.
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