The Miami Heat (17-16) and Sacramento Kings (17-19) will meet in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 10 p.m. ET from the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. The game will broadcast live on NBA TV.
The Kings are 3.5-point favorites over the Heat on the spread (Kings -3.5), with the over/under set at 221 total points. Sacramento is a -175 favorite to win outright, while Miami is +145 to pull off the upset.
Let's get to my Heat vs. Kings predictions and NBA picks for Monday night.
Heat vs. Kings Prediction, Picks
Spread
My Kings vs. Heat best bet is on Sacramento to cover the spread as short home favorites (-3.5), with the best line currently available at BetMGM. But as always, make sure to shop for the best line using our live NBA odds page.
Over/Under
I'm staying away from the total in tonight's contest.
My Pick: Kings -3.5
Heat vs. Kings Odds, Spread, Over/Under
| Heat Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3.5 -110 | 221 -110 / -110 | +145 |
| Kings Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3.5 -110 | 221 -110 / -110 | -175 |
- Heat vs. Kings spread: Kings -3.5
- Heat vs. Kings over/under: 221 total points
- Heat vs. Kings moneyline: Heat +145, Kings -175
- Heat vs. Kings best bet:Kings -3.5 (-110)
Miami Heat vs. Sacramento Kings NBA Preview
Not many teams have found themselves in the headlines over the last month more than the Heat and Kings. Heat forward Jimmy Butler has expressed his desire to be traded out of Miami. After a pair of lackluster performances, the team suspended Butler seven games for conduct detrimental to the team and he will serve the second game tonight.
However, the on-court product without Butler did not get much better after Miami was blown out 136-100 on Saturday by the 9-25 Utah Jazz. Now, the Heat begin a six-game West Coast road trip in Sacramento.
Meanwhile, the Kings fired former Coach of the Year Mike Brown after a 13-19 start this season. Thus far, early returns from the change have been positive as the team is 4-0 under interim head coach Doug Christie. Two of the wins have been by double digits, including last night's 129-99 victory over the Warriors.
The win was particularly impressive because it came without star point guard De'Aaron Fox. However, his backcourt mate, Malik Monk, was up to the task as he had 26 points and 12 assists. As of this writing, the Kings have not submitted an injury report after Fox missed last night's game with a right glute contusion following a hard fall against Memphis.
Whether Fox plays the second end of the back-to-back or not, Monk may be in for a big game. He is averaging 22.2 points and 7.4 assists over his last five games. Miami is also allowing 43.4 points and 14.5 assists to guards this season.
Center Domantas Sabonis is averaging 6.2 assists per game himself. However, if he has a double-double tonight, it will likely come via points and rebounds. Sabonis has recorded a double-double in 31-of-33 games this season. He is second in the league at 13.7 rebounds per game.
Meanwhile, if the Heat are going to snap his losing skid, they will need a big performance from Tyler Herro. The 24-year-old is averaging 23.8 points per game this season, and he has scored 20 points in seven of his last 10 games.
Heat vs. Kings Best Bets, Predictions
Though the Kings will be the team playing on the second night of a back-to-back, don't be surprised if the Heat are the team that looks like its lacking energy tonight. We haven't seen much life out of this Miami team recently, coming off losses in six of their last 10 games, with the last two being by double digits.
Meanwhile, the Kings are often much maligned for their defense, but they are sixth in defensive rating over their latest four-game winning streak. That has produced a 13.1 net rating over that span as well.
The Kings have covered the spread in three of their last four games, and six of their last 10 games against the Heat. I'll be backing them as a home favorite tonight.
Leading the charge will be Monk and Sabonis. Monk has recorded six assists in each of his last five games, and he has scored 20 points in four of those games as well.
As a result, I love over 25.5 points + assists for Monk tonight. If he gets hot, he may clear that line with points alone, as he has done so the last two games, with 37 and 38 PA combined.
Sabonis has pulled down 12 rebounds in eight of his last 10 games overall and in six of his last eight games against the Heat. Miami is allowing 16.2 rebounds per game to centers this season, the sixth-most in the league.
Similarly, the Kings are allowing the fifth-most points (23.4 PPG) to shooting guards. Herro has scored 20 points in five of his last six games against the Kings, including 34 in his most recent outing in Sacramento. Thus, I will be backing him for the final leg of this parlay.
Best Bet: Kings -3.5
Heat vs. Kings Parlay Picks
- Kings -3.5
- Malik Monk Over 25.5 Points + Assists
- Domantas Sabonis 12+ Rebounds
- Tyler Herro 20+ Points
Parlay Payout: +427
