Footprint Center in Phoenix hosts the Sacramento Kings and the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday at 10 PM ET. Both teams start fresh after missing the playoffs last season. Sacramento finished 40-42 last year and returns with a new mix around Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan. Phoenix went 36-46 and begins a post-Durant era led by Devin Booker and newcomer Jalen Green. The Suns are slight home favorites at -3.5 with a total of 227.5. Trends, injuries, matchups — NBA predictions and more!
Kings Look To Start Fast Behind LaVine And DeRozan
Sacramento enters the new season trying to shake off back-to-back Play-In Tournament exits. The Kings’ 40-42 finish in 2024-25 was partially due to injuries, more than lack of talent, and the revamped roster under first-year head coach Doug Christie looks deeper and better balanced. Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan will handle most of the scoring load early while Domantas Sabonis (hamstring) and Keegan Murray (thumb) recover from injuries. LaVine’s perimeter threat alongside DeRozan’s midrange game gives the Kings a dynamic scoring duo capable of pushing the pace.
Point guard duties fall to veteran Dennis Schroder, whose playmaking will be key to keeping the offense going. Schroder’s ability to control tempo and limit turnovers was evident during the preseason. The addition of veteran forwards Dario Šarić and Drew Eubanks provides added depth in the frontcourt, while rookie Nique Clifford brings defensive strength off the bench. The Kings ranked 10th in offensive rating last season, averaging 115.7 points per game on 47.8% shooting, but defense remains the main question after allowing 116.8 per contest.
Injuries: Domantas Sabonis (hamstring) is out until Oct. 26. Keegan Murray (thumb) will miss the first several weeks. Isaac Jones, Dennis Schroder, Russell Westbrook, and DeMar DeRozan are all listed as game-time decisions.
Suns Begin A New Era Led By Booker And Green
Phoenix’s 2024-25 campaign started strong but fell apart late, finishing 11th in the West. The offseason overhaul saw Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal depart, replaced by a younger, more athletic core. Devin Booker remains the centerpiece after signing a two-year extension, joined by Jalen Green in the backcourt. Green’s explosive scoring and improving playmaking should complement Booker’s scoring and playmaking skills. The Suns will rely heavily on that tandem while they search for answers in the frontcourt under new head coach Jordan Ott.
Mark Williams, acquired from Charlotte, is expected to anchor the paint and improve a defense that ranked 26th in points allowed per game last year. Dillon Brooks has defensive toughness, while Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale stretch the floor from the wings. Phoenix averaged 27.8 assists per game last season, a figure that reflects their ball movement-heavy system, but improvement on defense will determine how high this group climbs in the conference.
Injuries: Dillon Brooks, Mark Williams, Grayson Allen, Oso Ighodaro, and Royce O’Neale are all listed as game-time decisions but expected to suit up.
Sacramento Kings at Phoenix Suns PickSpread Pick for Kings vs. Suns Phoenix Suns -3.5 (4 Units)
Phoenix opens its season at home with the advantage due to injuries. Sacramento’s frontcourt absences—especially Sabonis—are critical against a Suns team featuring Booker and Green’s aggressive guard play. Booker averaged over 25 points last season and should find favorable matchups against a weakened Sacramento frontcourt. Meanwhile, the Suns’ revamped defense, led by Brooks and Williams, should contain Sacramento’s secondary scorers behind DeRozan and LaVine. The Kings struggled to defend the perimeter last year, allowing opponents to shoot 35.7% from three, and that vulnerability plays right into Phoenix’s strength. At full energy in the opener and at home, the Suns have the pieces to cover this spread.
Over/Under Pick for Kings vs. Suns
Despite both teams adjusting to new rosters, this matchup points to a fast-paced shootout. Sacramento averaged 115.7 points last season while allowing nearly the same, and Phoenix’s backcourt duo will keep the tempo high. Booker, Green, and Allen all thrive in transition and spot-up opportunities, while LaVine and DeRozan are excellent shooters off the dribble. Even without Sabonis, Sacramento has enough shooters to trade baskets for long stretches. Both defenses are still trying to gel and early-season openers tend to favor the offense.
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