As far as Summer League showdowns go, Tuesday’s matchup between the Kings and Nets offers plenty of intrigue. With the sixth overall pick in this summer’s NBA Draft, Brooklyn opted for Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr. That meant passing on point guard Darius Acuff Jr., one of college basketball’s most electric scorers last season. Now, these two high-end prospects will meet for the first time this evening in Las Vegas.
The Kings enter as 1.5-point favorites with -122 moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Nets are +102 underdogs, with the game total set at 178.5 points. Let’s dive into a preview, pick and prediction for today’s matchup.
Kings vs. Nets preview, prediction
He might not have played an official NBA game yet, but Acuff Jr. is already the face of the franchise in SacTown. On an otherwise uninspiring Kings roster, the Arkansas alum possesses game-changing potential on offense. As a freshman in Fayetteville, he averaged 23.5 points and 6.4 assists per game. With that being said, things haven’t been quite as easy in the Summer League. During his last time out, Acuff Jr. only notched 12 points on four-of-14 shooting against the Wizards. In fact, the youngster is shooting just 29.4% from the field during his first two outings. He’ll be itching to get back on track tonight, especially against the club that passed on him during the draft.
The rest of Sacramento’s Summer League roster isn’t flawless by any means. With that being said, there’s plenty of players with NBA experience taking the floor tonight in Vegas. Former first round pick Nique Clifford has been an active presence so far, averaging 15.0 points per game. Maxime Raynaud, a breakout big man last season, took the floor for the first time on Sunday. Stretch-four Alex Karaban, taken with the 29th overall pick during June’s NBA Draft, should get ample playing time as well. How all those pieces mesh together remains to be seen; the Kings have been middling on offense. Still, that’s a decent amount of firepower heading into Tuesday night.
In 2025, the Nets used a whopping five first round picks in the NBA Draft. Four of those players are expected to take the floor this evening: Ben Saraf, Danny Wolf, Drake Powell and Egor Demin. That’s without factoring in Brown Jr., who dropped 20 points on 50% shooting during his Summer League debut last Friday. The Louisville alum can do a little bit of everything on the court. During his freshman year with the Cardinals, Brown Jr. averaged 18.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game. Keeping that in mind, it’s easy to see why the 20-year-old appeals to a Brooklyn squad lacking go-to scorers.
Getting the most out of this supporting cast is no guarantee, however. Despite his draft pedigree, Powell has looked horrendous during his brief Summer League tenure. The wing has gone 0-for-11 combined over his first two Summer League appearances. Saraf (27.2% FG) has also been unimpressive from the field during the past week. This contest may come down to Brooklyn’s willingness to keep its best players on the floor. None of Brown, Demin or Wolf has logged more than 26 minutes during the Summer League so far.
Kings vs. Nets pick, best bet
Despite the last-place reputation for both clubs, there is some decent young talent in Vegas tonight. However, it’s clearly Acuff Jr.’s show in Sacramento, with Clifford and Raynaud helping out as well. The offensive hierarchy is a bit more muddled in Brooklyn, with Brown Jr. making just his second appearance alongside the rest of this youthful (but erratic) roster. After a dominant win over New York, the Nets only managed to put up 76 points on Saturday vs. Atlanta. An inconsistent offense doesn’t bode well for the team’s chances against a Kings squad looking to push the pace. As slight favorites, I’ll back Sacramento in this one.