The Los Angeles Lakers will be back in action on Sunday, as they lock horns with the Sacramento Kings at home. This will be the second time these teams will be up against each other in the ongoing NBA season. In their previous meeting, the Lakers recorded a comfortable win over the Kings, and they will aim to do the same in the upcoming game as well. The hosts are entering the clash on the back of an upset by the Houston Rockets during Christmas Day Games. On the other hand, the Kings are coming off a win over the Dallas Mavericks.
Date: Sunday, December 28, 2025
Time: 9:30 pm ET
Venue: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California
TV: SportsNet LA and NBCS-CA
Live Stream: NBA League Pass
| Recommended Bet | FanDuel | BetMGM |
| Luka Doncic 34.5 points | -130 | – |
Luka Doncic, playing his first complete regular season with the Los Angeles Lakers, is leading the side in scoring. He is dropping 33.7 points on an average, while shooting 46.1% from the field and 32.2% from the three-point range. In addition to it, Doncic is also contributing 8.5 rebounds per game and 8.7 assists per game.
In the last loss against the Rockets, Doncic was restricted to just 25 points. However, in the last five games, he has recorded two games with 35 points or more. There is no doubt that the Lakers have been slumping off late; however, the Slovenian has established himself as a superstar for his team, owing to his consistency and form.
Considering this, the Lakers’ homecourt advantage on Sunday as well as the Kings’ below-par defensive rating, we expect the Slovenian to get back in form and score 35 points or more on Sunday.
The Los Angeles Lakers started off as a strong team, but kept slumping as the season proceeded. One of the biggest factors for it was their constant injury struggles that affected starters as well as the bench. In their last ten games, the Lakers could manage to win only four games, and are on a three-game losing streak. Not only this, but they recently received another blow in the form of Austin Reaves’ injury. The star guard is expected to be out for at least a month due to a calf strain. It means that JJ Redick needs to find a way without their star player and have someone who doesn’t only replace him in the lineup but also wins games.
They are scoring 116.9 points per game, while allowing 117.4 points to their rivals. In addition to it, they have a top-rack offensive rating of 117.5, but one of the worst defensive ratings of the league at 118.1. This clearly indicates that while the Lakers have a decent offense, they clearly need to work on their defense.
On the other hand, the Sacramento Kings continue their struggles. They are one of the worst performing teams in the season, heading into Sunday’s game with a poor 8-23 record. In the last ten games, they have been able to win only three, and have a below-par 3-13 record on the road.
The Kings are scoring 112.0 points per game, while allowing 122.0 points to their opponents. In addition to it, they have an offensive rating of 109.4 and a defensive rating of 118.9 points. To get back on track and even in contention to be in play-in, the Kings need to put overall effort and improve their performance on both ends of the court.
Hence, considering everything, the Lakers look like highly favorites to win the game.
Predictions: Los Angeles Lakers to win.
According to moneyline odds and betting spread on FanDuel, the Los Angeles Lakers are clear favorites to come on top on Sunday.
| Spread | Moneyline | Total | |
| Sacramento Kings | +12 (-112) | +480 | O 233.5 (-110) |
| Los Angeles Lakers | -12 (-108) | -650 | U 233.5 (-110) |
| Recommended Bets | Over | Under |
| LeBron James 23.5 points | -102 | -130 |
| Deandre Ayton 15.5 points | -112 | -118 |
| Luka Doncic 8.5 rebounds | +104 | -138 |
Deandre Ayton to record 12+ rebounds: +280
Luka Doncic to record a double-double: -180
Luka Doncic to record 10+ assists: +112
| Recommended Bets | Over | Under |
| DeMar DeRozan 20.5 points | -112 | -118 |
| Russell Westbrook 17.5 points | -106 | -125 |
| Russell Westbrook 7.5 assists | -128 | -104 |
Dennis Schroder to score 15+ points: +110
Maxime Rayanaud to score 15+ points: +108
Russell Westbrook to record a double-double: +150
The odds given above have been sourced from FanDuel. Use FanDuel to ace your betting game across all sports.
The over/under for total points in the game between the Lakers and the Kings is set at 233.5.
The Lakers have a solid 12-point edge over the Kings.
The Lakers are heavy favorites to win with moneyline odds of -650, while the Kings are underdogs at +480.
Garima is a sports writer with around two years of experience in Indian sports and a newfound interest in the NBA. Inspired by the leadership of cricketing legend MS Dhoni, she wishes to bring in newer perspectives to the NBA fanatics with her writing.
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