Portland Trail Blazers at Sacramento Kings 10/9/22 - NBA Picks & Predictions

On Sunday, the Portland Trail Blazers visit the Sacramento Kings for an NBA preseason matchup. Portland is 1-2 through three games of its preseason schedule. Portland opened the preseason with consecutive losses to the LA Clippers and Utah Jazz followed by a 53-point rout of Maccabi. Shaedon Sharpe was the leading scorer for Portland in its 138-85 victory over Maccabi. Portland had eight players score in double figures.

Most of the regulars for Portland did not play against Maccabi, as Damian Lillard, Josh Hart, Jusuf Nurkic, Gary Payton II and Anfernee Simmons did not see any action. However on Sunday, the Trailblazers will have their regulars on the court, as well as prized rookie Shaedon Sharpe, who scored 27 points versus Maccabi. Reserves Drew Eubanks, Nassir Little and Payton II will also see plenty of action against the Kings.

Sacramento has played just one game of its preseason schedule and defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 105-75. Rookie Keegan Murray was the leading scorer for Sacramento in the victory with 16 points while Domantas Sabonis scored only four points with five rebounds but played only 15 minutes. Sacramento starting point guard De’Aaron Fox played just 16 minutes, scoring 10 points.

Besides drafting Keegan Murray, the Sacramento Kings acquired Kevin Huerter from Atlanta to help in the backcourt. Justin Holiday was a midseason acquisition as was Domantas Sabonis and both, along with De’Aaron Fox give the Kings plenty of scoring talent. Expect Sacramento to be much better this season with Sabonis, Holiday and Fox having experience playing with one another while the addition of rookie Murray and proven shooter Huerter will help.