Are the Kings vulnerable on a back-to-back?
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The NBA playoffs are still over a month away, but as February flips to March, there's added importance to each game. Both conferences have many teams jockeying for seeding and trying to avoid the play-in tournament.
There are only four games on Monday night, and we have three bets.
Pistons @ Knicks (-11, O/U 223.5)
The Pistons have the NBA's sixth-worst offense. Although the Knicks are missing key pieces of their defense, New York still ranks in the top 10. Regardless of personnel, the Knicks play hard every night, a rarity in today's NBA.
The Knicks have the third-best under rate; 60% of their games go under the total. That's because they play at the NBA's slowest pace. Although their offense has stayed afloat despite three injured starters, it's not reliable in its current state, even against a weak Detroit defense.
Five straight Pistons games have gone under the total.
Pick: Under 223.5 points
Kings team total: Under 115.5 points
The Kings defeated the Clippers in Los Angeles on Sunday night and traveled back to Sacramento following the game for a matchup with the Heat.
The Kings are 3-5 against the spread on the second leg of a back-to-back and averaged 111 points in those eight games.
The Heat are without Jimmy Butler, Nikola Jovic, and Thomas Bryant as they serve suspensions. However, Miami boasts the NBA's fourth-best scoring defense, allowing 110 points per game, and it shouldn't drop off too much without them.
The Heat are 7-point underdogs, and even with Butler, they're offensively challenged. But they should stay competitive by playing strong defense against a tired team.
Odds: -115 (playable to -125)
Tyler Herro: Over 20.5 points
Although Heat-Kings should be a low-scoring game - the total is at 224 - someone has to step up on offense for Miami in the absence of Butler's 21.4 points per game.
Herro is the Heat's second-leading scorer and has the team's highest usage rate. That increases when Butler's out of the lineup and Herro takes on more ball-handling responsibilities.
In 14 games without Butler this season, Herro's averaging 21.6 points and has scored at least 21 in 10 of those games.
The Kings already have a below-average defense and are playing twice in as many nights. Sacramento allows the third-most points per game to opposing shooting guards - Herro's true position, even if he has to assume more point-guard duties.
Odds: -125
Sam Oshtry is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X @soshtry for more betting coverage.