Kings vs. Warriors Picks, Projections, Analysis for PrizePicks Tonight

For the fourth and final time this season, the “Battle for NorCal” supremacy is on the line as the Sacramento Kings travel to San Francisco to take on the Golden State Warriors. This will be the second game on a nationally televised double-header following the Lakers taking on the Bucks. 

Tonight, we will likely witness history with Stephen Curry. He needs just two three-pointers to become the first player in NBA history to hit 4,000 career 3-pointers. 

PrizePicks is the easiest way to get real money action on tonight’s NBA games — including Kings vs. Warriors. Just pick More or Less on player stat projections — from points to combos to 3-pointers and more — and get paid if your picks are correct. PrizePicks is available to play in 45 states, including California, where you can cash in on your NBA takes tonight!

Find more NBA DFS picks and analysis in today's NBA DFS Cheat Sheet for Thursday, March 13.

Let’s dive into the Kings vs. Warriors below, including the top picks for PrizePicks.

‍

Kings vs. Warriors: Game Preview, Key Stats

Time: 10:00 p.m. ET

How To Watch: TNT/truTV/Max

This fourth meeting between the Warriors and Kings will be huge, with both teams competing for Play-In Tournament spots. The teams are trending in opposite directions as the Kings have lost two straight while the Warriors are winners of their last five.

Jimmy Butler has already played the Kings in his stint with the Warriors. The Warriors blitzed Sacramento, winning 132-108 on the road for their first win against the Kings in the regular season. A win tonight will guarantee a season split between the two, which would be huge should the Kings bounce back over the final month to tie the surging Warriors.

Since the De’Aaron Fox trade, the Kings are 8-7 without him, but have missed Domantas Sabonis for their last five games due to a hamstring injury. Sabonis is currently questionable for tonight’s game and Jonas Valanciunas has been starting in his place.

The Warriors have been rejuvenated since their trade for Butler. They are 12-4 since the trade with Butler on the roster, and 12-1 when he plays. Their lone loss with Butler playing came at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks. 

Golden State hovered around the lower end of the Play-In Tournament in terms of seeding but have surged to the six seed, just 3.5 games out of fifth.

Here are some key stats for tonight’s game

• The Warriors have seen a drastic improvement in offensive rating since the trade for Jimmy Butler. On the season, they ranked 14th (114.3) in offensive rating but are now fifth (119.8). 
• Stephen Curry has seen a massive uptick in scoring with Butler on the roster. Curry is averaging 30 points per game in 13 games with Butler. In 43 games without Butler, Steph was averaging 22.9.
• The Warriors pace has improved since the Butler trade. Before the trade, they ranked 17th in pace (99.51) to 10th (100.69) since. 
• The Kings' offense has seen a slight uptick in efficiency since their De’Aaron Fox trade. Since the trade, their offensive rating is at 117.3 whereas with Fox, it was at 115.3. 
• Sacramento’s pace has also increased, jumping from 25th (98.0) to 14th (100.0).
• Both teams' pace of play has increased in recent games.

Kings-Warriors Picks for PrizePicks

Here are the top picks for the Kings vs. Warriors game on PrizePicks tonight. Use the insights below to choose More or Less on PrizePicks and cash out if your picks are correct. 

Kings C Domantas Sabonis — 15.5 Points

• This season, Kings C Domantas Sabonis is averaging 14.1 rebounds.
• Sabonis is averaging 15.0 rebounds per game against the Warriors this season.
• Sabonis is questionable to play tonight, which is something to monitor leading up to the game.
• In two tracked games, Sabonis is averaging 18.0 potential rebounds against the Warriors this season. 
• The January 22 game vs. the Warriors did not have tracking. However, Sabonis did have 18 rebounds in that game, which would imply he is likely averaging more than 18 potential rebounds.
• The last time Sabonis came back after an injury layoff was in November. He missed two games and returned against and returned against the Clippers where he had 15 rebounds.
• The Warriors are top six in rebounds allowed to centers throughout this season and over the last seven and 15 games.

💰 Use PrizePicks Promo Code "Playbook": Claim free $50 with your first $5+ Lineup

‍

Kings SF DeMar DeRozan — 22.5 Points

• Kings SF DeMar DeRozan is averaging 23.3 points per game with LaVine on the Kings. If you count their time in Chicago together, that number jumps up to 24.5 points per game.
• Over the season, the Warriors have been pretty prolific in shutting down opposing small forwards as they ranked in the top half of the league in fewest points allowed to that position. 
• Since the trade though, they’ve ranked 13th (over last 15) and sixth (over last seven) in points allowed to small forwards.
• With Jimmy Butler as his primary defender (Heat or Warriors), DeRozan is averaging 30 points per game. 

Warriors SF Jimmy Butler — 6 Assists

• Warriors SF Jimmy Butler is averaging 6.5 assists per game against the Kings this season
• As a Warrior, Butler is averaging 5.7 assists per game.
• Butler is averaging 12.0 potential assists against the Kings this season. 
• In his first start against the Kings as a Warrior, he finished with 16 potential assists.
• Butler’s assist percentage has slightly increased since joining the Warriors. In Miami, his assist percentage was 23.7. With the Warriors, that percentage is 26.8. 
• The Kings are in the top half of the league in assists allowed to opposing small forwards this season and over the last 15 games.

Warriors G Stephen Curry — 3.5 3-PT Made (Goblin)

• Stephen Curry is averaging 3.0 3-pointers made this season against the Kings 
• Curry’s scoring has jumped up over seven points per game with Butler on the roster, going from 22.9 to 30 points per game.
• With Butler playing, Curry is averaging over five 3-pointers made per game.
• Curry needs just two 3-pointers tonight to become the first player with 4,000 career three-pointers made.

‍

Win Real Money on Warriors vs. Kings on PrizePicks

History will likely be made tonight in the Kings vs. Warriors game with Stephen Curry becoming the first player to hit 4,000 career 3-pointers — and he gets to do it in front of his home crowd on national television. Whether it’s Kings-Warriors or any other NBA game, the place to use your NBA knowledge to win real money is on PrizePicks.

Just pick More or Less on player stat projections — from points to rebounds to combos — and lock in your Lineup to get in on the action. If your picks are correct, you’ll get paid out instantly when the games end.

PrizePicks is available to play in 45 states, including California, where you can cash in on your NBA takes tonight!

Come back to the Playbook throughout the remainder of the NBA season for more basketball analysis for your PrizePicks and NBA DFS Lineups.