Sacramento Kings at Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, January 22 looks like a mismatch on paper. Our ratings give the Lakers about a 87% chance, and the Kings would need an unusual night to change that.
Why the gap is wide
The Win Meter reads the Lakers 87%, with a projected score of Sacramento Kings 108, Los Angeles Lakers 120. The rating gap is 223 points in favor of the Lakers, and home court and rest add about 100 rating points for the Lakers on top of that.
A reading this high has real meaning, but upsets of this size happen. Nearly one game in 8 like it goes the other way.
Recent form
The Kings are 0-2 this season and 1-4 in their last 5 games, with an average margin of -8.8. The Lakers are 2-0 this season and 2-3 in their last 5 games, with an average margin of -3.2.
The Kings were beaten 121-96 on the road by LAC not long ago.
The Lakers' best recent win was 127-105 at home against GSW.
The Lakers were beaten 131-108 at home by OKC not long ago.
Injuries to watch
Out: Dylan Cardwell (SAC), expected back Nov 2, 2026, Maxime Raynaud (SAC), expected back Nov 2, 2026, Ben Simmons (SAC), expected back Oct 1, 2027, Cameron Carr (LAL), expected back Oct 27, 2026, and Adou Thiero (LAL), expected back Oct 27, 2026.
Day to day or questionable: Keegan Murray (SAC) and Walker Kessler (LAL). Their status can change before tip-off.
The season series
In our records of recent meetings, the Lakers lead 7-1, with the Lakers outscoring the Kings by an average of 9.3 points per game. The last meeting was SAC 104, LAL 128.