Sacramento Kings at Detroit Pistons on Sunday, January 31 looks like a mismatch on paper. Our ratings give the Pistons about a 90% chance, and the Kings would need an unusual night to change that.
Why the gap is wide
The Win Meter reads the Pistons 90%, with a projected score of Sacramento Kings 108, Detroit Pistons 122. The rating gap is 281 points in favor of the Pistons, and home court and rest add about 100 rating points for the Pistons on top of that.
A reading this high has real meaning, but upsets of this size happen. Nearly one game in 10 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 Pistons are 2-0 this season and 3-2 in their last 5 games, with an average margin of +2.2.
The Kings were beaten 121-96 on the road by LAC not long ago.
The Pistons' best recent win was 115-94 on the road against CLE.
The Pistons were beaten 125-94 at home by CLE 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, Jalen Duren (DET), expected back Oct 27, 2026, and Ugonna Onyenso (DET).
Day to day or questionable: Keegan Murray (SAC), Ausar Thompson (DET), Elijah Harkless (DET), and Isaac Jones (DET). Their status can change before tip-off.
The season series
In our records of recent meetings, the Pistons lead 3-1, with the Pistons outscoring the Kings by an average of 5.8 points per game. The last meeting was SAC 116, DET 139.