Sacramento Kings at Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday, February 25 looks like a mismatch on paper. Our ratings give the Cavaliers 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 Cavaliers 87%, with a projected score of Sacramento Kings 109, Cleveland Cavaliers 121. The rating gap is 234 points in favor of the Cavaliers, and home court and rest add about 100 rating points for the Cavaliers 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 0-3 this season and 1-4 in their last 5 games, with an average margin of -10. The Cavaliers are 1-1 this season and 1-4 in their last 5 games, with an average margin of -14.
The Kings were beaten 121-96 on the road by LAC not long ago.
The Cavaliers were beaten 130-93 at home by NYK 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, Keegan Murray (SAC), expected back Oct 27, 2026, and Khalifa Diop (CLE).
The season series
In our records of recent meetings, the series is even, with the Cavaliers outscoring the Kings by an average of 0 points per game. The last meeting was CLE 132, SAC 126.