Kings vs. Celtics Prediction and Odds for January 10: Can the Kings Stay Hot Without Fox?

The Sacramento Kings (18-19) are heading to New England to take on the Boston Celtics (27-10) in a cross-conference matchup on Friday.

The Kings are riding a five-game winning streak for the first time since November 2023. They took down the Miami Heat 123-118 in their last game on Monday and are looking to continue their strong play in the post-Mike Brown era.

The Celtics beat the Denver Nuggets by 12 points in their last game and took home four of their last five after a rare period of average play. They’re also 13-6 in their building and have only lost three games to Western Conference opponents.

Here are our thoughts and best betting picks for the Kings vs. Celtics matchup on Friday night.

Kings vs. Celtics Betting Odds for Friday, January 10

The Kings are 14-21-2 (40 percent) against the spread, 7-8 (46.7 percent) ATS on the road, and 4-5 (44.4 percent) ATS as an underdog.

The Celtics are 15-21-2 (41.7 percent) ATS, 7-12 (36.8 percent) ATS at home, and 15-19-1 (44.1 percent) ATS as a favorite. 

Odds for the Kings vs. Celtics game are courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Head over to BetMGM to Get Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets*.

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Kings vs. Celtics Prediction

Sacramento Kings Preview

The Kings’ decision to fire Mike Brown just a few months after they awarded him with a three-year contract extension and two years after he won the NBA Coach of the Year award did not go down well around the league. But since Brown’s firing, the Kings only lost one game and are 5-1 overall, which has eased the target on their back—for now.

The Kings are seventh in offensive and 16th in defensive for the season as a whole, resulting in a net rating of +2.6 (ninth). 

Looking at their six games under interim coach Doug Christie, they shot up to sixth in offensive and eighth in defensive rating. Their togetherness and sustained efforts have been much better on defense, and they scored at least 123 points in three straight games.

The Kings could be without their best player, De’Aaron Fox, on Friday as he recovers from a glute injury. They beat the Golden State Warriors and the Heat without Fox available for their last two games but are just 18-24 without him in the lineup since the start of the 2022-23 campaign.

The Kings have been excellent at getting buckets out of the pick-and-roll and averaged more points per possession than any team in the league when the pick-and-roll ball-handler attempted a shot. They’re about to face a defense that is comfortable switching 1-4 and occasionally 1-5, which will serve to limit some of their dribble-penetration. 

Even amid the Kings’ defensive uptick, they still ranked 25th in three-point percentage allowed (38.4). However, they led the league in rebound rate and were in the top 10 in the league for average pace of play.

Boston Celtics Preview

The Celtics—well, we know what they are. They’re the defending champs who broke the mold by taking an ungodly amount of three-point attempts per game, but by balancing that with incredible defensive versatility and punishing mismatches with their elite personnel and innovative offensive schemes.

Boston is second in offensive and seventh in defensive rating for the year. Their +10.4 net rating would often be enough to lead the league, but it is only third due to the sensational seasons of the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

One of the most underappreciated aspects of the Celtics team is their care for the ball. They commit turnovers at the second-lowest rate in the league and are above average on the glass, meaning there isn’t really an area of the game in which they routinely struggle.

To add to the champs’ dominance, they have the second-best bench net rating (+4.8) and are anchored by the odds-on favorite to win Sixth Man of the Year, Payton Pritchard. They also played more than half of their season without Kristaps Porzingis, who averaged 18.3 points and 6.8 rebounds since his return. 

The Kings are in the bottom 10 in three-point percentage, and the C’s are sixth in made threes allowed per game. The real test here will be if Boston’s interior defense, which ranks 18th in points in the paint allowed per game, will have answers to stop the Kings’ penetrating drives without sagging off and leaving space for three-point shooters in the corners.

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Kings vs. Celtics Betting Pick

• Kings vs. Celtics pick: Kings +10.5 (-110) at BetMGM 

Sacramento has shown lots of defensive improvement, but they still aren’t locking down the perimeter. That’s a glaring issue as they prepare to take on a team that is on pace to make more threes than any team in a single season in NBA history.

The Celtics weren’t at their best in recent weeks, but they’re still the superior team in this matchup—especially if Fox isn’t able to suit up.

With all of that being said, the Kings have responded well to Christie and are in a nice groove. We wouldn’t go so far as to pick them outright, but we believe they can cover this large line.

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How to Watch Kings vs. Celtics on 1/10/25

• When: Friday, January 10 @ 7:30 p.m. ET

• Where: TD Garden, Boston, MA

• TV: NBA League Pass

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