Sacramento Kings vs. Phoenix Suns Picks and Prediction for Friday, January 2, 2026
Sacramento Kings (8-25) vs. Phoenix Suns (19-14)
The NBA betting action continues Friday, January 2, 2026, with the 10-game card, including the Pacific Division battle at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, AZ, so we’ve got the Kings vs. Suns prediction to get you covered.
Sacramento takes on Phoenix for the third time this season, and the Suns aim for their third straight victory over the Kings. Phoenix beat Sacramento 120-116 as a 3.5-point home fave in October and 112-100 as a 4.5-point road fave in November.
Let’s take a closer look at this Kings vs. Bulls prediction, one of our NBA picks for Friday’s slate. The tip-off at Mortgage Matchup Center is set at 9:00 PM ET.
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The Kings play without rest
Thursday’s games have been excluded from this preview, and the Sacramento Kings hosted the Boston Celtics on Thursday night, looking to snap their two-game skid. In their previous two outings, the Kings have suffered defeats at the Los Angeles Lakers 125-101 and the LA Clippers 131-90.
Last Tuesday, the Kings gave up 73 first-half points to the Clippers while scoring just 40 in return. Sacramento committed 19 more turnovers than LA (19-4) in what was a horrendous performance on both sides of the ball. Rookie Nique Clifford led the way with 18 points.
The Kings score just 109.2 points per 100 possessions (29th in the NBA) and allow 120.3 points in return (27th). They miss Domantas Sabonis (17.2 PPG, 12.3 RPG), while Zach LaVine (20.2 PPG) is questionable for Friday’s game against Phoenix.
The Suns look to get back on track
The Phoenix Suns put an end to their four-game winning streak last Tuesday. After beating the Los Angeles Lakers 132-108, the New Orleans Pelicans 115-108 and 123-114, and the Washington Wizards 115-101, the Suns finished their four-game road trip with a 129-113 defeat at the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Phoenix made just 40.0% of its field goals last Tuesday, and the Cavaliers outscored the Suns 56-36 in the paint. The Suns went 15-for-36 from downtown while posting a 23/14 assist-to-turnover ratio. Devin Booker led the charge with 32 points and four assists, and Dillon Brooks added 20 points.
The Suns tally 115.9 points per 100 possessions (tied for 12th in the NBA) and surrender 114.6 points in return (12th). They cannot count on Jalen Green (15.5 PPG), while Grayson Allen (16.3 PPG, 4.1 APG) is questionable for Friday’s clash against Sacramento.
Kings vs. Suns Pick
| # | Handicapper | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Tony Karpinski | +2,976.00 |
| 2 |  Joe Duffy | +2,595.00 |
| 3 |  The Insiders Room | +2,320.00 |
| 4 |  Mark Ruelle | +1,627.00 |
| 5 |  Jackie Mack | +1,451.00 |
Spread Pick for Kings vs. Suns
- Phoenix Suns (4 units)
There’s no way I’m going to back the lowly Kings on the second day of a back-to-back set. Even if Zach LaVine returns, it would be hard to trust the Kings, who have gone 3-12 SU and 5-10 ATS in their previous 15 games overall.
The Kings have struggled on both sides of the ball all season. They are 29th in the NBA in 3-point rate (.340) and 23rd in 3-point percentage (34.9%). Their defense is 29th in 2-point percentage (58.9%), and the Kings rank in the bottom five in both defensive and offensive rebound percentage.
On the other side, the Suns are 11th in 3-point rate (.430) and 10th in 3-point percentage (36.5%). They rank 28th in defensive rebound percentage (71.6%), but the Suns are fifth in offensive rebound percentage (29.8%) and second in defensive turnover percentage (15.0%).
Over/Under Pick for Kings vs. Suns
- Under (4 units)
The Suns are arguably one of the most pleasant surprises of the season. Their defense has done a great job thus far, playing above all expectations. Given the Suns’ improved defense and the Kings’ offensive woes, I can only look at the under when it comes to the total in this game.
The Kings have had a few offensive outbursts this season, but most of the time, their offense has been an absolute disaster. Over their last 10 outings, the Kings have made 45.1% of their field goals and 33.2% of their 3-pointers.
When it comes to pace, Sacramento is 10th in the league (100.8 possessions per 48 minutes), while Phoenix is 21st (99.0).
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