Kings vs Bucks Prediction, Odds & Game Preview 3/22/2025

The Sacramento Kings face a pivotal test against the Milwaukee Bucks at Golden 1 Center, with both teams desperate to reverse their recent struggles and maintain playoff positioning.

While the Bucks will miss key scorer Damian Lillard due to a calf injury, they still bring Giannis Antetokounmpo's dominant presence of 30.2 points per game to a Kings team that's dropped six of their last nine and slipped to ninth in the Western Conference.

The Kings (-1) host the Bucks in what shapes up as a fascinating clash between Sacramento's fourth-ranked free throw shooting and Milwaukee's interior defense that ranks just 29th in points in the paint allowed.

Sacramento Kings vs. Milwaukee Bucks preview

The struggling Milwaukee Bucks head to Sacramento's Golden 1 Center without their star guard Damian Lillard, who's sidelined with a nagging calf injury.

Both teams are desperate to snap out of their recent slumps - the Bucks have dropped five of their last eight while the Kings are stumbling with six losses in their last nine games.

Giannis Antetokounmpo's been a force for Milwaukee, putting up 30.2 points and nearly 12 boards per game, but the team's road woes (18 losses) could spell trouble against a Kings squad fighting to maintain their play-in position.

Sacramento's offense has been clicking at 116.6 points per game, though they'll miss Domantas Sabonis's presence in the paint due to an ankle setback.

The Kings' three-point defense has been their Achilles' heel this season, ranking 28th in the league - something the Bucks might exploit despite their own offensive inconsistencies.

History's got some interesting wrinkles here - Milwaukee's dominated this matchup with 15 wins in their last 16 night games against Sacramento, but the Kings are slight favorites at home where they're looking to stop their recent slide.

Keep an eye on Kyle Kuzma, who's coming off a solid 22-point performance and could be crucial for the Bucks' offensive plans without Lillard in the mix.

DeMar DeRozan's recent 27-point outburst against the Cavs shows he's ready to carry the scoring load for Sacramento in what's shaping up to be a compelling Saturday night showdown.