There are seven games in the NBA on Monday and one of the key battles takes place at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento as the Memphis Grizzlies take on the Kings.

Both of these teams are well placed in the Western Conference, as the Grizzlies sit in second place and Sacramento are immediately below them.

Memphis are battling it out with Denver Nuggets for the top seed in the West, but they head to Sacramento after back-to-back defeats, while the Kings saw their own six-game winning run ended by Philadelphia 76ers in their last outing.

Pieces falling into place for Grizzlies

Memphis announced themselves as serious challengers in the West last season as they claimed the second seed and went on to reach the Conference semi-finals, losing out 4-2 to eventual champions Golden State Warriors.

The Grizzlies look well-placed to make a strong run in the postseason once again and if they can keep their key men fit they will be a threat to any rival over seven games - and there is a real chance they could enter the playoffs as the top seeds in the West.

Memphis are a game-and-a-half behind current leaders Denver Nuggets in the battle for top spot in what appears to be a two-way fight, with the Kings a further four-and-a-half games further back.

Kings rebuild paying off

The Kings have been in transition for some time, but their team is starting to take shape after a long rebuilding process.

Sacramento have missed out on the playoffs in each of the last 16 seasons and have only finished higher than 12th in the West once in the last five years, but they have a real chance of ending their postseason drought under Mike Brown this season.

They made the bold decision to trade talented duo Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield to the Indiana Pacers last season to bring in two-time All-Star center Domantas Sabonis  and it is a gamble that has paid off.

After picking up forward Keegan Murray in the 2022 Draft, the Kings now have a balanced team with strength in all areas and they have a real chance to secure a top-six seed.

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Grizzlies on a tough road trip

Memphis embarked on a five-game road trip against Western Conference rivals on Friday and they have lost their first two games. The Grizzlies went down by one point in Los Angeles against the Lakers on Friday, before a 112-110 defeat at Phoenix Suns on Sunday.

The Grizzlies are playing the second of back-to-back games at Sacramento on Monday and fatigue could come into play, as coach Taylor Jenkins will be keen to ensure star men such as Ja Morant and Desmond Bane are able to play as many minutes as possible against a key rival.

Memphis then head to Golden State on Wednesday in another tough match-up and they complete their road trip on Friday at the Minnesota Timberwolves, who they beat in the first round of the playoffs last season.

Memphis look to continue dominance over Kings

Memphis may go into Monday’s game after back-to-back losses, but they have had the better of their meetings with Sacramento this season with two wins in three games.

There is a good chance these teams could meet in the postseason and the Grizzlies will be looking to maintain their dominance over Sacramento with victory at the Golden 1 Center.

Neither side has any new injury concerns, although the Grizzlies may opt to rest a few players for periods of this game ahead of another tough clash with thew Warriors in San Francisco in midweek.

This could be a fairly close game and that is reflected in the Point Spread, with Memphis available at -110 with a -1 point handicap, while Sacramento are -110 with a +1 start.

bet365 News Team

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