Sacramento at Charlotte

Sacramento likes to play an up-tempo game, while Charlotte prefers a slower pace with the worst offense in the NBA. So who controls the tempo? The home team. Charlotte is on a 5-0 run UNDER the total, averaging 87 points per game and shooting .414% as a team, also dead last. When teams get up on Charlotte (which happens every game, as they are on a 19-game skid) there can be more scoring in the second half as it becomes garbage time. But Charlotte can bring its best defensive effort in the first half while keeping it close at home. The last game Memphis scored 48 second half points running away with it, but Charlotte led 39-37 at the half. The previous game, also at home, Charlotte scored 37 first half points in a blowout loss to Chicago. The game before that they led New Orleans 39-36 at the half before allowing 28 fourth quarter points. After that four-game home stand Charlotte heads out on the road, where scoring is even tougher for them, especially early on. The value in this one is on the first half UNDER.