Vegas Play of the Day: Lakers at Kings

The fifth season of the annual Play of the Day betting competition between the Sun’s sports staff is now under way, effective July 1.

Bankrolls start at $10,000 for each of the four participants, with the objective to increase it as much as possible over the next year. The minimum daily wager is $300, with a $200 penalty assessed for failing to place a bet on an assigned day.

Past winners are Case Keefer in 2017-2018, Ray Brewer in 2016-2017 and 2015-2016, and Taylor Bern in 2014-2015.

Kings minus-4 vs. Lakers, $300 to win $273: No LeBron James means trouble for the Lakers. The Kings can't afford to give a game up. That's pretty much all you need.

Every team on the West Coast and maybe across the country loves to root against the Lakers. Now that they are good again, it means every time the purple and gold walk into a visiting arena it's a big game that fans love to get up for. The Lakers beat Sacramento by 15 when they played in November and James had 25 that night.

Take the best player in the world out of the equation and it makes betting on the Kings an easier proposition. James alone would move the line in the Lakers' favor, but now take the Kings.

Current Standings: Brewer (14-12-1, $10,460), Keefer (19-19-2, $8,296), Emerson (1-2, $7,589), Grimala (11-12-1, $4,345)