Fox Ignites Sacramento Kings in Win Over Atlanta Hawks
In a display of athletic prowess, De’Aaron Fox racked up a season-best 31 points, propelling the Sacramento Kings to a 123-115 victory over the Atlanta Hawks, despite their injury setbacks. This marks the Kings’ third consecutive triumph, a streak partly attributed to DeMar DeRozan’s consistent performance, with a tally of 27 points marking his fifth consecutive game scoring over 20 points since he became a King.
Team Effort on Display as Kings Dominate Hawks
Domantas Sabonis added to the Kings’ glory by delivering a double-double performance with 15 points and 14 rebounds, despite fouling out. This marked his fourth double-double in just five games. The Kings maintained their dominance on the boards, outrebounding the Hawks 50-41 and leading the game for the final 47 minutes.
Hawks Struggle Amidst Injuries
The Hawks, on the other hand, put up a spirited fight despite their depleted squad. Trae Young led the team with 25 points and 12 assists, while Garrison Mathews, coming off the bench, hit a career-high seven 3-pointers, amassing 23 points. However, the absence of starters De’Andre Hunter and Dyson Daniels, along with key players Bogdan Bogdanovic, Vit Krejci, and Kobe Bufkin due to injuries, certainly impacted their game.
Key Game Moments
The Hawks managed to tie the game courtesy of Young’s long 2-pointer with just under six minutes left. However, the Kings quickly regained control with a 6-0 run, with Fox contributing four of those points and DeRozan landing a contested shot from the wing.
Underperforming Risacher
In an underwhelming performance, overall No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher managed to sink the first shot of the game, a 3-pointer from the corner, but then missed his final eight shots. His shooting percentage this season stands at a disappointing 31.6%, including a mere 22.2% from the beyond the arc.
What’s Next for Kings and Hawks?
Looking ahead, the Kings are set to face Toronto in their third game of a four-game road trip on Saturday night. Meanwhile, the Hawks will be hoping to bounce back when they play at New Orleans on Sunday night.