De’Aaron Fox and DeMar DeRozan led the Sacramento Kings (3-2) to a 123-115 victory over the Atlanta Hawks (2-4), with the duo combining for 58 points as Sacramento secured its third straight win. Fox scored a season-high 31 points, while DeRozan added 27, marking his fifth consecutive game with more than 20 points since joining the Kings.
The Kings established control early on and managed to hold off a late push from the short-handed Hawks, who were without several key players, including starters De’Andre Hunter and Dyson Daniels. Domantas Sabonis contributed a double-double, recording 15 points and 14 rebounds before fouling out late in the game, his fourth double-double in five games.
Atlanta’s Trae Young led the Hawks with 25 points and 12 assists, keeping his team in contention as the Kings worked to maintain their lead. Garrison Mathews provided a spark off the bench for Atlanta, scoring 23 points and hitting a career-high seven three-pointers.
Sacramento’s rebounding advantage proved significant, with the Kings outrebounding the Hawks 50-41. This advantage helped them maintain control, as they led for nearly the entire game after briefly trailing in the opening minutes.
The Kings’ defense was pivotal in the closing moments, as Fox hit key baskets, including a layup in the final minutes that extended Sacramento’s lead. DeRozan sealed the game with a contested jumper, putting Sacramento up by six and securing the victory.
Atlanta struggled with offensive consistency, especially from three-point range, where they shot 38%, making 19 of 50 attempts. Despite their efforts, turnovers hindered the Hawks, as they committed 13 compared to the Kings’ 14, which led to several scoring opportunities for Sacramento.
Rookie Zaccharie Risacher opened the game with a three-pointer for Atlanta but struggled afterward, finishing with just three points on 1-for-9 shooting. His shooting slump underscored Atlanta’s challenges, as the team worked to generate offense without key rotation players.
Sacramento’s bench added timely contributions, with Malik Monk scoring nine points and Keon Ellis adding 12, helping the Kings maintain momentum when starters were resting. The Kings now move to a 2-0 start on their four-game road trip, positioning themselves strongly in the Western Conference standings.
For the Hawks, Mathews’ three-point shooting offered hope, as his accuracy from deep continues to be a valuable asset while the team deals with injuries. His performance may secure him a more prominent role as Atlanta works through its lineup adjustments.
