Preview: Kings hope to avoid five-game skid with Hawks in town
Jan 22, 2024, 10:03 AM
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Losing streaks are rare for the Sacramento Kings during the Mike Brown era, but one more loss will give the Beam Team its first five-game skid in nearly two years.
Monday’s matchup at Golden 1 Center between the Kings and Atlanta Hawks (18-24) will be the latest test for Sacramento as they attempt to bring a four-game losing streak to an end against another shorthanded opponent.
One game removed from losing to an Indiana Pacers team that was without Tyrese Haliburton (hamstring) and Pascal Siakam (trade), All-Star guard Trae Young (concussion) and De’Andre Hunter (knee) will not be active against Sacramento.
It’s hard to pinpoint why the Kings (23-18) have struggled to beat teams that are playing without one or multiple starters, but Sacramento will have another chance to get into the win column at home before embarking on a seven-game road trip.
In the final game at Golden 1 Center until February 7th, the Kings will hope to hit the road on the right foot by avoiding a lengthy losing streak.
Sacramento Kings vs. Atlanta Hawks Game Info
When: 7:00 PM PST
Where: Golden 1 Center – Sacramento, CA
TV: NBC Sports California, NBA TV
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140 AM – Coverage starts at 5:30 PM on Game Night
Line: Kings -7.5, O/U 239.5
Be sure to tune in right here on Sactown Sports 1140 for all of your Kings vs. Hawks coverage, beginning at 5:30 PM PST on Game Night before a 7:00 PM PST tip-off from downtown Sacramento.
The Return of Red Velvet?
One of the main reasons this year’s version of the Sacramento Kings has yet to live up to expectations is the regression of players like Kevin Huerter, Harrison Barnes, and Davion Mitchell.
Thankfully for the Kings, one of those players has started stringing together solid performances over the past week of action.
Huerter appears to have turned a corner following a rough start to the season as ‘Red Velvet’ has scored 10+ points in three-straight games–his longest such streak since mid-November.
Over the past three games, Huerter has averaged 22.3 points and 5.0 rebounds per game while shooting 62 percent from the field and 55 percent from three-point range (9.0 attempts per game).
During Friday’s loss to the Pacers, the 25-year-old established a new career-high of 31 points on 11-of-17 shooting from the field and seven-of-12 from three-point range.
Another triple for Huerter 💪 pic.twitter.com/JFRMPRnYWS
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) January 19, 2024
It’s a strong sign for Sacramento’s offense that Huerter is beginning to revert to his 2022-23 form, as players like De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis will benefit from having a floor-spacer knock down looks on a more consistent basis.
With Keegan Murray continuing to look like an emerging threat on the offensive end (18.5 points per game over the past ten contests) and Huerter jumpstarting his three-point game, the Kings’ offense is looking like its usual self again.
Sixth Man of the Year Showdown
Old friend Bogdan Bogdanovic will face off against Malik Monk on Monday in a matchup of two players that could be finalists for this year’s Sixth Man of the Year award.
Monk and Bogdanovic enter play amid strong seasons for their respective teams, as both players enter play averaging 15+ points per game.
Only three players this season are averaging 15 or more points per game while starting in five or less games:
- Malik Monk – 15.1 points (0 starts)
- Caris LeVert – 16.0 points (1 start)
- Bogdan Bogdanovic – 16.8 points (3 starts)
With Trae Young (concussion) out of action, Atlanta could lean on Bogdanovic during Monday’s game as the Hawks attempt to hand Sacramento a fifth-straight loss.
‘Bogi’ possesses the skillset to give the Kings’ struggling defense headaches, and it will be interesting to see how Monk and the rest of Sacramento’s guards counter Bogdanovic in an expanded role.
Notes
- Atlanta is ranked 28th in points in the paint allowed (55.7), 25th in opponent 3PT% (38.3), and 27th in points allowed per game (122.5).
- Domantas Sabonis is looking for his 25th straight double-double and fourth consecutive triple double.
- The Kings haven’t lost five games in a row since January 16-31, 2022 when they dropped seven straight contests.
Kings vs. Hawks Injury Report
Sacramento
- Sasha Vezenkov – QUESTIONABLE (left ankle sprain)
- Kessler Edwards – OUT (G-League)
- Jordan Ford – OUT (G-League)
- Jalen Slawson – OUT (G-League)
Atlanta
- Trae Young – OUT (concussion protocol)
- De’Andre Hunter – OUT (right knee inflammation)
- Wesley Mathews – OUT (right calf strain)
- Kobe Bufkin – OUT (G-League)
- Mouhamed Gueye – OUT (right low back stress fracture)
- Vit Krejci – OUT (left shoulder subluxation)
Upcoming Schedule
- Monday, January 22nd – Sacramento Kings vs. Atlanta Hawks – 7:00 PM PST
- Thursday, January 25th – Sacramento Kings @ Golden State Warriors – 7:00 PM PST
- Saturday, January 27th – Sacramento Kings @ Dallas Mavericks – 6:00 PM PST
- Monday, January 29th – Sacramento Kings @ Memphis Grizzlies – 5:00 PM PST
- Wednesday, January 31st – Sacramento Kings @ Miami Heat – 4:30 PM PST
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