Atlanta's Late Game Offense Costs Them yet Again in a 117-110 Loss to the Kings

Atlanta is now 12-19 this season going into their game on Sunday vs the Wizards

The Hawks came into the night on a three-game losing streak, while the Kings were on a bit of a skid themselves. They had lost three of their last four, including a blowout loss to Portland in their last time on the floor. 

Both teams were relatively healthy coming into this game, with the exception being that De'Andre Hunter was still out for the Hawks. Sacramento and Atlanta both possess elite offenses and poor defenses and the game had all the makings of a potential shootout tonight at State Farm Arena. 

Unfortunately for the Hawks though, their losing streak was extended to four. Their offense ground to a halt in the second half and Sacramento, who trailed by as many as 23 in the first half, came back and defeated the Hawks in Atlanta. Fox exploded for 26 in the second half, finishing with 31 for the game. Sabonis had a near triple-double as well and both Trey Lyles and Malik Monk had big nights off the bench. 

Every Hawks starter was in double figures, led by Young with 24. 

The first half was all about the Hawks though. 

Atlanta stuck with their starting lineup of Trae Young, Dejounte Murray, Saddiq Bey, Jalen Johnson, and Clint Capela. Sacramento started De'Aaron Fox, Kevin Huerter, Harrison Barnes, Keegan Murray, and Domantas Sabonis. 

Atlanta came out and had perhaps their best start to a game this season. Before you could blink, the Hawks were up 18-6 and Capela already had eight points, thanks to some elite passing by Young, who continuously found him under the rim in a mismatch. 

After a timeout from the Kings, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Garrison Matthews were the first to check in for the Hawks off the bench. By the next timeout with 3:44 left in the quarter, Atlanta led 31-8. The offense was moving the ball and finding open shots and the defense was closing out well on the King's shooters. Sacramento is one of the league leaders in three-pointers attempted, but the Hawks did well to contest them in the early going. 

Malik Monk vs the Hawks / Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

The Kings did cut into the lead though, but it came behind the play of two bench players. 

Atlanta had its 23-point lead trimmed down to 13 at the end of the first quarter and Malik Monk and Trey Lyles combined for 13 points. On a team that has De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, it was Lyles and Monk leading the way. 

Sacramento missed their first eight threes in the game and finished 2-11 in the first quarter. 

At the start of the second half, the Hawks did have both Onyeka Okongwu and Capela sharing the floor, a lineup that has had success in limited stretches this year. Patty Mills also saw limited action in the first half. 

Atlanta's offense was going cold and the Kings cut the lead to five points, 48-43. 

Then the Hawks closed the half on a 23-10 run to lead 71-53 at the break. Jalen Johnson came alive at the end of the first half and had a huge dunk, as well as a big three-point shot. He has made his presence felt since coming back from his injury and showing how much he means to the team. 

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— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) December 30, 2023

Murray finished with 16 points, three assists, and three rebounds in the first half. Capela was nearing a double-double with 10 points and eight rebounds, Johnson had 12 points and eight rebounds, and Young had eight points and seven assists. The Hawks shot 50% from the floor and 50% from three in the first half. 

Monk and Lyles combined for 25 points in the first half, while Sabonis had 12 points. Sacramento shot 47.8% from the field and an uncharacteristic 28% from three. 

Atlanta held a 27-17 edge in rebounding. 

With such an elite offense though, the Kings were determined not to go away quietly, and go away they did not. 

Sacramento won the third quarter decisively, 33-20, and were only trailing Atlanta 91-86 going into the final quarter. After a quiet first half, Fox had 13 in the third and was active on the defensive end of the floor. 

Jalen Johnson vs the Kings / Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

After the Kings cut it to three, Atlanta responded with an 8-0 run to push the lead back to 11. Young and Bogdanovic both hit big threes to kill the momentum of the Kings and Atlanta led comfortably again. 

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— Bally Sports: Hawks (@HawksOnBally) December 30, 2023

But the Kings still showed resiliency and battled back. 

The Hawks had to call a timeout with 6:45 left in the game after the Kings cut it to five points. 

But just like that, the game was tied with 4:20 left in the game. 

One minute later, Kings forward Chris Duarte hit a go-ahead three-point shot to put the Kings up 113-110. 

One of the Hawks's biggest problems this season has been clutch offense and they were going to need some production and shot-making to win this game. 

The woes on offense late in the game continued and the Kings won 117-110. Atlanta shot 28.9% from the field and 21% from three in the second half. Murray had two points on 1-10 shooting in the second half. 

The offensive woes late in the game have to be solved soon. It is one of many issues facing this team, but it is the one issue that has cost them more games than not. 

Atlanta is now 12-19 this season and heads to Washington to face the Wizards on Sunday. 

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