De’Aaron Fox led a remarkable comeback for the Sacramento Kings, scoring 26 of his 31 points in the second half, as they overturned a 23-point first-quarter deficit to defeat the Atlanta Hawks 117-110 during Friday’s NBA action.
Domantas Sabonis contributed significantly with 25 points and 10 rebounds, helping the Kings break a two-game losing streak. Trey Lyles and Malik Monk played key roles, adding 19 and 15 points, respectively. Davion Mitchell, praised by coach Mike Brown as the defensive player of the game, remarked on the team’s resilience.
“We got punched in the mouth, but we didn’t fold,” Mitchell said. “We played hard throughout the whole game.”
The Hawks, led by Trae Young with 24 points and a career-high five steals, struggled to maintain their early momentum. Dejounte Murray scored 18 points but had a challenging shooting night, only hitting 7 out of 20 attempts. This loss added to the Hawks’ recent difficulties, marking their fourth consecutive defeat and 10th in the last 13 games.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks Updates
Fox, who had set a personal best for made 3-pointers in a game against Portland on Tuesday, surpassed his own record against the Hawks, shooting 8-16 from beyond the arc. Coach Brown commended Fox’s performance, highlighting his potential as a special player in the league.
“They were giving him the 3-ball night. He’s shown he can knock that shot down. That’s a big night for him,” Brown said. “To set a career high in a game this close, with that many attempts, that shows that he can be a special player in this league.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks Updates
Despite trailing for most of the game and facing a 14-point deficit with eight minutes left, the Kings surged back with a 24-5 run. They exhibited remarkable shooting accuracy in the fourth quarter, hitting 67% of their shots, while the Hawks struggled, only making 27%. The Hawks failed to score in the final 4:45 and missed their last eight attempts.
Brown attributed the victory to a “huge defensive effort,” with his team holding the Hawks to 39% shooting.
Jalen Johnson of the Hawks made an impact with 16 points and a career-high 15 rebounds. The Hawks had a strong start, leading 31-8 early in the game, with all five starters scoring in the first six minutes. Monk’s 13 first-half points off the bench were crucial in reducing the deficit for the Kings.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks Updates
The Hawks ended the first half strongly with an 8-0 run, but it wasn’t enough to stave off the Kings’ comeback. Atlanta’s De’Andre Hunter missed his sixth consecutive game due to right knee inflammation.
Looking ahead, the Kings will face the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday to conclude their three-game road trip, while the Hawks will take on the Washington Wizards the same day.
