Kings rough up Trae Young-less Hawks

Field Level Media|published: Tue 23rd January, 24:48 2024

Jan 22, 2024; Sacramento, California, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) drives to the basket against Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk (0) during the second quarter at Golden 1 Center. credits: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports

Harrison Barnes scored 32 points and the Sacramento Kings took advantage of the absence of Trae Young to thump the visiting Atlanta Hawks 122-107 on Monday night.

Domantas Sabonis contributed a game-high 21 rebounds, 14 points, six assists and two steals to the win, which allowed the Kings to snap a four-game losing streak.

Dejounte Murray had a game-high 35 points for the Hawks, who were held to their sixth-lowest point total of the season as Young sat out due to concussion protocol.

Looking to begin a two-game Northern California swing on a positive note, Atlanta managed to hang within 27-24 through the first quarter before Trey Lyles (five points) and JaVale McGee (four) combined for all the scoring during a 9-0 burst that opened the second period and gave the hosts a 12-point lead.

Barnes' seven second-quarter points all came in the final 7:01, including a buzzer-beating 7-footer that sent the Kings into the break with a commanding 57-40 lead.

Atlanta got as close as 104-94 on a 3-pointer by Saddiq Bey with 4:50 left in the game, but Barnes countered with a three-point play and soon hit two more free throws to sandwich a Murray layup, giving the Kings a 13-point lead to massage to the end.

Barnes came one point shy of his season high, set during a season-opening win at Utah. He shot 10-for-20 overall and 4-for-8 from deep on Monday.

The 20-rebound game was the third of the season for Sabonis, whose double-double was his league-leading 38th of the campaign.

Keegan Murray chipped in with 13 points and De'Aaron Fox had 12, while Malik Monk (13 points with a game-high eight assists) and Lyles (10 points) led a Sacramento reserve group that totaled 43 points, more than doubling the 19-point output of its Atlanta counterpart.

Dejounte Murray's 35 points were his second most of the season, six off the 41 he had on Oct. 30 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He also found time for 10 rebounds, completing his sixth double-double of the season, and a team-high six assists.

Clint Capela also had a double-double for the Hawks with 11 points and a team-high 12 rebounds.

—Field Level Media

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