The Sacramento Kings put a big emphasis on improving their bench unit this summer, and it paid off Friday night in Atlanta as the Kings reserves came up huge for Luke Walton; Bogdan Bogdanovic and Trevor Ariza both hit three threes in the quarter, Sacramento’s defense stopped a late Hawks run, and the Kings escaped with a 121-109 victory in Atlanta.

After a Cameron Reddish lay-up brought the Hawks within one at 94-93 — a far cry from the 21 point lead the Kings once held in the first half — Sacramento’s lineup of Ariza, the two way play of a Bogdanovic, Cory Joseph, Harrison Barnes, and Richaun Holmes lineup closed out the game on a 27-16 run. Luke Walton didn’t muck with the lineup until the game was out of hand, and De’Aaron Fox (17 points, 9 assists, and 5 turnovers) and Buddy Hield (22 points and 5 rebounds) celebrated from the bench as the Kings won their 3 game in their past 4 contests.

Trae Young had a magnificant 3rd quarter and spurred a massive run as the Kings again struggled out of halftime. The former Oklahoma star finished with 30 points, 12 assists, 5 steals, and some excellent defense on Fox. But the Hawks shot just 32% from deep, while Sacramento knocked down 58% of their threes on the evening in the victory.

The game also featured the return of Harry Giles, who had 4 points and a magnificant block in nearly 8 minutes of action.

The Kings have an extended break before they return to Sacramento for a match-up with the Portlant Trail Blazers on Tuesday.