The Sacramento Kings continue their year-ending road trip as they head to the Southeast for a matchup against the Atlanta Hawks. The Kings will be looking to bounce back after an embarrassing road loss against the Portland Trail Blazers. It’s an early tip for West Coasters, so let’s jump right in.
Let’s talk Kings basketball!
When: Friday, December 29th, 4:30 PM PT
Where: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Last Time
This will be the first time the Kings take on the Hawks this season. Last season the Hawks swept the season series. Atlanta has historically been a city the Kings struggle in, with their last win coming on November 8th, 2019. The Kings have only won 7 games in Atlanta in the Sacramento-era.
Three in the Key
Shootout Potential
This has the chance to be a very high scoring game. The Hawks feature both one of the best offenses in the NBA (5th, but with an Offensive Rating higher than Sacramento’s last season) and one of the worst defenses (28th). Trae Young is an explosive scorer averaging 28.1 points and 11.3 assists a game, Dejounte Murray is averaging 20/5/5 himself and old friend Bogdan Bogdanovic is making his case for 6th man of the Year with a 17.9 points per game average off the bench. Atlanta also plays one of the faster paces in the NBA and is pretty good on the offensive glass and getting second chance points, an area the Kings have struggled in containing the last few games. The Kings have a lot of offensive potential in their own right, so this game might be one where the first team to 130 wins.
Back on Track
Sacramento’s loss in Portland was arguably their worst of the season. They looked unprepared on both ends of the floor and were run out of the gym by a lottery team. The Hawks are better than Portland and probably better than their 12-18 record suggests. On paper, this is a matchup the Kings should win, but the Kings aren’t a team yet where they can afford to take any team for granted, especially when the other team has talents like Trae Young at the helm. This is also going to be the furthest the Kings have had to travel this season, and their first game in the Eastern Time Zone, which might throw off their rhythm. This isn’t going to be an easy game, but if the Kings can battle through and be a little more consistent on both ends of the floor they have a good chance to come out with a win.
K’Von or K’Voff
Kevin Huerter’s returning to Atlanta for just the second time since being traded. Last season, he scored 13 points on 4-10 shooting but the Kings lost 115 to 106. As Greg mentioned earlier this week, Huerter has had a very rough December ever since coming back from his injury. The Kings need their starting two guard to get back on the right track, and what better place to do so than the arena where he started his NBA career.
Prediction
The Hawks and Kings trade blows through three and a half quarters with both teams holding and squandering double digit leads. Both teams combine to make over 20 three pointers but it’s a flurry of Kevin Huerter threes in the fourth quarter that seals the game for Sacramento.
Kings 133, Hawks 126
Fan Predictions
Link to Leaderboard (Updated 12/3/23)
Both these teams looking for an upgrade;
Have not heard if they’re talking a trade.
Despite current ranking,
The Hawks are not tanking.
Kings must win or we’ll be dismayed!
+1 Cool down Hotlanta!
Heh, my folks and I are taking a trip to Atlanta in April, so at least it will be before “Hotlanta” sets in!
These are always a joy. Thanks for the effort you put into each of them.
I can see this going one of several thousand ways.
Volume One: The Great Awakening
As I begin this 200,000 word opus
In this age of the 3, I don’t think any team can do that. See Detroit at Boston.
Should be fun matchup with Fox/Young and both teams depend on 3’s too much !
Can we please have Saddiq Bey hop on the plane with the Kings after tonight’s game? Pretty please?
Badge Legend