Hawks vs Kings: Game Thread – Starting Lineups, Injury Report, Series Notes, etc.
By David Menze
Source: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images North America)
Game Preview
The Hawks continue their 3-game West coast road trip and make stop #2 on the list as they visit Sacramento to take on the Kings Tuesday night at 10:00 p.m. (ET).
Atlanta has enjoyed much success against the Kings as they’ve won the last 10 meetings in a row, including five straight in Sacramento.
Atlanta is 0-2 on the road for the first time since opening 0-4 in 2007-08. However, a trip to Sacramento might just be what the doctor ordered as they’ve averaged 111.6 points over the last 10 meetings against the Kings, most recently winning 122-108 on Feb. 22 of last season.
The Hawks (1-2) are coming off a 105-103 heartbreaking loss to the Lakers on Sunday in which Atlanta erased a 21-point deficit and was a judgement call away from completing an amazing comeback win. Pau Gasol drove the lane in the closing seconds and collided with Paul Millsap, who was outside of the restricted area, resulting in blocking call after the officials huddled up for a few minutes to check the replay monitor. Usually if the defender is outside of the restricted area as Millsap was the refs will call it a charge on the shooter — but it didn’t turn out that way as the Lakers got the hometown call. Gasol then sank both ensuing foul shots to seal the 105-103 decision.
The Kings (1-2) got a two-point victory over Denver in the season opener, but are coming off two straight losses by an average of 10 points. They lost at home to the Clippers 110-101 on Friday and fell to the sharpshooting Warriors 98-87 on Saturday.
The matchup to watch tonight is between big fellas Al Horford and DeMarcus Cousins. The Sacramento center is averaging 21.4 points and 11.2 boards in five career games versus the Hawks, while Atlanta’s all-star center is averaging 22.3 points on 59.2 percent shooting in his last three games against the Kings.
Quick Facts
Who?: Atlanta Hawks vs Sacramento Kings
What?: East vs West Showdown (Game #4, Road Game #3)
Where?: Sleep Train Arena (Sacramento, CA)
When?: Tuesday, November 5, 2013 – 10:00 PM (ET)
How?: SportSouth HDTV / 92.9 FM “The Game”
Probable Starters
Atlanta Hawks:
PG: Jeff Teague | SG: Kyle Korver | SF: DeMarre Carroll | PF: Paul Millsap | C: Al Horford
Sacramento Kings:
PG: Greivis Vasquez | SG: Marcus Thornton | SF: John Salmons | PF: Patrick Patterson | C: DeMarcus Cousins
Injury Report
Atlanta Hawks: Gustavo Ayon (right shoulder injury) and Lou Williams (right knee rehabilitation) are out.
Sacramento Kings: Carl Landry (tear, left hip flexor muscle) is out.
Current Records, Streak & Hot, Lukewarm, or Cold
Records: Atlanta Hawks (1-2) / Sacramento Kings (1-2)
Streaks: Atlanta Hawks –> OVERALL: Lost 1 | HOME: Won 1 | ROAD: Lost 1 Sacramento Kings –> OVERALL: Lost 2 | HOME: Lost 1 | ROAD: Lost 1
Home/Away Records: Kings are (1-1) at home / Hawks are (0-2) on the road.
Atlanta Hawks: Lukewarm. The Hawks are coming a heartbreaking 105-103 road loss to the Lakers, but continue to fight through adversity as the overcame a 21-point deficit and nearly completed an amazing comeback victory. Atlanta is in friendly waters tonight as they’ve won the last 10 straight meetings against Sacramento.
Sacramento Kings: Cold. After getting a 2-point win in the season opener against Denver, the Kings have lost two straight by an average of 10 points. They need to do a better job of protecting home court against the Hawks as Sacramento has lost the last five straight home games to Atlanta.
Season/Past Season Series
Atlanta takes on the Kings at Sleep Train Arena in the second game of the Hawks’ three-game road trip. The teams wrap up the season set on December 18 at Philips Arena. The Hawks have taken the last 10 in the series, including five-in-a-row in Sacramento. Atlanta’s last loss to the Kings was on 2/20/08 in Sacramento (119-107). Atlanta swept last season’s series, 2-0, winning on 11/16 at Sacramento (112-96) and 2/22 in Atlanta (122-108).
Common Threads
Kings Director of Player Personnel Shareef Abdur-Rahim is a Marietta native (Wheeler HS), and played two-and-a-half seasons with the Hawks (2001-04). Kyle Korver and John Salmons were Philadelphia 76ers teammates from 2003-06, with Lou Williams part of that group as a rookie in 2005-06. Gustavo Ayon and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute were teammates with the Bucks last season. Cartier Martin and Hamady Ndiaye played together with Washington last season.
Information was used from the Hawks and Kings official gamenotes
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