Sacramento Kings Aim for Third Straight Win Against Shorthanded Atlanta Hawks

The Sacramento Kings, looking to extend their winning streak to three games, are set to face the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, November 1, 2024, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. The Kings, currently 2-2, have rebounded from an 0-2 start to the season with consecutive wins, including a 113-96 victory over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night.

The Atlanta Hawks, however, are facing significant challenges due to injuries. Key players such as Bogdan Bogdanovic (hamstring), De’Andre Hunter (knee), Dyson Daniels (hip), Kobe Bufkin (shoulder), Vit Krejci (adductor), and Cody Zeller (not with the team) will be absent from the lineup. This depletion of talent puts the Hawks, who are 2-3 and on a three-game losing streak, in a tough position against a healthier and more balanced Kings team.

The Hawks have struggled defensively, ranking 28th in the NBA in points allowed per game (123.6) and 28th in defensive rating (119.4). They have also been poor at defending three-point shots, allowing opponents to shoot 38.4% from beyond the arc, which is the 28th worst in the league.

In contrast, the Kings have shown improvement, particularly with the addition of DeMar DeRozan, who has averaged 23.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.0 steals per game. Domantas Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox have also been key contributors, with Sabonis leading the team with 28 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists in their last game against the Jazz.

The game is scheduled to tip off at 7:30 PM ET and will be broadcast on NBC Sports California and FDSSE. The Kings are favored by 5.5 points, with an over/under of 237.5 points.