Atlanta, GA — The Hawks caught fire at the perfect time — and made history in the process.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker poured in 27 points as Atlanta used a blistering fourth-quarter shooting display to pull away from Sacramento for a 123-113 win Saturday night, giving coach Quin Snyder his 500th career victory.
Atlanta knocked down 8 of its 12 attempts from beyond the arc in the final period, turning a tight game into a comfortable finish after the Kings briefly erased a double-digit deficit.
Jalen Johnson continued his standout season with 26 points and 10 assists, recording his 44th double-double, while Jock Landale chipped in 19 points and 13 rebounds in one of his best outings with the team.
The Hawks have now won 15 of their last 17 games.
Sacramento, meanwhile, dropped its third straight game to open a four-game road trip. DeMar DeRozan led the Kings with 22 points, while Maxime Raynaud poured in 18 points and 10 boards.
The game was competitive early, with Sacramento holding a lead for much of the first half. But Atlanta flipped the momentum late in the second quarter, closing the half on a dominant 26-8 run to take a 66-54 advantage into the break.
The Hawks maintained control through the third quarter, but the Kings refused to go away. Sacramento rallied to tie the game at 97 midway through the fourth, setting up a tense finish.
That’s when Atlanta’s shooting took over.
The Hawks responded with a decisive 26-16 run to close the game, fueled largely by their accuracy from three-point range. Eighteen of those points came from beyond the arc, as Atlanta repeatedly capitalized on open looks.
Despite being short-handed on the second night of a back-to-back, the Hawks didn’t slow down. They were without several key contributors, including Dyson Daniels, Onyeka Okongwu, and Jonathan Kuminga, prompting lineup adjustments that included starts for Landale and Mouhamed Gueye.
Sacramento was also dealing with significant absences. Multiple regulars remained sidelined, including Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine, both out for the rest of the season, along with several others missing due to injury.
Even so, the Kings stayed within striking distance until Atlanta’s late surge proved too much.
The Hawks will look to keep their momentum going when they return home to face Boston, while Sacramento continues its road trip with a stop in Brooklyn.
