Hawks beat Kings to stay unbeaten
ATLANTA - The Atlanta Hawks are off to their best start in six seasons and the Sacramento Kings have now gone 10 years without a victory in Atlanta.
The Hawks regained control by holding the Kings to 14 points in the fourth quarter after giving up 37 points in the third and improved to 3-0 with a 106-95 victory Monday night.
Dwight Howard scored 18 points despite going just 8 for 20 from the foul line and pulled down 11 rebounds.
Kyle Korver and Dennis Schroder each scored 17 points for the Hawks, while Paul Millsap had 13 points and 14 rebounds.
Rudy Gay scored 22 points for the Kings (2-2). DeMarcus Cousins, who came in average 30 points, scored 14 and pulled down 11 rebounds.
There were 54 fouls called in the game, 30 against the Kings. The Hawks were 29 of 47 from the foul line and the Kings made 13 of 19 free throws.
Sacramento was within 90-88 in the fourth quarter before the Hawks ran off eight straight points to take control.
The Kings outscored the Hawks 22-5 during an early third-quarter run to take a 66-60 lead. Gay picked up his fifth foul shortly thereafter and Cousins drew his fifth before the period was over.
The Kings, though, were up 81-79 going into the fourth quarter thanks to four 3-pointers at the end of the third, two by Matt Barnes.
The Hawks led by 13 early in the second quarter and were up 53-44 at halftime despite making just 48 percent of their free throws.
The Kings sent Atlanta to line 25 times in the first half, but the Hawks could make just 12 thanks in large part to Howard going 3 for 12.
Korver, going 3 of 4 from behind the 3-point arc, led the Hawks with 11 points at intermission and Millsap had 11 rebounds.
Gay had 11 first-half points for the Kings and McLemore came off the bench to score 10. Cousins had 10 rebounds and six points at the break.
NOTES: Hawks F Mike Scott will be sidelined for approximately four weeks while undergoing a series of non-surgical procedures on his left knee. He hasn't played this season and was limited in training camp. "It's probably better that it's now instead of later," coach Mike Budenholzer said. ... The Hawks are also without C Tiago Splitter (hamstring) for at least another week. ... Atlanta released 7-foot-3 C Edy Tavares, a second-round draft pick in 2014, and re-signed F Ryan Kelly, who was with the Hawks in training camp after spending three seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. ... It was the first of five road games in seven days for the Kings, who play at Miami on Tuesday. "It's always difficult coming east with the time change and this is a long week," coach Dave Joerger said. ... The Kings are without G Darren Collison for four more games. He was suspended by the NBA for the first eight games of the season after pleading guilty to domestic abuse.