Atlanta Hawks in action | Image Credits: IMAGO/ ZUMA Press Wire
Jalen Johnson recorded 24 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists to help the visiting Atlanta Hawks steamroll the Sacramento Kings 133-100 on Wednesday night.
Johnson made 9 of 10 field-goal attempts in just 24 minutes as the Hawks improved to 2-0 to start a four-game road trip. Onyeka Okongwu hit 6 of 7 shots and scored 21 points off the bench for Atlanta, which held a 33-8 edge in fastbreak points.
Zaccharie Risacher scored 15 points on 7-of-8 shooting and Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 14 points for the Hawks, who never trailed and led by as many as 44. Atlanta has won three straight and six of its past eight games.
Kristaps Porzingis and Luke Kennard scored 13 points apiece and Vit Krejci added 11 for Atlanta, which shot 57.6% from the field, including 17 of 40 from 3-point range. Dyson Daniels contributed eight assists, six rebounds, five points and two steals for the Hawks.
Keon Ellis made six 3-pointers and scored 20 points off the bench for the Kings, who lost for the fifth time in the past six games. Domantas Sabonis added 12 points, Devin Carter tallied 11 and Russell Westbrook and Precious Achiuwa had 10 points apiece for Sacramento.
Zach LaVine (thigh) and Malik Monk (ankle) sat out for the Kings on the second night of a back-to-back.
Sacramento shot 39.1% from the field and made 14 of 39 from behind the arc. DeMar DeRozan had just four points on 1-of-6 shooting in 19 minutes.
Atlanta sailed to a 25-10 lead midway through the first quarter before Sacramento responded to trail just 37-34 after 12 minutes.
But the Hawks went on another surge in the second quarter with Johnson's dunk capping a 17-4 run and giving Atlanta a 57-41 lead with 4:27 left in the first half.
Johnson had 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting as the Hawks held a 66-46 halftime lead.
The Hawks continued their rampage with an 11-1 spurt to open the third quarter. Johnson made two free throws to end it and make it 77-47 with 9:08 remaining in the period.
Krejci's late 3-pointer gave the Hawks a 105-68 advantage entering the final quarter.
A 3-pointer by Okongwu made it 117-73 with 8:23 left and Atlanta cruised to the finish.