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The Atlanta Hawks climbed back to the .500 mark on the season with a 105-100 win over the Sacramento Kings. The win also evens Atlanta's record on the three-game road trip at 1-1.
Things started in familiar fashion for the Hawks, who were again torched in the first quarter. Sacramento led 32-25 after 12 minutes while shooting 59 percent from the floor and 50 percent from the three-point line. Atlanta buckled down defensively in the second outscoring Sacramento 29-13 in the period to take a 54-45 advantage into the half. Jeff Teague did most of the heavy lifting in the second, scoring 10 of his 18 points in the period.
The Hawks kept the accelerator mashed to the floor in the third as they pushed their lead to as many as 19 points. From the second quarter to the third Atlanta outscored Sacramento 57-33 while holding the Kings to 11-for-39 shooting.
The Kings didn't go away and the Hawks certainly didn't put them away. Sacramento outscored Atlanta 35-23 in the fourth thanks to an offensive explosion from Isaiah Thomas who scored 18 points in the final period. Turnovers played a big part in the comeback as the Hawks turned the ball over eight times in the period after totaling just six turnovers through the first three quarters.
Thomas' lay-in with 2:46 remaining brought the Kings to within just one point at 96-95. The Kings wouldn't get any closer as Al Horford and Paul Millsap would score eight of Atlanta's last nine points down the stretch. Thomas missed a three that would have tied it with 3.9 seconds remaining and Horford sealed the game at the free throw line.
Atlanta's frontcourt duo of Horford and Millsap were outstanding as they finished with 27 and 25 points respectively. Horford went 11-for-19 from the field and also finished with 10 rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Millsap was equally as good going 9-for-15 and finishing with 11 rebounds, four assists, four steals and a block. Jeff Teague logged another double-double with 18 points and 10 assists. Kyle Korver hit 3-of-4 shots for nine points and extended his consecutive games streak with a made three to 77 games.
Thomas led the Kings with 26 points and five assists. Ben McLemore and Marcus Thornton finished with 15 points each while John Salmons added 13. DeMarcus Cousins finished with 11 but was a non-factor thanks to Horford's defense for much of the night. Cousins scored six points in the opening quarter and then went scoreless until the fourth.
Atlanta will wrap up their three game road trip on Thursday night in Denver when they take on the Nuggets.