The Kings Gauntlet began in true Kings style, as they led the Atlanta Hawks for the majority of the contest only to blow it in the end. Sacramento was up by 11 in the third quarter and by five with four minutes left, but the Hawks couldn’t be stopped at the end of the contest as they took the opener 106-98.
Mitch Richmond scored a team-best 28 points for the Kings, who shot just 39.1% as a team.
Dominique Wilkins poured in a game-high 36 for the Hawks, who had three players post double-doubles. They shot 49.5% for the game, including 62.2% in the second half.
The Kings jumped out to a 5-0 lead, but the Hawks took their first lead at 6-5. Sacramento quickly regained the lead, and went out to a 27-18 advantage after Domantas Sabonis scored seven straight points.
Atlanta tied it at 28, and took their second lead at 34-33. Once again, Sacramento immediately grabbed back the lead and went up 48-44 at halftime.
Sacramento took the only double-digit lead of the game at 63-52 on Oscar Robertson’s basket with eight minutes left in the third period.
Atlanta again fought back, taking their third one-point lead at 72-71 after scoring six straight points. Sacramento came back immediately with a 9-0 run as Richmond scored twice, making it 80-72 early in the fourth quarter.
Another Richmond basket made it 83-74 with nine minutes left, and Chris Webber scored with four minutes to go to put the Kings ahead 89-84.
After the TV timeout, it was all Hawks. Atlanta went on a 10-0 run, four points by Doc Rivers and capped off by a Wilkins basket, to build a lead greater than one point for the first time.
A Richmond three-pointer cut Sacramento’s deficit to 98-96, but on the next possession, Wilkins scored and was fouled. He missed the free throw, but Al Horford grabbed the offensive rebound and scored, and the four-point possession put the game out of reach.
Next up: the Boston Celtics.
ROGER SPORTS & GAMES 