Kings vs. Hawks gameday: TV, odds, injury news, scouting reports and three things to watch

by · The Fresno Bee

The Kings will try to win their third in a row when they visit the Atlanta Hawks on Friday at State Farm Arena.

This is the second game of a four-game road trip for the Kings, who will travel north to face the Toronto Raptors on Saturday before flying south to play the Miami Heat on Monday.

The Kings (2-2) are coming off back-to-back wins over the Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz after opening the season with losses to the Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers.

The Hawks (2-3) started the season with wins over the Brooklyn Nets and Charlotte Hornets before losing three in a row, one to the Oklahoma City Thunder and two to the Washington Wizards.

The Kings had no new injuries to report Thursday after rolling to a 113-96 victory over the Jazz. Rookie guard Devin Carter has been spotted doing on-court work as he recovers from shoulder surgery. Center Orlando Robinson is expected to be reevaluated any day now after suffering a left MCL sprain in early October.

The Hawks have several players out due to injury. Former Kings guard Bogdan Bogdanovic is out with right hamstring tendinopathy. Kobe Bufkin (right shoulder subluxation), Dyson Daniels (right high flexor strain), De’Andre Hunter (right knee injury management), Vit Krejci (right adductor strain) and Cody Zeller (not with team) are also out.

Here are three things to watch in Friday’s game.

Sabonis is rolling

All-NBA center Domantas Sabonis has three double-doubles and one triple-double over the first four games of the season.

Sabonis is averaging 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists while shooting. He is shooting 67.9% from the field and an impressive 54.5% from 3-point range on a career-high 2.8 attempts per game.

Kings coach Mike Brown is encouraging Sabonis to attempt three to five 3-pointers per game after he shot 37.9% on 1.1 attempts per game last season. Sabonis is trying to answer that call, shooting two 3-pointers against the Jazz, two against the Blazers, three against the Lakers and four against the Timberwolves.

Sacramento’s offense ... and defense?

The Kings are finding their way offensively while incorporating six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan into a lineup that already features De’Aaron Fox, Kevin Huerter, Malik Monk, Kevin Huerter and Sabonis.

The Kings believe they will improve on their 3-point shooting after ranking 18th at 34.5% over the first four games, but they are finding other ways to get buckets and win games. They are No. 2 in free-throw percentage (.828), No. 3 in field-goal percentage (.490), No. 7 in offensive rating (115.6) and No. 9 in points per game (116.5).

The Kings have been pretty good defensively, too. They are No. 9 in opponent points per game (110.5), defensive rating (109.4) and opponent 3-point percentage (.338).

Scouting the Hawks

Trae Young is carrying on offense that ranks eighth in the NBA in scoring at 117.6 points per game.

Young is averaging 28.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 11.6 assists and 1.6 steals with three 30-point games, including a 38-point performance in a 125-120 win over the Hornets on Oct. 25. Young is also racking up huge assist numbers with 12 against the Nets, 10 against the Hornets and 28 in two games against the Wizards.

The Hawks are struggling defensively. They are 28th in opponent points per game (123.6), 28th in defensive rating (118.6) and 30th in opponent 3-point percentage (.421).

Kings at Hawks

When: 4:30 p.m.

Where: State Farm Arena

TV: NBC Sports California

Radio: Sactown Sports 1140

Odds: Kings -7.5

Over/under: 237.5

Injury report

Kings: OUT — Devin Carter (shoulder), Isaiah Crawford (G League), Mason Jones (G League), Orlando Robinson (knee).

Hawks: OUT — Dominick Barlow (G League); Bogdan Bogdanovic (hamstring); Kobe Bufkin (shoulder); Dyson Daniels (hip flexor); De’Andre Hunter (knee); Vit Krejci (adductor); Seth Lundy (G League); Cody Zeller (not with team).

Sacramento Kings schedule

Nov. 1 at Atlanta Hawks

Nov. 2 at Toronto Raptors

Nov. 4 at Miami Heat

Nov. 6 vs. Toronto Raptors

Nov. 8 vs. Los Angeles Clippers