{"id":684224,"date":"2026-03-28T14:51:17","date_gmt":"2026-03-28T14:51:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/684224\/"},"modified":"2026-03-28T14:51:17","modified_gmt":"2026-03-28T14:51:17","slug":"hawks-eager-to-continue-torrid-play-at-home-vs-reeling-kings-field-level-media-professional-sports-content-solutions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/684224\/","title":{"rendered":"Hawks eager to continue torrid play at home vs. reeling Kings – Field Level Media – Professional sports content solutions"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Atlanta Hawks have grown accustomed to suiting up in the play-in tournament. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s a spot they\u2019d like to avoid this season, however, and Atlanta can bolster its odds of finishing in the top six of the Eastern Conference with a victory over the visiting Sacramento Kings on Saturday.<\/p>\n

Atlanta (41-33) has appeared in each of the last four play-in events. The Hawks, winners in 14 of their last 16 games, have pushed their way into the No. 6 seed and trail the fifth-seeded Toronto Raptors by a half-game.<\/p>\n

Keying the Hawks\u2019 hot stretch has been the team\u2019s play at home and against subpar competition. Atlanta has won 11 straight games at State Farm Arena and hasn\u2019t lost to a team eliminated from postseason contention since falling to the Indiana Pacers on Jan. 31.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think as a group we\u2019ve been professional and that\u2019s what it\u2019s all about,\u201d Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker said. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter who they put in front of you. You\u2019ve just got to be professional. It\u2019s my job to play the game. It\u2019s my job to play hard.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alexander-Walker is in consideration for the league\u2019s Most Improved Player award, seeing his scoring average climb from 9.4 points per game last season with the Minnesota Timberwolves to 20.4 in 2025-26. First-time All-Star Jalen Johnson leads the Hawks with 22.9 points, 10.3 rebounds and 8.1 assists per contest.<\/p>\n

Sacramento (19-55) hasn\u2019t won a road game against an Eastern Conference team since a 127-111 victory over the Miami Heat on Dec. 6. The Kings own the worst record in the Western Conference \u2014 and fourth-worst overall \u2014 and have a chance to post their second 60-loss season in franchise history (Sacramento went 17-65 in the 2008-09 campaign).<\/p>\n

On Thursday, the Kings showed signs of life before falling 121-117 to the Orlando Magic.<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes the ball doesn\u2019t bounce your way, but the competitive first and foremost I thought was at a very high level,\u201d Sacramento head coach Doug Christie said of the loss. \u201cClose isn\u2019t good enough, but I like the approach. I liked our mindset.\u201d<\/p>\n

With eight games remaining for his team, Christie is searching for signs of life from his players. A bright spot of late has been Daeqwon Plowden, who\u2019s averaging 21.7 points across his last three outings.<\/p>\n

Plowden, 27, has split time between the G League\u2019s Stockton Kings and the parent club this season, but Christie believes he belongs in Sacramento.<\/p>\n

\u201cI watched (Plowden) play in the Summer League and then the G League and saw him have the success he\u2019s had,\u201d Christie said. \u201cDefense is his calling card. That\u2019s what makes me love him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Plowden is averaging 10.3 points in 24 games this season. Of the Kings\u2019 available players, DeMar DeRozan leads the group with 18.4 ppg, while Malik Monk adds 12.7.<\/p>\n

Atlanta breezed past Sacramento 133-100 on Nov. 12, thanks to Johnson\u2019s 24 points, 10 boards and eight assists.<\/p>\n

\u2013Field Level Media<\/p>\n

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