Sun Nov 03 02:50:00 UTC 2024: ## Sacramento Kings Escape Atlanta with Thrilling Win, But Questions Remain About 3-Point Shooting

**Atlanta, GA** – The Sacramento Kings secured their third straight win on Tuesday night, defeating the Atlanta Hawks 115-110 in a game that was much closer than it should have been. Despite building up a 18-point lead in the third quarter, the Kings had to rely on clutch performances from De’Aaron Fox (31 points) and DeMar DeRozan (22 points) to fend off a late Hawks surge.

The Kings’ dominance early on was evident, with strong inside play and effective defensive pressure on Atlanta’s star, Trae Young. However, the Hawks’ bench, particularly Garrison Matthews and rookie Keaton Mitchell, kept the game competitive with their hot shooting from beyond the arc. Matthews, in particular, lit up the Kings for a game-high 23 points, including 7 three-pointers, all of which came in the second half.

While the Kings’ offense was potent and diverse, with Fox, DeRozan, and Domantas Sabonis (15 points, 14 rebounds, 6 assists) leading the way, the Kings’ 3-point shooting remained a cause for concern. They struggled to knock down shots from distance, hitting only 11-of-33 from three, compared to the Hawks’ 11-of-21.

“The 3-point shooting is a problem, especially when our defense of the 3-point shot is so suspect,” one fan wrote in the post-game discussion thread. “If during a stretch the opponent is shooting 40% from 3, the Kings will have to shoot 60% from 2 at a similar volume to break even.”

Despite the shaky 3-point shooting, the Kings were able to secure the win thanks to the calming presence of DeRozan and the clutch play of Fox, who hit several key shots down the stretch. The Kings’ diverse offense, which can score from anywhere, is a strong point, but relying solely on that diversity might not be enough against tougher opponents.

The Kings will look to maintain their momentum as they head north to Toronto for a game against the Raptors on Wednesday. The question remains, will their inconsistent 3-point shooting come back to haunt them as the season progresses?

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