Hawks Cruise Past Kings in Lopsided Matchup

Atlanta extends win streak with dominant home victory over struggling Sacramento squad

Mar. 28, 2026 at 7:34pm

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The Atlanta Hawks continued their strong second-half surge with a convincing 133-100 win over the Sacramento Kings at State Farm Arena. The Hawks, who have won 14 of their last 16 games, led wire-to-wire and at one point stretched their advantage to as many as 44 points. Atlanta's balanced scoring attack and stifling defense proved too much for the undermanned and injury-plagued Kings, who remain in 15th place in the Western Conference with a 19-55 record.

Why it matters

This lopsided victory keeps the Hawks firmly in the Eastern Conference playoff picture, as they maintain a half-game lead over the 76ers for the 6th seed. Meanwhile, the Kings' struggles continue in what has been a forgettable season, raising questions about the team's direction and future roster decisions.

The details

The Hawks were led by standout performances from Jalen Johnson (22.9 points, 10.3 rebounds, 8.1 assists) and Nickeil Alexander-Walker (20.4 points, 3.7 assists), who took advantage of the Kings' depleted roster. Sacramento was missing several key players, including Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, and Keegan Murray, leaving DeMar DeRozan (18.4 points) and Malik Monk (12.7 points) to shoulder the offensive load. Atlanta dominated the glass, outrebounding the Kings 45-35, and dished out 42 assists on 49 made field goals.

  • The Hawks and Kings previously met on November 12th, with Atlanta winning 133-100.
  • This is the second and final regular season matchup between the two teams.

The players

Jalen Johnson

The Hawks' standout forward, averaging 22.9 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per game this season.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker

The Hawks' starting guard, providing 20.4 points and 3.7 assists per game in his first season with the team.

DeMar DeRozan

The Kings' leading scorer, averaging 18.4 points, 4.2 assists, and 3.0 rebounds per game.

Malik Monk

A key contributor for the Kings, providing 12.7 points and 3.0 assists per game.

Doug Christie

The head coach of the Sacramento Kings, in his second season with the team.

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What they’re saying

“We knew this was going to be a tough matchup, but our guys came out focused and executed our game plan to perfection. When we're playing at this level, we can beat anyone in the league.”

— Nate McMillan, Hawks Head Coach

“It's been a long, frustrating season, but we're going to keep fighting and trying to build towards the future. This is a resilient group, and we'll learn from games like this.”

— DeMar DeRozan, Kings Forward

What’s next

The Hawks will look to extend their winning streak on Monday when they host the Boston Celtics, while the Kings will try to regroup at home against the Portland Trail Blazers.

The takeaway

This lopsided victory highlights the stark contrast between the surging Hawks, who have solidified their playoff positioning, and the struggling Kings, who are in the midst of a lost season and facing an uncertain future. Atlanta's dominant performance showcases the team's depth and balance, while Sacramento's continued woes raise concerns about the direction of the franchise.