SACRAMENTO -- The Kings battled, but just could not get over the hump in a 110-103 loss to the Hawks on Monday at Sleep Train Arena.
Sacramento entered the fourth quarter trailing by six points, but cut the Atlanta lead to one on multiple occasions, the last one on an Andre Miller jumper making it 100-99 with 2:11 remaining in the game.
Kent Bazemore responded with a corner three in front of the Atlanta bench and Jeff Teague followed it up with a floating jumper with 33.1 seconds left in the game to make it 105-99.
Atlanta never looked back as Shelvin Mack drained a free throw and Jeff Teague sealed it with four more while DeMarcus Cousins and Nik Stauskas made two each from the charity stripe wrapping up Sacramento’s scoring for the night.
Cousins, who did not commit a foul in the first half, picked up four personal fouls and a technical foul in the third quarter and was limited to roughly six fourth-quarter minutes. Sacramento’s propensity for turnovers continued as they committed 20 which the Hawks turned into 17 points.
Both squads were shorthanded as Rudy Gay missed his second consecutive game with a left patellar tendon strain and Atlanta (52-15) was without Kyle Korver and Al Horford due to injury and rest, respectively.
The Kings were led by Cousins who secured his 41st double-double of the season scoring 20 points to go along with 13 rebounds.
Jason Thompson added 18 points off the bench while Omri Casspi and Andre Miller contributed 16 points each while Miller also added seven assists.
Ben McLemore (11) and Ray McCallum (10) were in double figures for the Kings as well.
Jeff Teague led Atlanta with 21 points while Paul Millsap added a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds.
DeMarre Carroll (16), Shelvin Mack (14), Kent Bazemore (11) and Dennis Schroeder (10) rounded out the Hawks double-figure scoring.
Sacramento (22-44), now 2-4 on the season without Gay in the lineup, falls to 13-20 at home and 4-10 under coach George Karl.
The Kings have now lost 14 straight games to the Hawks and Atlanta earned a 2-0 season series sweep by virtue of Monday’s win at Sleep Train Arena and last Monday’s 130-105 triumph over Sacramento at Philips Arena.
STANDOUT PERFORMER: Tri-MVP’s Jeff Teague, Paul Millsap and DeMarre Carroll combined for 48 to lead Atlanta to the road win.
TURNING POINT: Atlanta bent but did not break in the fourth quarter withstanding a 28-27 Kings advantage in the final stanza to secure the win.
INJURY UPDATE
Kings -- F Rudy Gay (left patellar tendon sprain), G Darren Collison (core muscle injury) and F Eric Moreland (left shoulder labral tear) were out.
Hawks -- G Kyle Korver (broken nose) F Mike Scott (left toe fracture) and G Thabo Sefolosha (right calf strain) were out while F Al Horford (rest) did not play.
WHAT’S NEXT: The Kings' five-game home stand continues with game two on Wednesday against the Clippers.
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