Kings-Hawks gameday live: Huerter returns to Atlanta as key to prolific Sacramento offense
Note: Come back to this story throughout the day for the latest news, notes and injury updates on today’s game.
Kings guard Kevin Huerter called Atlanta home for the first four years of his NBA career, but Huerter has a new home now.
Huerter will return to Atlanta for the first time as a member of the Beam Team when the Kings face the Hawks on Wednesday at State Farm Arena.
The Kings (10-6) have won seven in a row and 10 of 12 following Tuesday’s 113-109 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. They will play the Hawks on the second night of a back-to-back as part of a three-game Thanksgiving-week road trip.
The Hawks (10-7) have lost two of their last three, including a 114-102 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday. Former Kings guard Bogdan Bogdanovic has yet to play a game this season as he recovers from offseason surgery on his right patella tendon. De’Andre Hunter missed Monday’s game against Cleveland due to a non-COVID-19 illness. He is listed as probable Wednesday.
Huerter hasn’t missed much of anything since coming to Sacramento in the July trade that sent Maurice Harkless, Justin Holiday and a protected first-round draft pick to Atlanta. The 24-year-old guard is putting up career numbers as a key member of the starting lineup for a team that is lighting up the scoreboard.
Huerter has even had a hand in marketing. He was the one who dubbed the Kings the #BeamTeam, a reference to the new victory beam that shines over Golden 1 Center after every win.
Huerter was recently asked about the possibility of ending Sacramento’s NBA-record 16-year playoff drought.
“We’ve got a long way to go,” Huerter said. “I just think we’re trying to bring a good vibe to this city, bring a positive atmosphere to these games, trying to play free.”
Huerter had 24 points on 10-of-19 shooting with five rebounds and five assists in Sunday’s 137-129 victory over the Detroit Pistons. He scored 13 points in the fourth quarter to help Sacramento create some separation down the stretch.
“He’s a coach’s son,” Kings coach Mike Brown said. “I don’t know how many brothers and sisters they have, but everybody plays DI (college) basketball. … Obviously, he has a great feel for the game. Watching film before the trade, we just felt like he could do more than just shoot.”
Huerter went into Tuesday’s game averaging a career-high 16.6 points, 2.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists. He was shooting career bests of 50% from the field and 49.5% from 3-point range on a career-high 7.4 attempts per game.
“When we get the ball moving and bodies moving and the spacing is right, he’s getting some pretty good looks,” Brown said. “When he gets those looks, most times, they go down.”
Huerter’s perimeter shooting has helped the Kings space the floor for point guard De’Aaron Fox and center Domantas Sabonis. The results have been stunning.
Going into Tuesday’s game, the Kings were No. 1 in the NBA in scoring (121.4 ppg) and No. 6 in point differential (+3.9). They were averaging more points than any team since the 1983-84 Denver Nuggets.
The Kings have scored 120 points or more in six consecutive games for just the seventh time in franchise history and the first time since February 1970.
“They’re one of the top offensive teams in the league,” Pistons coach Dwane Casey said. “I mean, Mike has done a heck of a job creating the offense. He then went out and got Huerter. He’s a big-time 3-point shooter, one of the best in the league.”
Cleared to play
Hunted (illness) has been cleared to play for the Hawks. The 6-foot-8, 221-pound small forward is averaging 15.9 points and 3.9 rebounds. He is shooting 44.8% from the field and 36.5% from 3-point range.
Kings at Hawks
When: 4:30 p.m.
Where: State Farm Arena
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Odds: Hawks -4.0
Over/under: 241.5
Injury report
Kings: None.
Hawks: PROBABLE — De’Andre Hunter (non-COVID illness). OUT — Bogdan Bogdanovic (knee); Tyrese Martin (G League).
Upcoming schedule
Nov. 23 at Atlanta Hawks
Nov. 25 at Boston Celtics
Nov. 28 vs. Phoenix Suns
Nov. 30 vs. Indiana Pacers
Dec. 3 at Los Angeles Clippers
This story was originally published November 23, 2022 at 4:00 AM.
