What we learned when Keon’s career night wasted in Kings loss to Hawks originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

BOX SCORE

SACRAMENTO – The Kings did not have a sober game, as they lost 109-108 against the Atlanta Hawks on Monday evening at the Golden 1 Center.

Despite a career night from Kings guard Keon Ellis, who finished with nine three-pointers and 33 points off the bench, the Hawks fought to the end to secure a victory on the second night of a back-to-back.

The Kings entered Monday’s game as if they were playing their sixth game in nine days. They were held to just six points through the first seven minutes of the game, but after trailing 22-6 with 5:14 left in the first quarter, Sacramento went on a 24-10 run to close the opening frame.

Their three-point shooting helped and they made their final six three-point attempts to end the first quarter – including three straight within a 58-second frame.

Sacramento regained the lead in the second and led by as many as 11 points in the first half, but the Hawks never stopped fighting. Atlanta responded with a 22-13 run to end the first half and cut the deficit to two midway through the intermission.

And from then on it was fair game.

De’Aaron Fox, who scored 109 points on a 58.4 percent shooting percentage over the past two games, finished with 28 points.

Keegan Murray fouled out with 8:51 left in the game and finished with just seven points on 3-of-9 shooting from the field and 1 of 3 from 3-point range, with seven rebounds, one assists and two steals in 22 minutes. .

Playing without DeMar DeRozan (lower back tightness), Domantas Sabonis (lower back tightness) and Malik Monk (ankle), the Kings needed someone to help Fox play their third game in four days.

Ellis filled that role perfectly, but unfortunately it wasn’t enough for Sacramento.

It rains for 3 seconds on Ellis Island

Ultimately, the torch must be passed.

After a weekend dedicated to Fox, the hot hand passed to Ellis.

The 24-year-old entered Monday’s game averaging 5.3 points while shooting 34.4 percent from 3-point range on 2.5 attempts per game this season. But Monday was the Keon Ellis game.

Ellis came out on fire, making all of his first six three-point attempts. He had a season-high 18 points in the first half, with four rebounds and one assist in 16 minutes.

In the next quarter, he surpassed his career-high in points.

He finished with 33 points on 9-of-17 shooting from the field and 9-of-15 from beyond the arc, with six rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block in 33 minutes off the bench.

What he brings to the table on the defensive side of the pitch is well documented, but his attacking aggressiveness will be crucial to the team’s future success – especially if players are out due to injury.

Still Him

It may not have been a 60 piece, but Fox was still effective and efficient as ever Monday night.

Monday was another reminder to the rest of the world of what he has always known.

“I already knew I was nice,” Fox said after dropping a career-high 60 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves three nights ago.

Fox finished with 28 points on 11-of-23 shooting from the field and 3-of-6 from deep, with five rebounds, seven assists and one steal in 39 minutes.

Ice (cold) Trae

Atlanta’s best player played almost no role in his scoring.

Trae Young, one of the best young shooters in the game, entered Sacramento averaging 23.8 points. On Monday, he finished with just seven points on 1-of-7 shooting from the field.

It was only the second time this season he was held to single digits.

But his play was as dominant as ever, finishing with a season-best 19 assists.

And in the end, Atlanta didn’t even need a big shooting night from its star to claim victory.

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