Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 27 points, and Atlanta shot 8 of 12 on fourth-quarter 3-pointers to beat Sacramento 123-113 and deliver Quin Snyder his 500th career coaching win.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 27 points, and the Atlanta Hawks shot 8 of 12 from 3-point range in the fourth quarter to hold off a late Sacramento surge and beat the Kings 123-113 on Saturday night, delivering coach Quin Snyder his 500th career victory.
Jalen Johnson finished with 26 points and 10 assists, his 44th double-double of the season, and Jock Landale added 19 points and 13 rebounds — his first double-double since his Atlanta debut on Feb. 5 — to help the Hawks win their 15th game in the last 17.
"They just want the right result," Snyder said of Alexander-Walker and Johnson. "Both those guys, their confidence is really high as far as making a play, whether it's a shot or they find each other. I think that's the best part about it."
DeMar DeRozan led Sacramento with 22 points, and Maxime Raynaud had 18 points and 10 rebounds. The Kings, who have now dropped each of the first three games of a four-game road trip, fell to 19-56.
After trailing by as many as seven in the first half, Atlanta erupted for a 26-8 run over the final 5:54 of the second quarter to lead 66-54 at halftime. The Hawks maintained their lead throughout the third quarter before Sacramento tied the game at 97 with 7:56 remaining.
Atlanta closed the game on a 26-16 run, with 18 of those points coming from beyond the arc.
"You never know what you're going to need," Alexander-Walker said. "You never know the adjustments. And for me, being able to go on some deep runs, I've learned that it can be the most random guy that can just save a game."
Snyder, who received a celebratory water shower from his players following the final buzzer, became emotional as he reflected on reaching the milestone.
"When you've been in this league for a while, you realize that coaches — they keep your record — but it's really the players and the other people that allow for that to happen," Snyder said. "I've been really lucky to be able to coach not just really good players, but just really quality people. That makes it fun. It's your extended family."
Alexander-Walker was equally effusive about his coach.
"Quin has been nothing short of someone I can lean on — like a rock," he said. "Coaching in the G League way before the G League really took off. Just having that experience and time with the game and to be rewarded like that is amazing."
The Hawks played shorthanded for the second consecutive night. Dyson Daniels (toe), Onyeka Okongwu (finger) and Jonathan Kuminga (knee injury management) all sat out after playing in Friday's loss to the Boston Celtics. Landale and Mouhamed Gueye drew starts in place of Daniels and Okongwu.
Snyder credited Landale, who is playing through a shoulder injury, for his physicality in a critical role.
"He is not 100 percent by any means," Snyder said. "But with Onyeka out, his physicality — particularly on the glass — was big for us. The way that he plays gives our team a lift. He just plays hard."
Landale, for his part, expressed little concern about the shoulder.
"We've got a great medical staff here that's been really transparent with me, and the consensus is that in the offseason, when I've got time to rest, it'll go away," he said. "So I just said, 'Alright, screw it, let's go.' There's nothing else to think about."
Sacramento was also depleted, with Russell Westbrook (toe, injury management), Domantas Sabonis (knee), Zach LaVine (finger), Drew Eubanks (thumb), D'Andre Hunter (eye), and Keegan Murray (ankle) all out. Sabonis, LaVine, Eubanks, and Hunter are done for the season. Westbrook does not have a timetable for return.
Up Next: The Hawks host the Boston Celtics on Monday night. The Kings continue their road trip.