AP News, December 11th, 2006
Brad Miller scored a season-high 19 points and the Kings snapped a five-game losing steak with a 117-92 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday night.
Ahead 53-40 at the half, Sacramento had its highest scoring quarter of the season, outscoring the Hawks 39-22 in the third to take a 92-62 lead. Mike Bibby connected on a 3-pointer with a second left and had 11 points in the period.
Corliss Williamson scored a season-high 18 points and Bibby had 16 points for the Kings. John Salmons and Kevin Martin had 14 points each, and Shareef Abdur-Rahim added 11.
Salim Stoudamire scored a season-high 26 points for Atlanta, which had no starters in double figures. Solomon Jones scored 14 points and Tyrone Lue had 10 for the Hawks, who have lost two straight and three of four.
Joe Johnson, the NBA's fourth leading scorer, sat out the game with a strained calf suffered in a loss Friday night to the Lakers. Johnson had tied for the lead or led the Hawks in scoring every game this season.
Minus Johnson, the Hawks looked out of sync on offense. They had 16 first-half turnovers and finished with 26 in losing their seventh straight against the Kings.
The lopsided victory was a welcome respite for the Kings, who had lost three of their previous four games by three points or less, including an overtime defeat Thursday at home against Miami.
It was a breakout game for Miller, who has struggled, partly due to an injured foot that caused him to miss eight straight games in November. The Kings starting center made seven of nine shots and converted five of seven free throws.
Notes:@ The Kings made 12 of 17 free throws in the second quarter. ... Atlanta has surpassed 100 points in only one of its last 12 games. ... Kings starting forward Kenny Thomas was sick and missed his first game of the season. ... Atlanta coach Mike Woodson and assistant Larry Drew were players on the first Sacramento team in 1985-86 when the franchise moved from Kansas City.
