It was an emotional return for fans and players alike, for this would be the last game Mike Bibby would play at Arco Arena for the rest of the year, and the first time in since 2000 he would play in a different uniform. He was warmly welcomed the former King only 4 days removed from his old team, the last survivor of the 2002 Western Conference Championship team. Fans showed him the appreciation of the many things he did for them as he waved to the crowd, and he will be missed by many Kings fans.
It would be a high scoring game , not to mention 4 technicals given out. Bibby knew the Kings' moves, and Shelden Williams and Anthony Johnson knew the Hawks moves. Despite the Kings knew that Bibby would give them everything he had, the Kings were ready to take on the Hawks and their new look team, and it would be a game to remember.
1ST QUARTER
After a jump ball between Brad Miller and highflyer Josh Smith, the Hawks struck first with a basket. It would be another tightly contested game like the previous Blazers game, each team exchanging shot after shot. Ron Artest and Kevin Martin led the charge against the Hawks with a combined 17/30 points in the first quarter. Bibby led the Hawks by hitting his first two 3 pointers. Since Bibby left, Beno Udrih would fill in the starting point guard spot, and he would end up doing a good job. Bibby would rest early because of his bruised heel, leaving fans wondering if he would come back.
2ND QUARTER
Kings head coach Reggie Theus got the first technical of the night and the second of his career. The game started to get intense as time progressed. Another T was thrown out to Brad Miller, but Joe Johnson missed it. Lead changes, ties, you get it. Newly acquired D-Leaguer Jeremy Richardson made a big splash on his new team by scoring 7 points. Josh Childress also had 7 points. The Hawks had a balanced attack with teamwork, but the Kings were right in the game as the Martin/Artest tandem combined for 38/62 1st half points (Martin 18, Artest 20). It was 62-60 a Kings lead.
3RD QUARTER
Kevin Martin came out with a 3 pointer, but Bibby answered right back with his 3rd stragiht of the night. The Hawks would start to take a tumble. Josh Smith would get T'd up when he got upset after he was called for a foul, but Martin missed the technical. For 3 1/2 minutes, the Kings went on a dry spell, allowing the Hawks to get back in the game. During that run, Martin got a T after fouling Marvin Williams, but Bibby missed the free throw. Shelden Williams, who just checked in, would get the Kings lead back at 85-84. Francisco Garcia hit a buzzer beater at the end of the quarter, and the Kings would lead 93-90 at the end of the 3rd quarter.
4TH QUARTER
For the second straight night on a back-to-back, the Kings would go down to the wire. Childress was impressive as he scored the last of a team high 18 points. Brad Miller only had 4 points through 3 quarters befan to light up Atlanta to finish with 12 points. Garcia would hit his fourth 3 pointer and finish with 14 points. Artest wouldn't let the Kings fall back, using his strentgh to stay in the game, scoring a total 29 points. Not only that, Artest completely shut down Johnson, who only had 4 points in the 4th quarter. Williams also had an impressive night and finised with 8 points as Udrih notched his 10th assist. The Kings would rout the Hawks in the quarter and win 119-107.
Highlights
Kings
Artest: 29 pts, 7 reb (3 off.), 3 ast, 3 stl, blk
Udrih: 18 pts, 10 ast, 0 TO, 3 reb
Martin: 26 pts, 3 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl
Miller: 12 pts (8 fourth qtr.), 13 reb, 4 ast, blk
Garcia: 14 pts (4/6 3pt.), 2 stl (bench)
Williams: 8 pts, 2 reb, 9 min (bench)
Spencer Hawes: 2 pts, 8 reb 13 min (bench)
Hawks
Al Horford: 12 pts, 12 reb, 3 ast, 3 blk, fouled out
Childress: 18 pts, 3 reb, 2 blk (bench)
Smith: 16 pts, 6 reb, 3 ast, 3 blk, stl,
Bibby: 17 pts, 3 ast
Williams: 13 pts, 6 reb, 2 ast, stl, blk
Johnson: 16 pts, 4 reb, 4 ast
Richardson: 7 pts, stl, 8 min (bench)
The Kings are now 2-0 since trading Bibby over the All-Star Break, while the Hawks are 0-2, slipping out of the playoff race. Both teams had got contributions from the bench, but the Kings had the edge. The Kings go on the road for the rest of February, including ATL this Wednesday. The Hawks continue to jell together with Bibby, and as soon as they do, they'll get back in the race.
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