Hawks shoot for 8th straight win over Kings

The Atlanta Hawks will resume a season-high six-game road trip in California's capital Sunday searching for an eighth straight win over the Sacramento Kings.

After opening the trek with an impressive win in Indiana, Atlanta has stumbled a bit, dropping two straight, including Friday's 86-86 heartbreaker to the Detroit Pistons. Tayshaun Prince scored 17 points and hit the go-ahead shot in the lane with 24.3 seconds left in that to lift Detroit.

Josh Smith scored 21 to go with seven rebounds for the Hawks, who have lost the back-to-back contests after winning three in a row. Joe Johnson ended with 18 points and Marvin Williams had 16

"They had a good third quarter," Smith said. "I think we didn't let them feel us defensively the whole game. They shot a high percentage and whenever you give a team that much of a good chance to make shots you're not going to win that many basketball games."

The Kings, meanwhile, have started a season-long nine-game homestand by winning two straight, including a 110-97 triumph over Dallas on Friday.

Marcus Thornton and Tyreke Evans scored 17 points apiece in that one to lead seven Kings players in double figures, as Sacramento ran past the Mavericks to snap a 10-game skid against Dallas.

DeMarcus Cousins tallied 15 points, while impressive rookie Isaiah Thomas ended with 14 as Sacramento improved to a solid 10-6 as the host on the season. Donte Green ended with 11 points, one more than teammates John Salmons and Francisco Garcia.

"We just did a good job of playing as a team tonight," said Thomas after the game. "Everything and everybody was really clicking and we did the game plan on the defensive end."

This game is the only scheduled between the two teams this season.