Dwight Howard Lifts Atlanta Hawks Over the Sacramento Kings, 106-95; All Hawks Starters Scored in Double Figures

Dwight Howard had 18 points, 11 rebounds, and four blocked shots to power the Atlanta Hawks in beating the Sacramento Kings, 106-95, on Monday at Philips Arena.

Paul Millsap added 13 points and 14 rebounds, Kyle Korver and Dennis Schroder each scored 17, and Kent Bazemore shot 11 points as all the Atlanta Hawks starters scored in double figures. With the win over the Sacramento Kings, the Atlanta Hawks soared to their first 3-0 start in the last five NBA seasons, ESPN reported.

@ATLHawks #HawksHeadline all starters in double digits, as we scare away (Boo)gie and the Kings!

— Braden (@BradenTheGOAT) November 1, 2016

The Atlanta Hawks also limited center DeMarcus Cousins to 14 points and 12 rebounds after the latter averaged 30 points in the Sacramento Kings' first three games. However, the Atlanta Hawks' efforts didn't keep DeMarcus Cousins from becoming the Sacramento Kings' career leader in double-doubles with 246.

Rudy Gay scored 22 points to lead the scoring for the Sacramento Kings (2-2). Matt Barnes added 14 points, and Ben McLemore finished with 12 for the Sacramento Kings.

The Atlanta Hawks scored 31 points in the second quarter to take a 53-44 halftime lead. The Sacramento Kings opened the third with a 23-7 run to take a 66-60 lead with 5:58 left in the quarter. 

The Sacramento Kings led 83-79 early in the fourth before the Atlanta Hawks retaliated with an 11-0 blast, including Kent Bazemore's 3-pointer that gave the Atlanta Hawks the lead for good. 

The Atlanta Hawks will next host the Los Angeles Lakers in Philips Arena on Wednesday, while the Sacramento Kings will face the Heat at Miami on Tuesday night.

Meanwhile, negotiations for a contract extension between the Atlanta Hawks and Tim Hardaway Jr. continued on Monday. The Atlanta Hawks have until 11:59 p.m. Monday to extend Tim Hardaway Jr.'s  rookie contract to keep the latter from becoming a restricted free agent next season, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. On Monday, the Atlanta Hawks also released center Edy Tavares and inked forward Ryan Kelly.