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Sacramento Kings Win 5th Straight Behind De’Aaron Fox’s Career Night

By Sean Bialaszek

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - OCTOBER 21: De'Aaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings brings the ball up court against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half of a NBA game at the Chesapeake Energy Arena on October 21, 2018 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by J Pat Carter/Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - OCTOBER 21: De'Aaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings brings the ball up court against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half of a NBA game at the Chesapeake Energy Arena on October 21, 2018 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by J Pat Carter/Getty Images) /
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The Sacramento Kings are off to their best start in 16 years, and De’Aaron Fox’s huge game on Thursday night helped get them there.

The Sacramento Kings are rolling. On Thursday night, they beat the Atlanta Hawks by a final score of 146-115 for their fifth consecutive win. They improved to 6-3 on the back of second-year guard De’Aaron Fox, who had a career night.

Fox, last year’s fifth overall pick out of Kentucky, was listed on the team’s injury report heading into Thursday’s game in Atlanta with a back ailment. The back was obviously fine, as he put his team on it and had the best night of his young career. Fox picked up his first career triple-double with 31 points, 15 assists, and 10 rebounds, setting career-highs in all three categories.

Before Thursday, Fox had never reached 30 points in an NBA game, with a previous best of 26. He had reached 10 assists five times, but had never gotten over that plateau. It was also his first game with double-digit rebounds.

Fox was a human highlight reel against Atlanta. He was good on nine of his 13 shot attempts, including three of four from three-point territory. He got to the rim at will, and made the most of his opportunities when he was fouled. Fox hit 10 of his 11 shots from the stripe. He found teammates all over the court, open in the corner, at the top of the key, or driving to the rim.

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The 20-year-old Fox, who doesn’t turn 21 until December 20th, became the youngest player in NBA history to record a 30-point, 15-assist, and 10-rebound game, according to Bleacher Report.

Fox also helped Buddy Hield score a season-high 27 points, as the third-year guard made 10 of his 17 shot attempts, including five of seven from deep. Fox assisted on 16 of Hield’s points, including four three-pointers.

It was also a momentous night for the Kings as a team. Their 146 points are the most they’ve scored in a non-overtime game since January 2nd, 1993, when they set a franchise record with 154 points. It was their first win in Atlanta since the 2005-2006 season, snapping an 11-game losing streak.

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They’ve won five straight games for the first time since the 2015-2016 season, when they also won five straight from January 14th to January 23rd, 2016. The win brings them to 6-3 on the season, the first time they’ve won six of their first nine games since the 2002-2003 season, during which they won 59 games overall.

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