Hawks center Jason Collins will start today's game as the Hawks will use him to match up with Kings rookie DeMarcus Cousins. The move to a big lineup will also cause match-up problems for the Kings as they try and figure out how to guard Josh Smith at the small forward position.
On the injury front, coach Drew said that Al Horford was nursing a sore ankle that he originally injured against Toronto. Horford has not missed a game this season and will start today. Coach Drew also said that injured small forward Marvin Williams is improving but is still listed as day to day with no timetable on returning. Today's game will be the 12th game Williams has missed this season and the eighth consecutive.
When asked about today's game, Drew responded that today's challenge was not to get caught looking ahead to tomorrow's marquee match-up in Miami with the Heat. While the Kings have the worst record in the NBA they went into New York and defeated the Knicks last Friday.