The Atlanta Hawks open their home schedule against the Houston Rockets on Saturday, October 24, at 8 p.m. at State Farm Arena. Hawks vs Rockets follows a 132-125 season-opening win in Orlando and a Friday stop in Charlotte, and it starts a season of earlier home tip-offs and local broadcasts on Atlanta News First.
Key Takeaways
- The Hawks beat the Orlando Magic 132-125 on October 21, led by 31 points from Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
- Jalen Johnson posted 20 points, 14 rebounds and 6 assists in the opener, and Dyson Daniels added 20 points.
- Most Hawks home games this season tip off at 7 p.m., 30 minutes earlier than before; Saturday’s opener starts at 8 p.m.
- WANF Atlanta News First and Peachtree Sports are the team’s new broadcast partner, carrying every game that is not on national television.
- The Hawks have 10 nationally televised games this season, all scheduled after the new year.
- After the Rockets, the Hawks host the Miami Heat on October 28 and the Cleveland Cavaliers on October 29.
Hawks vs Rockets Tips Off Saturday at 8 p.m. at State Farm Arena
The Hawks opened the 2026-27 season with two road games, at Orlando and Charlotte, before returning downtown for the Rockets. Saturday’s 8 p.m. start is one of the exceptions to the team’s new standard home tip time. The following two home games, against the Heat on Wednesday, October 28, and the Cavaliers on Thursday, October 29, both start at 7 p.m.
The opener also marks the start of a busy stretch of home dates as fall settles over the city. Atlanta has shown all year that it turns out for big sporting crowds, from 56,000 runners at this year’s Peachtree Road Race to downtown game nights, and the Hawks’ home slate now joins that calendar.
Season-Opening Win in Orlando Shows Who Carries the Hawks Now
The Hawks beat the Magic 132-125 at Kia Center on October 21 in the season opener for both teams. Atlanta erased a double-digit deficit and used two 12-0 runs to take a 72-62 lead into halftime, outscoring Orlando 44-29 in the second quarter. The win extended Atlanta’s run against the Magic to six straight.
The player stats from the Atlanta Hawks vs Orlando Magic matchup point to a team spreading its scoring across several players. Nickeil Alexander-Walker led all Hawks with 31 points. Dyson Daniels and Jalen Johnson each scored 20, and Johnson added 14 rebounds and 6 assists. For Orlando, Paolo Banchero finished with 35 points and 10 assists.
Alexander-Walker’s Late Threes Closed Out the Magic
Orlando pulled within striking distance late, but Alexander-Walker answered with back-to-back three-pointers. The second, a 25-footer, gave Atlanta a 128-123 lead with 51 seconds left. It was the kind of late-game shot-making the Hawks will need from more than one player this season.
Earlier Hawks Tip-Offs Change the Game-Night Routine
Moving most home games to 7 p.m. is a small schedule change with a real effect on fans. An earlier start means families with school-age children can stay for the fourth quarter, and weeknight crowds can get home at a reasonable hour after the final buzzer. For a downtown arena drawing fans from across the metro area, a 30-minute shift can decide whether a Tuesday or Wednesday game is worth the trip.
Hawks Games Move to Local Broadcast Television
This season, WANF Atlanta News First and Peachtree Sports serve as the Hawks’ broadcast partner. Every game not carried nationally airs on Atlanta News First, which puts most of the schedule on local broadcast television. The Hawks’ 10 national television games all fall after the new year, so fans following the team through the fall will find nearly every game on the local channel.
Hawks Roster 2026 Moves Forward Without Trae Young
The Hawks enter the season with a reshaped roster. Former No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher and longtime point guard Trae Young are no longer with the team. In the offseason, Atlanta added wings Lu Dort and Aaron Wiggins, two defenders who also give head coach Quin Snyder more spacing on offense.
The changes come off a season in which the Hawks reached the playoffs without going through the Play-In Tournament, ending a run of four straight Play-In appearances. Saturday gives Atlanta fans their first look at this roster in person.
FAQs
What channel is the Hawks game on?
Most Hawks games air on WANF Atlanta News First, the team’s local broadcast partner along with Peachtree Sports. The team’s 10 nationally televised games, all after the new year, air on national networks.
What time does the Hawks vs Rockets game start?
The Hawks host the Houston Rockets on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 8 p.m. Eastern at State Farm Arena in downtown Atlanta.
Who won the Hawks season opener?
The Hawks won the season opener, beating the Orlando Magic 132-125 on October 21, 2026. Nickeil Alexander-Walker led Atlanta with 31 points.
Where do the Atlanta Hawks play home games?
The Atlanta Hawks play home games at State Farm Arena in downtown Atlanta.
When is the next Hawks home game after the opener?
After hosting the Rockets on October 24, the Hawks return home to face the Miami Heat on Wednesday, October 28, and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday, October 29, with both games starting at 7 p.m.
