The Atlanta Hawks released their 2026-27 schedule on August 13. Fans can now circle the dates on their calendars when they want to take in the action at State Farm Arena. The Hawks face a busy start, playing seven games in 11 days, but the final stretch of the schedule might have an even bigger challenge than the season's opening week and a half.
The schedule. pic.twitter.com/lAmLPrvGxP
— Kevin Chouinard (@KLChouinard) August 13, 2026
Atlanta plays three of its last five contests on the road against the Toronto Raptors, Philadelphia 76ers, and Cleveland Cavaliers. The other two games are home matchups against the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics. The Hawks want to sit in a good playoff position before they face this gauntlet to end their 82-game journey.
These 5 teams provide quite a challenge for the Hawks
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors traded Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick for Kawhi Leonard (pending the NBA's investigation). This move is a clear roster upgrade and puts a much-needed first-option player next to Scottie Barnes. Toronto made the playoffs for the first time since 2022 last season, and it looks to avenge its seven-game opening series loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Raptors swept Atlanta last season, and all that damage came without Leonard. Their size, strength, and athleticism overpowered the Hawks in four double-digit point losses.
Atlanta shot just 40.4% from the field and averaged 16.5 turnovers in the series. The Lu Dort acquisition should help in the strength department, but the Hawks need more than just better defense to take a game from an upgraded Toronto squad.
Philadelphia 76ers
LeBron James was the talk of the NBA world after he signed with the 76ers. Philadelphia now has one of the strongest starting fives in the league: James, Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, and Joel Embiid. The 76ers upset the Celtics in the first round last season before New York swept them in the second round. They now have the star power to beat any team in the league on a given night.
Atlanta swept Philadelphia in the season series in 2025-26, shooting 38.7% from three-point range and dishing out 31.3 assists; however, this result will not come as easily next season.
New York Knicks
The Knicks are bringing back their championship core from last season except for Mitchell Robinson. They beat the brakes off the Hawks in the final three games of their first-round playoff series a few months ago. Atlanta brought in more physical strength and playmaking to address the holes the Knicks exposed in the playoffs, but only time will tell if it did enough to beat the reigning champions.
Boston Celtics
Boston brought in Paul George and Mitchell Robinson this summer. Jayson Tatum has had a healthy offseason after missing most of 2025-26 while recovering from a torn right Achilles tendon. Everything points to the Celtics remaining near the top of the Eastern Conference standings, even if George is a downgrade from Brown.
The Hawks went 2-2 against Boston last season, but Tatum only played in one matchup on March 27. That will not be the case in 2026-27. Atlanta has elite defenders in Dort and Dyson Daniels to throw at George and Tatum, but Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, and Robinson will still present challenges.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Hawks finish the season in Cleveland on April 11. Atlanta split the season with the Cavaliers in 2025-26, but Cleveland's roster is far from complete. James Harden remains a free agent, while Jonathan Kuminga and Peyton Watson are sign-and-trade candidates. If the Cavaliers can re-sign Harden and land Watson or Kuminga, their roster will look a lot stronger.
Atlanta and Cleveland split the season series 2-2 in 2025-26. However, the Cavaliers reached the Eastern Conference Finals, while the Hawks flamed out in the first round. Atlanta looks to jump further into the playoffs in 2027.
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