All 30 NBA franchises revealed their 2026-27 regular-season schedules on August 13. Atlanta starts its season in busy fashion, playing seven games in 11 days. When November hits, NBA Cup qualifying starts, and the Atlanta Hawks have some intriguing matchups in their group.
The league placed the Hawks in Group C with the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards, and Charlotte Hornets. Atlanta and Boston were the only two playoff teams in the group last season. However, Chicago, Charlotte, and Washington made several big moves since 2025-26, leading to some interesting matchups in the upcoming campaign.
Hawks enter group as clear top 2 team
Atlanta finished last season as the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference at 46-36. It brought back most of its core players this summer. Jonathan Kuminga free agency talks are still ongoing, and the team could bring the forward back on a deal as well. The chemistry, youth, and familiarity under head coach Quin Snyder all point to the Hawks improving this season.
The Celtics shocked the NBA world when they traded Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George and draft capital.
The 36-year-old remains more than capable of helping Boston secure another top seed in the Eastern Conference. Jayson Tatum will have a full, healthy offseason, and Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, and Mitchell Robinson likely round out the Celtics' great starting five.
On paper, Atlanta and Boston stand out as the clear top two squads in the group. If the Hawks can take care of business against the other three squads, they put themselves in a great position for the final group showdown with the Celtics on Nov. 27 at TD Garden.
Wizards, Bulls, and Hornets all have storylines beyond the final score
Washington made significant trades at the 2026 trade deadline, adding Trae Young and Anthony Davis. It also took AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 pick in this summer's draft. The Wizards played the Hawks at State Farm Arena twice after the deadline, but Young did not suit up due to injury. Barring any injuries, Nov. 6 will be the first time Young plays against his former squad.
It will certainly be fun to watch Dyson Daniels defend the four-time All-Star. The Hawks know Young's strengths and weaknesses, so the chess match between Snyder and the star guard will be interesting to monitor throughout the night.
Chicago upgraded its roster this summer, adding Norman Powell, Nic Claxton, and Caleb Wilson, the No. 4 pick in the 2026 draft. Wilson impressed in the Las Vegas Summer League with his high-flying athleticism and defensive versatility. The 20-year-old was born in Atlanta and possesses similar offensive attributes to the Hawks' franchise star, Jalen Johnson.
Hawks fans can expect some high-flying, fast-paced action against Chicago this season. Between Johnson, Wilson, and Matas Buzelis driving to the rim, there is likely to be some highlight finishes in this matchup.
Charlotte surprisingly traded LaMelo Ball this summer after the draft, while the Hawks moved their star guard in February. Many fans thought Atlanta would be much worse after trading Young, but the team thrived and finished the season winning 21 of its last 30 games. The Hornets are hoping for a similar outcome in 2026-27 after they took big steps forward last season.
Hawks fans will not want to miss these exciting games, as Atlanta looks to advance past group play into the knockout stage.
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