What happened: The Atlanta Hawks have secured the bulk of their early-season victories against the lower tier of the Eastern Conference standings. Through the opening 12 games of the 2026-27 season, Atlanta has capitalized on matchups against conference opponents mired in extended slides. The upcoming schedule sets up consecutive meetings against two more teams from that struggling group.
Why it matters: Atlanta holds the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference at 7-5 despite a 124-114 defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday. Banked wins against sub-.500 conference opponents provide essential cushion in the standings before the schedule turns toward top-tier contenders.
By the numbers: Atlanta Hawks: 7-5 record (.583), 5th in Eastern Conference; Eastern Conference bottom-six teams: 25 combined consecutive losses.
What to watch: The Hawks look to rebound from Monday's loss as they begin a two-game stretch against bottom-tier Eastern Conference opponents.