Yesterday we found out who will be playing on the NBA's Christmas slate of games on ESPN and ABC, but the Hawks were not featured in that list. They are rumored to be a part of TNT's national slate for MLK Day in a matchup against their 2022 first-round playoff opponent, the Miami Heat.
Today, news got out that the Atlanta Hawks will be playing the Houston Rockets in their first game of the season at State Farm Arena against the No. 3 overall pick, and Atlanta native, Jabari Smith.
Both squads are coming off of disappointing seasons, but for different reasons. The Rockets are still in a rebuilding period, finishing last in the Western Conference in each of the last two seasons. The Hawks, fresh off a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021, were expecting more than what they got in 2022 with a first-round playoff exit.
The full NBA slate of games is scheduled to be formally announced later today.