The Atlanta Hawks schedule just dropped a massive bomb on fans. Per Peachtree Hoops, the team locked in a blockbuster matchup for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The Philadelphia 76ers are heading to State Farm Arena on January 18. That game kicks off at 2:30 PM ET and hits NBC. It’s the biggest basketball event in Atlanta this winter. The timing is perfect for a heated rivalry to explode.
Trae Young Faces His Old Squad
Everyone in Atlanta knows the real story here is Trae Young. Peachtree Hoops reports the Hawks landed in East Group C for the NBA Cup. This group includes the Washington Wizards, who now call Young their player. All four of these Cup games land on a Friday. Young’s return to Atlanta as a Wizards active roster member will likely feature one of these matchups. A star playing against his former home always brings out the best and worst in a crowd, and the emotional weight of that return is impossible to ignore.
The Cup Group Mix Is Brutal
The path to the trophy looks incredibly tough for this squad. According to Peachtree Hoops, the Hawks must face the Boston Celtics and Charlotte Hornets. They also have to deal with the Chicago Bulls and the Washington Wizards. The league spread the teams based on their records from last season. This means Atlanta got stuck with some of the toughest teams in the East. There is no easy road to the In-Season Tournament final. Every game in this group will feel like a playoff battle. Can the Hawks survive a gauntlet that includes Boston?
MLK Day Is The Real Test
The NBA released a full slate of games for the holiday weekend. Peachtree Hoops notes the Sixers game is the only Atlanta matchup on the list. The Pistons play the Cavs at noon, while the Timberwolves face the Knicks later. The Rockets and Grizzlies play the night cap. But the afternoon slot belongs to Atlanta. A win on MLK Day would send a shockwave through the league. Losing to a top-tier team on national TV would hurt the momentum. The 2026-27 season starts tomorrow with the full schedule release.
