Atlanta’s path through NBA Cup group play should give fans plenty to circle on the calendar, with the Hawks landing in a Group C that mixes familiar faces, upgraded rosters, and one big showdown at the end.
The league unveiled its 2026-27 regular-season schedules on August 13, and Atlanta opens with a packed stretch right away, playing seven games in 11 days. Once November arrives, the Cup picture comes into focus, and the Hawks will see the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards, and Charlotte Hornets in group action.
Atlanta and Boston look like the class of the group on paper. The Hawks finished last season 46-36 and claimed the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference, then spent the summer bringing back most of their core.
Jonathan Kuminga free agency talks are still ongoing, and Atlanta could still add him back on a deal. With that continuity, the team’s youth, and the comfort level under Quin Snyder, the Hawks have every reason to believe they’ll be better.
Boston, meanwhile, is walking into the season with a very different look after the Celtics stunned the league by sending Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George and draft capital. The 36-year-old is still viewed as a player who can help Boston chase another top seed in the East. Jayson Tatum also gets a full, healthy offseason, while Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, and Mitchell Robinson likely fill out a strong starting five.
That makes Atlanta’s Nov. 27 trip to TD Garden the game that could decide the group.
The other three teams bring their own hooks, and not just because of the standings. Washington made major moves at the 2026 trade deadline by adding Trae Young and Anthony Davis, then followed that up by taking AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 pick in this summer’s draft.
The Wizards already saw the Hawks twice at State Farm Arena after the deadline, but Young did not play because of injury. If everyone is available, Nov. 6 will be the first chance to see Young against his former team.
That matchup will also put Dyson Daniels in the spotlight as he tries to defend the four-time All-Star. Atlanta knows Young well, which should make the night as much about Snyder’s game plan as the star power on the floor.
Chicago also made a noticeable jump this summer, adding Norman Powell, Nic Claxton, and Caleb Wilson with the No. 4 pick in the 2026 draft. Wilson turned heads in Las Vegas Summer League with his explosive athleticism and defensive versatility, and the 20-year-old was born in Atlanta. He also brings offensive traits that echo Hawks star Jalen Johnson.
That should make Hawks-Bulls one of the most entertaining games in the group, with Johnson, Wilson, and Matas Buzelis all capable of attacking the rim and producing the kind of finishes that travel fast on highlight reels.
Charlotte is the last piece of the puzzle, and the Hornets created their own surprise by trading LaMelo Ball this summer after the draft. Atlanta’s own star guard was moved in February, and plenty of people expected the Hawks to slide backward after that.
Instead, they caught fire, won 21 of their last 30 games, and finished strong. The Hornets are hoping for that kind of turnaround themselves in 2026-27 after making their own strides last season.
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There is real incentive here beyond a good early result. Atlanta wants to put last seasons struggles in the rearview and prove the new-look group can handle a demanding schedule without stumbling out of the gate, especially against a team that exposed them in both meetings a year ago. If the Hawks can turn these games into something more competitive, it would say plenty about where this group stands before the calendar gets crowded. [Read more 🡒]