The NBA is shifting tip-off times for a pair of Monday games due to weather concerns, and it’s going to impact four Eastern Conference squads: the Indiana Pacers, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Charlotte Hornets.
Here’s what’s changing: the Pacers-Hawks matchup in Atlanta will now tip off at 1:30 p.m. ET, while the Sixers-Hornets game in Charlotte is bumped to a **3:00 p.m.
ET** start. Both adjustments are weather-related, and the league announced the changes through its communications team.
Let’s break down what these teams are walking into.
Pacers Look to Build on Momentum in Atlanta
Indiana wraps up a five-game road swing with this early afternoon tilt at State Farm Arena. It’s been a rough stretch overall, with three straight losses before the Pacers finally snapped the skid in dramatic fashion-pulling off a 117-114 upset over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday. That win wasn’t just needed, it was gutsy, and it gives Indiana a shot of confidence heading into a building where they’ve already been outplayed once this season.
Back on October 31, Atlanta handled Indiana with relative ease, cruising to a 128-108 win. This time around, the Pacers will be hoping their offense-one of the league’s most explosive when it’s clicking-can find its rhythm early in the matinee setting.
Hawks Riding a Mini-Wave
Atlanta, meanwhile, is trending in the right direction. The Hawks are coming off back-to-back wins, first on the road against the Memphis Grizzlies and then at home against the Phoenix Suns. That’s the kind of momentum this team has been searching for all season, and they’ll look to keep it rolling against a Pacers squad that can score in bunches but has shown some defensive vulnerabilities.
With Trae Young orchestrating the offense and Dejounte Murray finding his groove, Atlanta’s backcourt has been a handful lately. If they control the tempo early, the Hawks could be in position to sweep the season series.
Sixers Aim to Regroup in Charlotte
The 76ers are coming off a tough home loss to the New York Knicks on Saturday-a game where they struggled to find consistency on both ends of the floor. Now, with a quick turnaround and a shift in schedule, they’ll try to bounce back on the road against a Charlotte team that’s been quietly heating up.
Philly still has the star power and depth to impose its will, but this matchup isn’t a gimme. The Sixers edged the Hornets 125-121 earlier this season in Philadelphia, but Charlotte has been showing signs of life.
Hornets Finding a Spark
Don’t look now, but the Hornets have won three of their last four, including back-to-back victories over the Orlando Magic and the Washington Wizards. They’re starting to play with more cohesion, and they’ve got a little revenge on their minds after that close loss to the Sixers back in October.
Charlotte’s young core is starting to gel, and with the game moved to mid-afternoon, the Hornets will have a chance to catch Philly off guard if they come out with energy and pace.
Bottom line: Monday’s schedule shake-up may have been weather-driven, but it sets the stage for two intriguing early matchups. The Pacers and Hawks both have something to prove in a potential shootout, while the Sixers and Hornets square off in a game that suddenly feels a lot more competitive than it might’ve looked a few weeks ago.