Hawks vs. Hornets: A History of This High-Flying Rivalry

When Do the Atlanta Hawks and Charlotte Hornets Play Next?

Atlanta Hawks tickets and Charlotte Hornets tickets can be found on their respective team pages, along with schedule information.

Are the Atlanta Hawks and the Charlotte Hornets Rivals?

The Atlanta Hawks and the Charlotte Hornets both play in the NBA’s Eastern Conference and are Southeast Division foes. The Hornets have only been in the NBA since 1988 and have never finished better than fourth in the conference. The teams are not traditional rivals, as neither has had extended periods of success in the league and the Hawks vs. Hornets rivalry has only seen one playoff series matchup. But the fact that they are geographically near each other makes the Hawks vs. Hornets games mean more to the fans.

Who are the Atlanta Hawks’ Biggest Rivals?

Historically, the Atlanta Hawks have a long-standing rivalry with the Boston Celtics. The squads have played each other since 1949, when the Tri-Cities Blackhawks joined the NBA. The most intense years of the rivalry took place once the Hawks were in St. Louis, where they met the Celtics in the NBA Finals four out of five years between 1956 and 1961. The Celtics have bested the Hawks 11 out of 13 playoff series, including three out of four times in the NBA Finals.

The Hawks also have a spirited rivalry with the Orlando Magic. It began picking up steam in the mid-1990s when the Magic knocked the Hawks out of the playoffs in the second round. The squads met again back-to-back years in 2010 and 2011 with the Magic winning in 2010 and the Hawks getting revenge the next year. 

Who are the Charlotte Hornets’ Biggest Rivals?

The Hornets have not had much success since they formed in 1988. The team has gone through different locations, name changes, and personnel but hasn’t threatened for a championship yet. Typically, rivalries come from success and the Hornets don’t have much to speak of as the franchise has yet to advance past the second round of the postseason. 

Game Results Between the Hawks and the Hornets

The Hornets topped the Hawks in the first game of the season. The next matchup in the Hawks vs. Hornets rivalry is on February 14, 2024 in Charlotte. Atlanta hosts the final two contests of the year between the teams on March 23 and April 10. Check out the most recent head-to-head games between these divisional rivals below.

Atlanta Hawks vs. Charlotte Hornets History

The all-time battles in the Hawks vs Hornets history is incredibly close, as the two teams have met 131 times in the regular season and Atlanta has won 68 of them. Charlotte could catch them by next season to even up the series. The teams have only met once in the postseason, which came in the 1998 Eastern Conference First Round. The Hornets won that series three games to one. Glen Rice led the way, averaging 22.6 points in the four games. Anthony Mason averaged 19 points, and Vlade Divac and David Wesley each chipped in 11.5 and 12.2 average points per game, respectively. Steve Smith led Atlanta with nearly 25 points per game. Since then, Charlotte has only made the playoffs six times and hasn’t won a playoff series since the franchise was reactivated in 2004. 

Where Do the Charlotte Hornets and Atlanta Hawks Play?

The Atlanta Hawks play at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. State Farm Arena hosts the Hawks and is a concert venue with Topgolf simulators and deluxe suites. 

The Charlotte Hornets play at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Spectrum Center also hosts concerts and other events.