The Hawks opened 2026-27 with a 132-125 win in Orlando and sit second in the East at 1-0. The turnaround is quick: at Charlotte on Oct. 23, then Houston at home on Oct. 24.
Wiggins Earned the Finish
Aaron Wiggins played 32 minutes off the bench and scored 16 on 5-of-9 shooting. He was on the floor for the last five minutes alongside Daniels, Jalen Johnson, Alexander-Walker and Okongwu. CJ McCollum went 7-of-9 in 25 minutes and Luguentz Dort was minus-1 in 28, and both sat for the close. Soaring Down South's Jack Simone wrote that Quin Snyder has already let Wiggins into his circle of trust. The bench had 34 points to the starters' 98, and nearly half of that came from one new wing.
The Whistle Problem
Brad Rowland of Locked On Hawks counted 14 Atlanta fouls and 20 Orlando free throws in the third quarter. That stretch fed an 11-0 Magic run that cut a 91-79 Hawks lead to 91-90. Paolo Banchero went 12-of-16 at the line on his way to 35 points and 10 assists. Atlanta got through it, but a defense built on Daniels and Okongwu can't put opponents in the bonus that early every night.
Two Games, Two Nights
Charlotte hosts Atlanta on Oct. 23 and Houston visits State Farm Arena on Oct. 24. The Hawks then play at Houston on Oct. 26, and Miami comes to town Oct. 28. Mouhamed Gueye stays out, with an estimated return of Nov. 20. The open question is who closes on the second night. Snyder can go back to Wiggins, or he can return to the McCollum group that posted a plus-20.3 net rating last season over 391 minutes.
When do the Hawks play next?
Atlanta plays at Charlotte on Oct. 23 and then hosts Houston on Oct. 24. The two games fall on consecutive nights.
Who led the Hawks in the win at Orlando?
Alexander-Walker scored 31 and went 5-of-8 from deep, and Dyson Daniels added 20 with five steals. Jalen Johnson finished with 20 points, 14 boards and six assists.
