In the six past Oct. 26 games on record, the Hawks are 2-4, and all four losses came away from home. Monday they visit a 3-0 Rockets team that beat them 121-114 on Saturday.
A Date With a Road Problem
The Hawks have played on Oct. 26 six times in the seasons on record, and the split is 2-4. The wins came at home: 112-84 in 1957 and 127-103 against Detroit in 1963. The losses all came on the road: 102-118 at Cincinnati in 1962, 107-126 at Cincinnati in 1970, 110-127 at Portland in 1973 and 91-117 at Milwaukee in 1985. Monday is another road date, at a Houston team that has not lost.
The 1957 Template
The 1957-58 Hawks won on this date, then went on to the franchise's only title, 4-2 over Boston behind a 50-point game from Bob Pettit. That was St. Louis, and the drought since stands at 67 seasons. Today's group is built differently, around Jalen Johnson, who had 26 points and 16 assists against Houston on Saturday. The old team won with one star carrying it. This one needs Nickeil Alexander-Walker's 18 and Dyson Daniels to hold up their end.
What Houston Costs Atlanta
The Hawks are 2-1 and project to 55-27, with the sixth-place Pacers level with them in the standings. Houston has Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson, though Steven Adams is out and Marcus Smart is day-to-day. Atlanta shot 26.5% from three on Saturday after starting 5-27. Locked On Hawks' Brad Rowland noted the Hawks won the possession battle and took 48% of the rebounds, and he tied much of the loss to shooting variance. If the shots fall this time, history matters less. Heat, Cavaliers and Pelicans follow, and the Hawks also play in New Orleans on Halloween.
What is the Hawks' record on Oct. 26 in past seasons?
In the six past games on that date on record, Atlanta is 2-4. Both wins came at home and all four losses came on the road.
How did the Hawks lose to the Rockets on Saturday?
Houston won 121-114 in Atlanta's home opener. The Hawks started 5-27 from three and shot 26.5% for the game, though Johnson had 26 points and 16 assists.
