Across six Oct. 30 games on record the franchise is 3-3, the same mark this Hawks team carries into New Orleans. Okongwu's 29 and 12 against Cleveland showed how a young core can win a night the hard way.
A Calendar Split Down Middle
On this date the franchise has beaten the Knicks 121-104 in 1963, Detroit 122-95 in 1965 and Phoenix 122-101 in 1973, the Omni's second season, when Pete Maravich and Lou Hudson led the roster. It has lost to Fort Wayne 72-91 in 1954, the season after drafting Bob Pettit, at Cleveland 114-136 in 2018 and at Philadelphia 94-122 in 2021. The current group sits at 3-3, seventh in the East, with the 3-2 Cavaliers holding sixth by half a game. In 2018, 114 points in Cleveland lost by 22. Wednesday, 114 against Cleveland was enough.
Bigs Who Carry the Night
The 1958 title, the franchise's only one, came behind a 50-point game from Pettit. Nobody needs Onyeka Okongwu to be Pettit, but his Cavs line was the closest thing to a frontcourt takeover this roster has: 29 points, 12 rebounds, 11-of-17 shooting, 4-of-6 from deep, and an offensive rebound and putback with 28 seconds left that put Atlanta up three. Quin Snyder called him "terrific," per Brad Rowland of Locked On Hawks. Aaron Wiggins added 20 off the bench at plus-17, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker made both free throws to set the final margin.
Back to a Former Home
Weak attendance sent 12 Hawks home games to New Orleans' Lakefront Arena in 1984-85, and the team went 6–6 there. Saturday's trip is lower stakes, but it matters. Jamahl Mosley's Pelicans are 1-4, with Dejounte Murray and Jordan Poole day-to-day and Yves Missi out. Atlanta is still without Mouhamed Gueye, whose left foot injury carries an estimated return of Nov. 20, and Henri Veesaar. Indiana on Nov. 2 and Washington on Nov. 4 follow. Jalen Johnson is 24, Dyson Daniels 23, Kingston Flemings 19. The franchise has spent 67 seasons without a title, and a core this young gets judged on whether it can bank road wins against teams that are already behind.
What is the Hawks' all-time record on October 30?
Across six Oct. 30 games on record, the franchise is 3-3. The most lopsided win was 122-95 over Detroit in 1965, and the worst loss was 94-122 at Philadelphia in 2021.
Did the Hawks ever play home games in New Orleans?
Yes. In 1984-85, weak attendance sent 12 Hawks home games to New Orleans' Lakefront Arena, and Atlanta went 6–6 there.
