The Charlotte Hornets host the Atlanta Hawks in the 2026-27 NBA Regular Season on Friday, October 23, 2026, at 7 p.m. ET (19:00 local venue time) at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. In the United States, the matchup will be broadcast live on WSOC 9 (ABC), WANF (Atlanta News First), WPCH.2 (Peachtree Sports Network), WZBJ 24, NBA League Pass, DAZN, Prime Video, and Fubo.
The contest marks the home opener for the Charlotte Hornets as both Eastern Conference teams enter the court with a 1-0 record, aiming to start the regular season at 2-0. On Wednesday (21), the Charlotte Hornets defeated the Brooklyn Nets on the road in New York by a score of 110 to 103, securing an opening-game victory for the sixth consecutive year. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Hawks opened their campaign with a 132 to 125 road win against the Orlando Magic in Orlando. The date and final score of the most recent previous matchup between the two franchises have not been confirmed.
Where to watch Charlotte Hornets vs Atlanta Hawks live
Fans in the United States can follow the Eastern Conference game through local over-the-air television stations, pay-per-view, and streaming platforms.
- WSOC 9 (ABC): over-the-air TV
- WANF (Atlanta News First): over-the-air TV
- WPCH.2 (Peachtree Sports Network): over-the-air TV
- WZBJ 24: over-the-air TV
- NBA League Pass: pay-per-view
- DAZN: streaming
- Prime Video: streaming
- Fubo: streaming
Start time and venue for Charlotte Hornets vs Atlanta Hawks
The game takes place in North Carolina with the following confirmed schedule and venue details:
- Date: Friday, October 23, 2026
- Start time: 7 p.m. ET (19:00 local time at the venue)
- Venue: Spectrum Center, in Charlotte
- Competition and stage: NBA (North American basketball league) — Regular Season
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How the Charlotte Hornets enter the game
Led by head coach Charles Lee, the Charlotte Hornets are playing their first season without guard LaMelo Ball since 2020. In the 110 to 103 season-opening victory over the Brooklyn Nets, newcomers Grayson Allen and Naz Reid paced the offense with 21 points and 20 points, respectively, alongside forward Brandon Miller.
After the win in New York, Charles Lee evaluated the team’s initial performance and emphasized their defensive approach for the campaign. “Average, but that’s fine. It’s the first game of the season. There’s some situational things that we can continue to improve on and I know that we will,” Lee said. “No. 1, our defense. We set a tone – that’s going to be our identity no matter what’s going on offensively. We want to really commit to that end of the floor,” the head coach added.
Forward Brandon Miller also spoke about taking the court for the regular season opener. “Being out there competing at the highest level is always the fun part. Of course, we got the win on top of that, getting all the wrinkles and kinks out,” Miller stated.
Regarding the injury report, guards Kon Knueppel (hamstring injury) and Coby White (calf injury), as well as power forward Grant Williams (hamstring injury), missed the opening game against the Brooklyn Nets. White and Knueppel remain without a defined return date. “I think that there is still no timeline on those guys,” Charles Lee stated. Because the official starting five has not yet been confirmed, the head coach is expected to finalize the lineup prior to tip-off.
How the Atlanta Hawks enter the game
Coached by Snyder, the Atlanta Hawks arrive in Charlotte after scoring 132 points in their 132 to 125 road triumph over the Orlando Magic. In that contest, Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the team with 31 points, while Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels recorded 20 points each.
Evaluating the squad’s performance at the start of the 2026-27 schedule, Snyder pointed out the natural adjustments of the early games. “It’s early in the year, so you’re going to have some of that … until your habits kind of come together,” Snyder said.
For the matchup at the Spectrum Center, the Atlanta Hawks list power forward Mouhamed Gueye as out due to a foot injury. With the official starting lineup not yet announced by the franchise, the coaching staff will determine the initial five before the game.
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Officiating for Charlotte Hornets vs Atlanta Hawks
The officiating crew for the game between the Charlotte Hornets and the Atlanta Hawks has not yet been announced, as the NBA releases the official referee assignments only hours before tip-off, utilizing its Replay Center system for video reviews during the match.
