Atlanta Hawks Surge: Playoff Push Gains Momentum with 11-Game Win Streak

The Atlanta Hawks are less than two wins away from securing fifth place in the Eastern Conference, fueled by an impressive 11-game winning streak – the longest active streak in the NBA as of March 19, 2026.

From Playoff Doubts to Contenders

Just weeks before the NBA All-Star Weekend, the Hawks’ playoff hopes appeared dim. Holding a mere half-game lead over the Chicago Bulls as the tenth seed in the Eastern Conference, they trailed the Toronto Raptors (fifth seed) by 6.5 games and the Philadelphia 76ers (sixth seed) by 5.5 games.

Dramatic Turnaround

Yet, a remarkable turnaround has seen the Hawks (38-31) climb to eighth place and within striking distance of fifth or sixth. Following Wednesday’s win, Atlanta was just 1.5 games behind the Raptors for fifth place and a half-game behind the Orlando Magic for sixth. The Hawks have erased a 6.5-game deficit to the 76ers since February 19th and currently hold a one-game lead over them for eighth place, with a season series advantage against Philadelphia.

Head-to-Head Advantage

Atlanta has won all games played against the 76ers this season, providing a crucial tiebreaker advantage. The Hawks share the same record as the Miami Heat, but currently do not hold the playoff tiebreaker, as Miami leads the season series 2-1. The two teams will meet again on April 12th in a potentially pivotal matchup.

Recent Player Cohesion

A key factor in the Hawks’ resurgence has been the integration of new players acquired before the trade deadline. Seven new players joined the team, requiring time to build chemistry and adjust to new roles within the rotation.

“Credit goes to all of them. It’s hard to place yourself in their shoes. And I think the thing that stands out more than anything is that the guys had to adapt to each other, which really means adapting roles. I think it was key for us to really settle in. And, actually, this is the first night where that actually happened with Jonathan (Kuminga) as well, and it required all of them to really have a selfless attitude.”

Defensive Dominance

The Hawks have demonstrated suffocating defense since the All-Star break, boasting the NBA’s best net rating and the second-best defensive rating, trailing only the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Remaining Schedule

Despite having the sixth-toughest remaining schedule, the Hawks have an opportunity to continue their climb. According to Tankathon, the Raptors and Magic have easier schedules, although the Heat’s schedule is ranked 12th, potentially increasing the importance of the April 12th game against Miami. The Magic currently lead the Southeast Division, and the Hawks hold an 8-6 record within the division, compared to the Heat’s 7-7 record.

Upcoming Games

The Hawks face a challenging stretch of six games in nine days, beginning with back-to-back games against the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors on Friday and Saturday, respectively.