Atlanta Hawks and Charlotte Hornets Meet in Friday NBA Matchup

The Atlanta Hawks and the Charlotte Hornets square off on Friday night at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET, with the game broadcast live on ABC 9 and Atlanta News First, as well as available via live streaming services such as Fubo.

Both squads enter the early-season matchup carrying 1-0 records. The Hawks secured a 132-125 comeback victory over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night. Trailing by a double-digit deficit early in the game, Atlanta outscored Orlando 33-25 in the final quarter to seal the win. Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the charge for the Hawks with 31 points, including five three-pointers and crucial shots in the closing minutes.

Additional offensive production for Atlanta came from Jalen Johnson, who posted a double-double with 20 points and 14 rebounds. Dyson Daniels added 20 points and five steals, while CJ McCollum contributed 19 points in his role guiding the backcourt following the departure of Trae Young.

The Charlotte Hornets also started their campaign on a strong note, defeating the Brooklyn Nets 110-103 on Wednesday. The Hornets controlled the glass, outrebounding Brooklyn 43-38 and capitalizing on 20 second-chance points. Grayson Allen provided a spark off the bench with 21 points, connecting on five shots from beyond the arc.

Charlotte's debut performance also featured standout contributions from newcomer Naz Reid, who finished with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists. Dennis Schroder added 19 points and six assists, while Brandon Miller chipped in 18 points despite a challenging shooting night.

Projected starting lineups highlight the depth and new additions for both franchises. For the Hornets, the opening five is expected to feature Dennis Schroder, Sion James, Brandon Miller, Naz Reid, and Moussa Diabate. The Hawks' starting lineup is slated to feature CJ McCollum, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, Jalen Johnson, and Onyeka Okongwu.

Betting markets list the Hawks as 2.5-point favorites with an over/under set at 226.5 total points. Analysts note that home favorites coming off emotional opening-night road wins face historical challenges, making Friday's matchup an intriguing test for Atlanta against a deep and versatile Charlotte rotation.