If you live in Atlanta, are visiting the city, or just want to catch a game at State Farm Arena, knowing when the Atlanta Hawks play can help you plan your day, your commute, and your night out downtown.
Below is a practical guide to Hawks game times, how the NBA schedule is structured, and what Atlanta fans should know about planning around game days.
The Atlanta Hawks, like every NBA team, follow the league’s standard calendar:
This means that most Hawks games are played between October and April, with extra games in the spring if the team earns a postseason spot.
The exact day and time of each game changes week to week, but there are common patterns that are helpful if you live in Atlanta and are planning ahead.
During the regular season, the Hawks most often play on:
It’s unusual for the team to have more than one day off in a row during busy stretches, and back-to-back games (on two consecutive days) do happen several times during the season.
Because Atlanta is on Eastern Time (ET), all home start times are listed in ET. While you should always check the specific game listing, many Hawks games fall into these windows:
| Type of Game | Typical Start Time (ET) | What Atlanta Fans Should Expect |
|---|---|---|
| Weeknight home games | 7:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. | Most downtown crowds arrive 6–7 p.m. |
| Saturday evening games | 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. | Popular for groups and date nights |
| Sunday afternoon games | 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. | Often more family-friendly times |
| National TV feature games | Can be 7:30 p.m. – 10 p.m. | Times may shift based on TV windows |
| Preseason home games | Usually evening | Similar to regular season nights |
Local fans often plan to arrive at State Farm Arena at least 30–60 minutes before tipoff to park, walk in, clear security, and find their seats.
When you ask, “When does the Atlanta Hawks play?”, you’ll see games listed as either:
From an Atlanta resident’s perspective:
Because NBA schedules change year to year and sometimes even within the season (for TV adjustments or special events), the best way to know exactly when the Hawks play next is to check one or more of these:
Team schedule on the Hawks’ official channels
Look for the full season schedule, which lists:
Local listings for Atlanta sports channels
Local sports networks and major national networks will list the exact tipoff times for television broadcasts.
Arena event calendar for State Farm Arena
The arena’s event calendar usually shows:
If you live or work in downtown Atlanta, checking the State Farm Arena calendar is also useful just to know when crowds and traffic are likely to increase in the area.
While exact times can vary, a common pattern for many NBA arenas, including in Atlanta, is:
Arriving early can help if you:
Because many Hawks games start in the early evening, it’s important for Atlanta residents to think about traffic and transit.
On game nights, expect heavier traffic:
Arriving at least 45–60 minutes before tipoff can make parking and walking to the arena more manageable.
For many Atlanta fans, MARTA is the smoothest way to get to and from Hawks games:
Because most home games start around 7–7:30 p.m., evening MARTA service is typically active, but checking train frequency and final departure times is smart if you’re heading home late after overtime or postgame activities.
While the majority of Hawks games are night games, especially during the week, there are some daytime and early evening matchups.
Day and afternoon games tend to:
If you’re planning a visit to Atlanta and want to build a full day downtown, looking for a Saturday or Sunday Hawks game can make scheduling easier.
If the Hawks qualify:
Whether you’re going to the game or just trying to avoid traffic, knowing when the Hawks play helps you plan your day in Atlanta.
Here are some practical tips:
Check the schedule at the start of each week
🕒 Note which nights the Hawks are home so you can plan commuting routes, dinners, or downtown activities.
Allow extra commute time on home game nights
If you work in Downtown or Midtown, add 15–30 minutes to your usual commute when the Hawks have a home game around 7–7:30 p.m.
Use MARTA for night games
This can be simpler than dealing with parking near the arena, especially if you’re coming from Decatur, Doraville, Sandy Springs, or East Point.
Look for earlier weekend tipoffs for families
Sunday afternoon or early Saturday games are often easier with kids than late 8 or 9 p.m. starts.
If you’re visiting Atlanta, build your day around the game time
For example:
Season:
Most common game times in Atlanta (ET):
Location of home games:
For the exact answer to “When does the Atlanta Hawks play?” on any given day, check the current season schedule and confirm the date, opponent, and listed tipoff time in Eastern Time, especially if you’re heading downtown in Atlanta or planning to watch from home.
