Eastern Conference Rivalry: Washington Wizards vs. Atlanta Hawks

When Do the Atlanta Hawks and Washington Wizards Play Next?

Atlanta Hawks tickets and Washington Wizards tickets can be found on their respective team pages, along with schedule information.

Are the Atlanta Hawks and the Washington Wizards Rivals?

The Atlanta Hawks and the Washington Wizards have faced off as different franchise variants since 1961. The Hawks-Wizards rivalry took hold when the teams were in St. Louis and Baltimore, respectively, during the mid-1960s and intensified once both franchises moved to their current locations in the 1970s. While both teams have bigger rivals, the Hawks and Wizards rivalry has been rather even over 60-plus years in both regular season and playoff contests.

Who are the Atlanta Hawks’ Biggest Rivals?

Because of how long the Hawks franchise has been around, it has built up rivalries with a few teams. But its main rival is the Boston Celtics, which dates back to 1949. The St. Louis Hawks and Celtics faced off in four of five NBA finals from 1957 to 1961, with the Celtics winning three of them. Atlanta won it’s lone NBA title in 1958. The Hawks were moved to the Eastern Conference in 1970, a few years after it relocated to Atlanta, and the team has lost eight of nine playoff series against the Celtics since. The Hawks’ other biggest rival is the Orlando Magic.

Who are the Washington Wizards’ Biggest Rivals?

The Washington Wizards’ biggest rival is the Cleveland Cavaliers. The two have faced off in five playoff series to date. Unfortunately for Washington, it has only won one of those. In 1976 and 1977, the then-Washington Bullets met the Cleveland Cavaliers in the playoffs. The Cavaliers won the first year but the Bullets got revenge the next year, its lone win. From 2006-2008, the Cavaliers and Wizards met each postseason in the first round. Led by LeBron James, the Cavs took all three series. The Wizards also have rivalries with the Chicago Bulls and Toronto Raptors.

Game Results Between the Hawks & Wizards

The Hawks Wizards games for the 2023-2024 season went in favor of Atlanta, as it won three out of four. The Hawks won the first three games but the Wizards salvaged the final contest.

Atlanta Hawks vs. Washington Wizards History

The Hawks vs Wizards history features multiple cities, team names, and playoff series. The Wizards have called Chicago, Baltimore, and Washington D.C. home, while the Hawks have been in St. Louis and Atlanta during their time together in the NBA. The overall head-to-head record favors Atlanta, as it’s won 181 games versus 167 losses. Washington has won more in the playoffs, winning 15 games and four of the six series.

The first postseason meeting between both teams was in the 1965 Western Division Semifinals when the Baltimore Bullets beat the St. Louis Hawks. The next year, the Hawks got revenge on the Bullets. In 1978, the franchises met in the Eastern Conference First Round with the Washington Bullets sweeping the series. The teams met in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 1979 and the Bullets won in seven games. Fast forward to 2015, the rivalry renewed in the Semifinals with the Hawks taking the series. But the Wizards won the most recent postseason series in 2017.

Where Do the Washington Wizards and Atlanta Hawks Play?

The Washington Wizards play at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. Capital One Arena is home to the Wizards, the NHL’s Washington Capitals, and the Georgetown Hoyas college basketball team.

The Atlanta Hawks play at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. State Farm Arena is also a concert and events space.