2026-10-08 · 7:00 PM CT · Preseason
Atlanta Hawks46-36
San Antonio Spurs62-20ESPN standings data retrieved October 6, 2026. NBA comparisons use the completed 2025–26 regular season. Each upcoming fixture labels preseason or regular-season status.
Atlanta Hawks2025–26 regular season
| Measure | Season average | League rank |
|---|---|---|
| STANDARD STATS | ||
| Points / game | 118.5 | 6 / 30 |
| Rebounds / game | 43.5 | 18 / 30 |
| Assists / game | 30.1 | 1 / 30 |
| Turnovers / game | 13.4 | 10 / 30 |
| Steals / game | 9.4 | 5 / 30 |
| Blocks / game | 4.7 | 18 / 30 |
| FG% | 47.4% | 13 / 30 |
| 3PT% | 37.1% | 5 / 30 |
| FT% | 77.4% | 20 / 30 |
| THE LAB MEASURES | ||
| eFG% | 55.4% | 10 / 30 |
| Turnover rate | 11.7% | 9 / 30 |
| Offensive rebound rate | — | — |
| Free-throw pressure | 0.234 | 27 / 30 |
San Antonio Spurs2025–26 regular season
| Measure | Season average | League rank |
|---|---|---|
| STANDARD STATS | ||
| Points / game | 119.8 | 3 / 30 |
| Rebounds / game | 47.0 | 2 / 30 |
| Assists / game | 28.1 | 9 / 30 |
| Turnovers / game | 12.6 | 4 / 30 |
| Steals / game | 7.5 | 25 / 30 |
| Blocks / game | 5.5 | 8 / 30 |
| FG% | 48.3% | 6 / 30 |
| 3PT% | 35.9% | 15 / 30 |
| FT% | 78.7% | 12 / 30 |
| THE LAB MEASURES | ||
| eFG% | 55.9% | 7 / 30 |
| Turnover rate | 11.2% | 4 / 30 |
| Offensive rebound rate | — | — |
| Free-throw pressure | 0.274 | 12 / 30 |
ESPN team totals and game box scores checked October 6. NBA season averages and ranks use 2025–26; preseason game results are shown separately. Ranks are within the league, with ties sharing a rank; a lower turnover rate is better. Season offensive rebound rate needs opponent defensive-rebound totals, which this feed does not supply. A dash means unavailable. This game’s offensive rebound rate uses the opponent’s actual rebounds.
eFG% gives a made three its extra value. Turnover rate estimates the share of plays lost before a shot. Offensive rebound rate is the share of available offensive rebounds collected. Free-throw pressure is FTA/FGA. The calculations are (FGM + 0.5 × 3PM)/FGA; TOV/(FGA + 0.44 × FTA + TOV); OREB/(OREB + opponent DREB); and FTA/FGA.
This is preseason. Use the team numbers as background and watch how the new lineups play together. No spread or Lab win probability is published for this game.
Last season 46-36 | 6th in the East | Lost in First Round
2025-26 efficiency 115.0 offense | 112.9 defense | +2.2 net per 100 possessions
Atlanta finished sixth at 46-36 and lost to New York in the first round after taking a 2-1 lead. The Hawks were much better after the All-Star break, with a plus-9.7 net rating, but the finishing schedule was favorable. That improvement is meaningful evidence. It is not a reason to project the late-season pace across an entire new campaign.
The front office added Luguentz Dort, Aaron Wiggins and Dorian Finney-Smith around Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. CJ McCollum remains an experienced scorer after the Trae Young trade changed the offense during last season. The wing additions give Quin Snyder more ways to apply pressure and protect a weaker defender without immediately losing shooting or size.
The unfinished question is top-end half-court creation. Johnson's development can raise the ceiling, but adding more useful defenders does not guarantee a clean shot against an organized playoff defense. The Hawks had 115.0 points per 100 possessions over the full season, a much more modest offense than the closing run suggests. Management improved the support group while keeping the harder shot-creation assignment largely with the existing leaders.
Projected finish is tenth in the East. Atlanta can improve its actual play while sliding in the standings as rivals regain stars or add them. We see a tight Play-In race rather than a collapse. A larger jump from Johnson, combined with repeatable offensive efficiency against strong opponents, would justify moving the Hawks higher.
Last season 62-20 | 2nd in the West | Western champions, NBA Finals loss to New York
2025-26 efficiency 118.7 offense | 110.4 defense | +8.4 net per 100 possessions
San Antonio went from a developing team to a 62-win Western Conference champion, then lost the Finals to New York in five games. Its 118.7 offensive rating and 110.4 defensive rating show why the rise was credible. Victor Wembanyama changed both ends, and the guards supplied enough creation to make the team more than a collection of promising young players.
Brian Wright added Tobias Harris and retained the core, including an extension for Julian Champagnie. Harris gives the forward rotation another experienced scorer. The larger potential gains come from Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper. Castle's assists per 36 minutes increased from 5.5 to 8.9, while Harper's stronger playoff role supplied evidence that more responsibility can be productive.
The front office has chosen development as its main answer to the Finals defeat. That is a defensible choice, but it leaves the same important test. When opponents reduce easy rim chances, can the guards and Wembanyama create efficient shots without rushing the next possession? De'Aaron Fox's fit with a growing Harper also requires a clear closing lineup. Harris helps the rotation, but does not settle those decisions.
Projected finish is first in the West. The two-way baseline was already excellent, and the age of the core supports another step forward. We expect a close race with Oklahoma City rather than an automatic runaway. The playoff challenge is converting that progress into better late-game execution.
A matching published game video is not available in the verified archive yet.
