The NBA schedule on February 22, 2026 featured an important Eastern Conference matchup as the Atlanta Hawks hosted the Brooklyn Nets at State Farm Arena. Both teams entered the game after the All-Star break, but their season situations were very different. Atlanta was fighting to strengthen its position in the Play-In race, while Brooklyn was struggling near the bottom of the standings and dealing with poor form on the road.
The Hawks came into this game as heavy favorites due to their stronger roster, home advantage, and better offensive production. Brooklyn, meanwhile, had lost multiple recent games and continued to face issues with scoring consistency and injuries in the frontcourt. With Atlanta averaging nearly 10 more points per game than the Nets and Brooklyn’s offense ranking among the lowest in the league, the matchup clearly favored the home side.
Atlanta’s balanced attack, led by its playmakers and versatile forwards, combined with Brooklyn’s weak road record, made this a key opportunity for the Hawks to gain momentum in the Eastern Conference standings.
Match Details
| Match | Brooklyn Nets vs Atlanta Hawks |
|---|---|
| Date | February 22, 2026 |
| Time | 3:30 PM ET |
| Venue | State Farm Arena, Atlanta |
| TV | FanDuel Sports Network Southeast, YES Network |
| Streaming | NBA League Pass |
Latest Standings
| Team | Record | East Rank | Recent Form |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawks | 28–31 | 8th | Won last game |
| Nets | 15–41 | 14th | Lost 4 straight |
The win helped Atlanta stay in the Play-In race, while Brooklyn remained near the bottom of the conference.
Team Performance Overview
| Category | Hawks | Nets |
|---|---|---|
| Points Per Game | 116.9 | 106.8 |
| Points Allowed | 118.6 | 114.7 |
| Assists | 30.3 (1st in NBA) | 25.3 |
| Rebounds | 42.4 | 40.6 |
Atlanta’s strength lies in ball movement and offensive pace, while Brooklyn continues to struggle to reach high scoring totals.
Injury Report
Atlanta Hawks
- Jonathan Kuminga – Out (knee)
- Rotation otherwise mostly available
Brooklyn Nets
- Nic Claxton – Out (ankle)
- Ziaire Williams – Out (personal)
Claxton’s absence weakened Brooklyn’s interior defense and rebounding, which became a key disadvantage against Atlanta’s frontcourt.
Key Players to Watch
Atlanta Hawks
- Jalen Johnson: 23.3 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 8.2 APG – all-around leader
- CJ McCollum: 18.9 PPG, perimeter scoring
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker: 20 PPG, strong three-point shooting
- Onyeka Okongwu: Inside scoring and defense
Brooklyn Nets
- Michael Porter Jr.: 24.7 PPG, primary scorer
- Nic Claxton (season): 7.3 RPG (currently out)
- Noah Clowney & Day’Ron Sharpe: Frontcourt support
- Egor Demin: Playmaking and rotation scoring
Brooklyn relied heavily on Porter Jr. for offense, while Atlanta had multiple scoring options.
Head-to-Head Record
| Season Series | Hawks Lead |
|---|---|
| Previous Meeting | Hawks won 117–112 |
| Last 5 Meetings | Split results overall |
| Feb 22, 2026 | Hawks won |
Atlanta secured another win to strengthen its advantage this season.
Betting Odds & Market Trends
| Market | Line |
|---|---|
| Spread | Hawks -9.5 |
| Moneyline | Hawks around -400 |
| Over/Under | 228.5 – 229.5 |
Key Trends
- Nets have lost their last four road games by double digits
- Hawks average about 10 more points per game than Brooklyn
- Brooklyn games have recently trended toward the Under
- Total has stayed below 230 in several recent matchups for both teams
Best Picks & Prediction
Atlanta’s home advantage, deeper lineup, and stronger offense made them the clear favorite. Brooklyn’s poor road form and low-scoring offense suggested a controlled game rather than a high-scoring shootout.
Best Pick: Hawks -9.5
Lean: Under 229.5
Projected Score: Hawks 119 – Nets 109
This matchup highlighted the gap between a Play-In contender and a rebuilding team. The Hawks’ ball movement, scoring depth, and home support helped them control the game, while Brooklyn continued to struggle offensively without key defensive presence inside.
For Atlanta, this was an important win to stay in the postseason race. For the Nets, improving scoring consistency and health will be critical as the season moves forward.
