Hawks release full 2021-22 schedule, featuring Christmas Day game

ATLANTA — Success does sometimes breed more national recognition. That at least seems to be the driving force behind the Atlanta Hawks schedule which was released Friday afternoon.

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After years of being found on mostly regional broadcasts, the Hawks captured the attention of NBA schedule makers and will be featured in some of the leagues marquee matchups.

Atlanta will be featured on Christmas Day for the first time since 1989 when they go to Madison Square Garden to face the Knicks.

All told, Atlanta’s NBA team will be on the NBA’s National Broadcast 19 times, including the annual Martin Luther King, Jr Day game when they’ll host the defending world champion, Milwaukee Bucks in a 6:30 p.m. tipoff at State Farm Arena.

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The regular season begins on Thursday, Oct. 21 at State Farm Arena when the Hawks take on the Dallas Mavericks in a nationally televised game at 7:30 p.m.

The 82-game regular season will wrap up with Atlanta on the road playing Miami Apr. 8 and finishing at Houston Apr. 10.

The Hawks surprised almost everyone during the 2020-21 season when they fired Lloyd Pierce in March with the team floundering with a 14-20 record. After naming assistant Nate McMillan the interim coach, Atlanta became one of the leagues best teams.

The Hawks won the Southeast Conference of the Eastern Division, securing the fifth seed in the playoffs. After upsetting the New York Knicks and the top seeded Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta ran out of gas, losing to the eventual champs, the Milwaukee Bucks.

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