Atlanta Hawks Look To Follow Up Inprobable '20-'21 Season With Tip-Off Thursday Vs. Mavs

ATLANTA — When the Atlanta Hawks tip off their season opener Thursday evening against Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks, they look to continue the momentum they built in their improbable playoff run this spring.

The team got off to a bumpy start with a 14-20 record that prompted General Manager Howard Schlenk to fire then-coach Lloyd Pierce. Assistant Coach Nate McMillan took over in March and led the team to finish the remainder of the season with 27 wins against 11 losses and a playoff birth.

With floor leadership from star point guard Trae Young and a cast of reliable contributors including center Clint Capela, guards Bogdan Bogdanovic and Kevin Heurter, and forwards John Collins and Danillo Gallinari carried the team through incredible post-season wins to Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Championship against eventual NBA World Champion Milwaukee Bucks.

One result of the team’s upstart success? McMillan’s interim role became permanent in July and he inked a four-year contract with the Hawks organization.

The Hawks open their season from State Farm Arena at 7:30 p.m. EST. Broadcast coverage begins at 6 p.m. on TNT and 92-9 The Game, and streams live on Bally Sports Southeast.

Like this article? Sign up for our newsletter and get it delivered every weekday. It's free!