The Atlanta Hawks will visit the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night for their first meeting of the season, with both teams holding ninth-place records in their conferences. Standout performances from Jalen Johnson and Deni Avdija highlight the intrigue, as both players are in contention for their first All-Star selections. The game tips off at 10 p.m. ET at the Moda Center.
The Atlanta Hawks (20-22) and Portland Trail Blazers (19-22) are set to clash on January 15, 2026, at 10:00 p.m. ET, marking the first matchup between the two teams this season. Both squads sit in ninth place in their respective conferences—the Hawks in the East and the Blazers in the West—and are coming off recent losses, eager to regain momentum.
This game features a compelling individual storyline between two rising stars: Atlanta's Jalen Johnson and Portland's Deni Avdija. Johnson has emerged as the Hawks' offensive leader, especially after Trae Young's inconsistent availability and eventual trade. He averages 23.4 points, 10.1 rebounds, 8.1 assists, and 1.3 steals per game, shooting 52.0% from the field.
Avdija is equally impressive for the Blazers, posting 26.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 6.9 assists per game, while drawing 9.9 free-throw attempts. Both players rank highly in All-Star voting: Avdija is seventh in the Western Conference and sixth among international players, while Johnson is eighth in the East and 11th among U.S. players. Notably, they join Nikola Jokic, Cade Cunningham, and Luka Doncic as the only five NBA players averaging at least 23.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 6.9 assists this season.
Fans can watch the action on FanDuel Sports Network Southeast or Rip City TV (KUNSDT2), with streaming available on Fubo. The game at Portland's Moda Center promises high-energy play from these potential first-time All-Stars.
