Hawks Extend Winning Streak to 11 Games as Rockets Struggle on Defense

Atlanta looks to continue its hot streak against Houston, while the Rockets aim to shore up their leaky defense.

Mar. 20, 2026 at 5:10am

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The Atlanta Hawks have won 11 straight games, tying a franchise record, as they continue to find stability in their roster and rotation. Meanwhile, the Houston Rockets have struggled defensively, allowing the Los Angeles Lakers to shoot 60.5% from the field in their latest loss. The Hawks will look to extend their streak when they visit the Rockets on Friday, while Houston hopes to shore up its defense in the final stretch of the season.

Why it matters

The Hawks' winning streak has propelled them up the Eastern Conference standings, putting them in position to avoid the play-in tournament. Their ability to integrate new pieces like Jonathan Kuminga and Corey Kispert has been key to their success. For the Rockets, their defensive struggles are a concern as they try to maintain their position in the Western Conference playoff race.

The details

The Hawks' 11-game winning streak has been fueled by a balanced attack led by Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels, Onyeka Okongwu, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, with veteran CJ McCollum providing veteran leadership. The Rockets, on the other hand, have struggled defensively, allowing the Lakers to shoot 60.5% from the field and score 124 points in their latest loss. Houston has tried a new defensive scheme to help center Alperen Sengun and guard Reed Sheppard, but the initial results were not promising.

  • The Hawks' current 11-game winning streak is tied for the fourth-longest in franchise history.
  • The Hawks will play the Rockets on Friday, March 20, 2026, in the first game of a back-to-back that concludes with a home game against the Golden State Warriors on Saturday.

The players

Jalen Johnson

A key member of the Hawks' young core, contributing to the team's recent success.

Alperen Sengun

The Rockets' center who is trying to adapt to a new defensive scheme to help improve the team's struggling defense.

Reed Sheppard

A Rockets guard who is also working to improve the team's defense alongside Sengun.

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What they’re saying

“It's a credit to all of them. It's difficult to put yourself in their shoes, and I think the thing that stands out more than anything is guys have had to adjust to one another, which really means adjusting to roles. I think it was important for us to actually settle in, and really, (Wednesday) is the first night that has really happened with Jonathan as well.”

— Quin Snyder, Hawks Coach

“We changed our coverage on defense, and it was the first game we did it. I think we did a pretty good job. We're going to get better on it, Reed and me. When they attack us on defense, we've got to do a better job. We have a lot of good (defenders) on this team. I would say we're not the best, but we can help in a lot of ways. We have 14 games left. We know what to do.”

— Alperen Sengun, Rockets Center

What’s next

The Hawks will look to extend their winning streak to 12 games when they face the Rockets on Friday, March 20, 2026. The Rockets will aim to improve their defensive performance and get back on track in the Western Conference playoff race.

The takeaway

The Hawks' ability to integrate new pieces and find stability in their rotation has fueled their impressive 11-game winning streak, putting them in position to avoid the play-in tournament. Meanwhile, the Rockets' defensive struggles are a concern as they try to maintain their position in the Western Conference playoff race, and they will need to quickly adapt to their new defensive scheme to turn things around.