Hawks Fall to Cavs, Playoff Clinch Delayed

Atlanta's loss cuts into their lead for the fifth seed in the East.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 2:38am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting fragmented basketball players and court elements in a palette of navy, crimson, and gold, conveying the intensity and unpredictability of the Hawks' loss to the Cavaliers.The Hawks' inability to maintain their first-half lead against the Cavaliers reflects the tight, competitive nature of the Eastern Conference playoff race.Atlanta Today

The Atlanta Hawks fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers 122-116 on Wednesday, delaying their chance to clinch a playoff spot. The Hawks led by 7 at halftime but were outscored 44-20 in the third quarter, allowing the Cavs to pull away. Despite a late comeback effort, the Hawks couldn't overcome foul trouble and the Cavs' strong performance.

Why it matters

The Hawks' loss tightens the race for the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference, with just a half-game separating them from the Raptors. The playoff picture in the East remains highly competitive, with the 76ers, Hornets, and Heat all within a game of the Hawks and Raptors.

The details

The Hawks led 67-60 at halftime, but the Cavaliers came out firing in the third quarter, going on a 29-11 run to take control of the game. The Hawks fought back late, cutting the deficit to 112-110 with 5 minutes left, but key fouls on Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels sealed the loss. Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the Hawks with 25 points, while Jonathan Kuminga had 24 off the bench. Donovan Mitchell scored 31 for the Cavaliers.

  • The Hawks hosted the Cavaliers on Wednesday, April 9, 2026.
  • The Hawks led 67-60 at halftime but were outscored 44-20 in the third quarter.

The players

Jalen Johnson

Hawks forward who picked up his sixth foul with 3:50 remaining, hampering the Hawks' comeback effort.

Dyson Daniels

Hawks guard who also fouled out late in the fourth quarter after the Cavaliers challenged an offensive foul call.

Donovan Mitchell

Cavaliers star who scored 31 points and grabbed 7 rebounds to lead his team to victory.

Quin Snyder

Hawks head coach who acknowledged his team's execution and defensive lapses that allowed the Cavaliers to pull away in the third quarter.

Jonathan Kuminga

Hawks forward who had a strong game off the bench, scoring 24 points and grabbing 6 rebounds.

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What they’re saying

“I think we're at a point where the things that we need to do differently, or do better, really, or not do, our team has a pretty good sense of what those things are at this point right now. I know they'll talk about it. We'll, as coaches, everybody will watch the film and see where we need to be better. I think our execution can improve.”

— Quin Snyder, Hawks Head Coach

“We got back in the game playing defense and running, and then when we did get in the half-court, the ball started moving even more, and that really gave us a lift. I think that the defense fueled the offense, and the offense fueled the defense, and that's who we are.”

— Quin Snyder, Hawks Head Coach

“He's gradually getting more and more healthy and getting more and more comfortable with some of the things we're doing. So, I thought he did an excellent job guarding the ball. And obviously, he got into the lane, and that's a big thing for our whole group to be able to get in there.”

— Quin Snyder, Hawks Head Coach

What’s next

The Hawks will host the Cavaliers again on Friday, April 11, 2026 at State Farm Arena in their final home game of the regular season. A win would help the Hawks clinch a playoff spot.

The takeaway

The Hawks' loss to the Cavaliers tightens the race for playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference, with several teams vying for the final few postseason spots. The Hawks will need to shore up their execution and defensive intensity if they hope to secure a favorable playoff seed in their final games.