:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46954904/usa-today-8492538.0.jpg)
The NBA's 2015-16 regular season begins on Tuesday, October 27 when the Atlanta Hawks face the Detroit Pistons at 8 p.m. at Philips Arena. That 8 p.m. start time is significant as it is a permanent change for the team's Monday-Friday games except in a few instances. The team has struggled with late arriving crowds due to the traffic conditions in and around the arena. The later start time should pay dividends and allow fans to be in their seats by the time the action tips off.
Atlanta had a banner season in 2014 winning 60 games and capturing the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. They have been rewarded this season with a number of National TV appearances starting on Thursday, October 29 when they face the New York Knicks in a game that will be televised on TNT. In total, Atlanta will have two TNT games, six ESPN games and nine games televised on NBA TV. The team's annual MLK Day game will be against the Orlando Magic with a 5 p.m tip off.
Here is a look at the Hawks' entire National TV schedule:
October 29 - at New York - TNT
November 3 - at Miami - NBA TV
November 24 - vs Boston - TNT
December 9 - at Dallas - ESPN
December 12 - vs San Antonio - NBA TV
January 18 - vs Orlando - NBA TV* MLK Day
January 20 - at Portland - ESPN
February 5 - vs Indiana - ESPN
February 22 - vs Golden State - NBA TV
February 26 - vs Chicago - ESPN
March 1 - at Golden State - NBA TV
March 4 - at L.A. Lakers - ESPN
March 13 - vs Indiana - NBA TV
March 28 - at Chicago - NBA TV
March 30 - at Toronto - NBA TV
April 1 - vs Cleveland - ESPN
April 11 - at Cleveland - NBA TV
The Hawks longest home stand will be five games from Friday, February 19 through Sunday, February 28. That stretch is immediately followed by a five-game road trip from Tuesday, March 1 through Thursday, March 10 which is the longest road streak of the season. Atlanta's schedule features 19 sets of back-to-back games, but only one four games in five nights stretch.