If you turned on the TV expecting to see Trae Young launching logos shots in an Atlanta Hawks jersey against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, I’ve got some bad news for you. That era is officially over. Things move fast in the NBA, but the shift we just saw between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Atlanta Hawks is something else entirely.
The Thunder are a buzzsaw. They’re basically what every rebuilding team dreams of becoming—disciplined, deep, and terrifyingly efficient. Meanwhile, the Hawks are in the middle of a massive identity crisis after trading their franchise cornerstone to the Wizards just a few days ago.
The December 29th Demolition
Let’s talk about the game that basically sealed the deal on how these two teams are trending. Back on December 29, 2025, the Thunder hosted the Hawks at Paycom Center. It wasn't just a win; it was a 140–129 statement. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) was, as usual, operating in a different dimension. He dropped 39 points like he was checking items off a grocery list.
The weirdest part? The Hawks actually shot the lights out from deep. They hit 25 three-pointers! Usually, if a team makes 25 threes, they win by 20. Not against OKC. The Thunder just lived in the paint, scoring 70 points near the rim. They didn’t care about the perimeter math because they were getting layups and dunks whenever they wanted.
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Chet Holmgren is a problem. A real one. He finished that game with 25 points and played the kind of "rim deterrence" defense that makes guards rethink their entire career path. Honestly, watching a 7-footer move that fluidly while hitting trailing threes is still kinda surreal to see in person.
The Trade That Changed Everything
You can't discuss the Oklahoma City Thunder vs Atlanta Hawks rivalry right now without mentioning the elephant in the room: Trae Young is gone.
On January 7, 2026, the Hawks sent Trae to Washington for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. It was the end of an eight-year run. The Hawks' front office finally decided that the "Trae-centric" model had hit a ceiling. Now, they’re leaning into the Jalen Johnson era.
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Jalen Johnson is having a "Most Improved Player" type of season that almost feels like a "Most Valuable Player" campaign. In December alone, he averaged a 25-point triple-double. That’s Wilt Chamberlain and Nikola Jokić territory. But as good as Jalen is, the Hawks are currently short-handed. When they faced OKC in late December, they were missing Trae (quad), Jalen (illness), and Kristaps Porzingis (illness). It was a skeleton crew against a title contender.
Why OKC is the Gold Standard
The Thunder aren't just winning; they’re sweeping. They took both games of the season series against Atlanta. They recently hit a stretch where they won 24 straight games against Eastern Conference opponents. Twenty-four.
The roster construction is a masterclass:
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- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: Shooting nearly 55% from the field as a guard.
- Jalen Williams (J-Dub): Becoming a secondary star who can create his own shot at will.
- Alex Caruso: Doing the dirty work and hitting timely threes.
- Chet Holmgren: Providing 31-point, 12-rebound outbursts like he did in the season opener against Atlanta.
Looking Ahead: What to Watch For
If you’re betting on these matchups or just trying to sound smart at the sports bar, focus on the paint. The Hawks are trying to find their footing with CJ McCollum running the point, but they lack the interior girth to stop the Thunder’s slashing.
Oklahoma City is currently 28–5. They are hunting the one-seed. Atlanta is 15–19 and just trying to figure out who they are without their star. The gap is wide. It’s a chasm, really.
The biggest takeaway for any fan is that the Thunder have reached "don't miss" status. Every time they play, you're seeing a team that might legitimately win a championship in 2026. The Hawks? They’re the "League Pass" team you watch because Jalen Johnson might put up a 40-point triple-double on any given Tuesday.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the injury reports for the Hawks' new arrivals and watch how the Thunder manage Chet Holmgren’s minutes as we head toward the All-Star break. The Thunder have the luxury of depth; the Hawks are currently praying for health.
What you should do next:
- Check the upcoming schedule for the Thunder's next game against a Top 4 Western Conference seed—that’s where the real testing happens.
- Monitor Jalen Johnson’s usage rate in Atlanta; with Trae gone, he’s going to see the ball on almost every possession.
- Watch the waiver wire in your fantasy league for Nickeil Alexander-Walker or Vit Krejci, who are seeing massive minute bumps in the wake of the Hawks' roster shuffle.