Both the Atlanta Hawks and the Charlotte Hornets both got wins on Wednesday and are 1-0 heading into their Friday night showdown. Charlotte is going to be down a couple of key players tonight, but this team still has talent, and they are playing at home.

The two teams faced very different opponents on Wednesday. The Hawks scored their 5th straight win over the Orlando Magic , a team that is expected to be in contention for a playoff spot, while the Hornets defeated the Brooklyn Nets, widely expected to be the worst team in the Eastern Conference

When looking at tonight's game, here are three critical storylines to follow.

1. Can the Hawks start faster?

Oct 21, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Atlanta Hawks head coach Quin Snyder during the first quarter against the Orlando Magic at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Hawks got the win on Wednesday vs the Magic, but they left the game with plenty to work on.…