The Atlanta Hawks' return from a West Coast road trip was met with an icy reception thanks to a winter storm that blew through the area. While the worst of the storm had passed by Saturday morning, lingering hazardous conditions led the NBA to postpone the Hawks' home game against the Houston Rockets. The league emphasized the decision was made with the safety of players, fans, and staff in mind, citing the treacherous icy conditions. The Rockets had already landed in Atlanta when the postponement was announced.

The winter storm brought a mix of snow and ice to Atlanta on Friday, creating travel difficulties and power outages. Over 110,000 customers, primarily in the Atlanta area, were left without power due to falling trees and downed power lines. Road conditions remained hazardous, with some areas expected to refreeze overnight.

This icy disruption in the Southeast contrasts sharply with the fiery challenges facing the West Coast. Southern California is battling devastating wildfires that ignited earlier in the week, prompting the NBA to also postpone Lakers and Clippers home games scheduled for January 11th. The league stated that the postponements were coordinated with local officials to avoid diverting resources from the wildfire response. This follows a previous postponement of a Lakers game against the Charlotte Hornets on January 9th.

In a show of support, the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association announced a $1 million donation to aid disaster relief efforts, contributing to organizations like the American Red Cross. The league has yet to announce the rescheduled dates for the postponed Hawks, Lakers, and Clippers games. The Hawks' next scheduled home game is against the Phoenix Suns on January 14th, though whether this game will proceed as planned remains to be seen, depending on the evolving weather and wildfire situations.