# Hawks and Rockets Meet Again in Houston After Atlanta's Late Rally Falls Short

Developing: Houston brought a 3-0 record into Monday's home rematch with Atlanta, two nights after surviving a 121-114 comeback attempt. The result was not yet confirmed at filing.

By The Signal Edition | Sports / Basketball
Published: 2026-10-27T01:19:45Z
Updated: 2026-10-27T01:19:45Z
Canonical: https://www.thesignaledition.com/article/hawks-rockets-houston-rematch-6btyue
Image: https://www.thesignaledition.com/media/0cf906649badd2b38815bc087d5504e5.jpg (Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant celebrates during a March 2026 game against the Atlanta Hawks at Toyota Center; credit: Associated Press via WRAL; March 2026 file photograph)

## Summary
- The Hawks and Rockets met Monday, Oct. 26, at Toyota Center in Houston to complete a home-and-home set.
- Houston entered 3-0 after holding off Atlanta 121-114 on Saturday; the Hawks entered Monday 2-1.
- The final score and complete game statistics for Monday's rematch were not confirmed when this article was filed.

## A second meeting in three days

The Atlanta Hawks visited the Houston Rockets on Monday night for the second game of a home-and-home series, with Houston seeking to extend an unbeaten start and Atlanta looking to answer a close loss. The teams met at Toyota Center after the Rockets won 121-114 in Atlanta on Saturday. Monday's final score was not confirmed when this article was filed. [1](https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/rockets-look-sweep-home-and-home-vs-hawks--flm-2026-10-25/) [2](https://www.thedreamshake.com/rockets-game-previews/42116/houston-rockets-vs-atlanta-hawks-game-preview)

The Rockets entered the rematch 3-0 and the Hawks 2-1, according to Peachtree Hoops. The NBA listed the Houston game for 7:30 p.m. Central time on Oct. 26. A game result, leading scorers and complete statistics were still pending; the earlier 121-114 result refers to Saturday's game, not Monday's. [3](https://www.peachtreehoops.com/atlanta-hawks-game-threads/73249/hawks-atlanta-rockets-dream-golden-state-valkyries-start-times-tv-streaming-radio-combined-thread-wnba) [4](https://www.nba.com/rockets/game/0022600125-hawks-vs-rockets-houston-tx-10-26-2026)

Houston's start included a home win over Dallas and a road victory over San Antonio before the trip to Atlanta, Field Level Media reported. The third win came on the second night of a back-to-back and required the Rockets to adjust without several members of their rotation. [1](https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/rockets-look-sweep-home-and-home-vs-hawks--flm-2026-10-25/) [5](https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/rockets/article/houston-atlanta-hakws-nba-score-22492547.php)

## How Houston held off Atlanta's comeback

The Rockets built a lead of as many as 20 points on Saturday, but Atlanta pushed back late. Field Level Media reported that the Hawks trailed 111-93 with 5:43 remaining before cutting the deficit to five in the final minute. Houston held on, though its late execution left room for improvement in the rematch. [1](https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/rockets-look-sweep-home-and-home-vs-hawks--flm-2026-10-25/) [5](https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/rockets/article/houston-atlanta-hakws-nba-score-22492547.php)

Kevin Durant led Houston with 22 points, while Reed Sheppard and Tari Eason each scored 19, according to the Houston Chronicle's box score. Sheppard, filling in as a starter, made five 3-pointers and added seven assists and six rebounds. Seven Rockets reached double figures. [1](https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/rockets-look-sweep-home-and-home-vs-hawks--flm-2026-10-25/) [5](https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/rockets/article/houston-atlanta-hakws-nba-score-22492547.php)

Jalen Johnson produced 26 points, 16 assists and nine rebounds for Atlanta. The Hawks made 13 of 49 attempts from 3-point range, while Houston shot 14 for 35 from beyond the arc, the Chronicle's box score shows. Peachtree Hoops identified Atlanta's perimeter shooting and defensive mistakes as problems in the first meeting. [5](https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/rockets/article/houston-atlanta-hakws-nba-score-22492547.php) [6](https://www.peachtreehoops.com/recaps/73221/hawks-struggle-shooting-against-houston-rockets)

## Roster questions and what comes next

Fred VanVleet sat out Saturday's game as Houston managed his return from the knee injury that kept him out last season. Steven Adams and Marcus Smart also missed that contest. Ahead of Monday's rematch, Field Level Media reported Adams was ruled out, Smart was questionable and VanVleet did not appear on the Rockets' injury report; those pregame designations did not by themselves establish who played. [1](https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/rockets-look-sweep-home-and-home-vs-hawks--flm-2026-10-25/) [5](https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/rockets/article/houston-atlanta-hakws-nba-score-22492547.php)

The quick turnaround gave both teams an immediate chance to respond to the first game's lessons: Atlanta's shooting and Houston's late turnovers. The result and individual performances from the Houston meeting should be assessed against the official box score once the game ends; until then, any final outcome remains uncertain. [1](https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/rockets-look-sweep-home-and-home-vs-hawks--flm-2026-10-25/) [6](https://www.peachtreehoops.com/recaps/73221/hawks-struggle-shooting-against-houston-rockets)

## Reporting sources
1. [Field Level Media via Reuters: Rockets look to sweep home-and-home vs. Hawks](https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/rockets-look-sweep-home-and-home-vs-hawks--flm-2026-10-25/) (2026-10-25)
2. [The Dream Shake: Houston Rockets vs. Atlanta Hawks game preview](https://www.thedreamshake.com/rockets-game-previews/42116/houston-rockets-vs-atlanta-hawks-game-preview) (2026-10-26)
3. [Peachtree Hoops: Hawks at Rockets, Dream at Valkyries: start times, TV, streaming, radio](https://www.peachtreehoops.com/atlanta-hawks-game-threads/73249/hawks-atlanta-rockets-dream-golden-state-valkyries-start-times-tv-streaming-radio-combined-thread-wnba) (2026-10-26)
4. [Houston Rockets / NBA: Atlanta Hawks vs Houston Rockets Oct. 26, 2026 Game Details](https://www.nba.com/rockets/game/0022600125-hawks-vs-rockets-houston-tx-10-26-2026) (2026-10-26)
5. [Houston Chronicle: How the weary, shorthanded Houston Rockets pushed through to beat the Atlanta Hawks](https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/rockets/article/houston-atlanta-hakws-nba-score-22492547.php) (2026-10-25)
6. [Peachtree Hoops: Hawks struggle shooting against the Rockets](https://www.peachtreehoops.com/recaps/73221/hawks-struggle-shooting-against-houston-rockets) (2026-10-25)