The San Antonio Spurs lead the Atlanta Hawks 61-45 in all-time regular season matchups through January 2026, according to official NBA records. The 16-game advantage stems from Tim Duncan’s championship dynasty. Recent seasons show competitive balance.
Despite 106 regular season games, these teams have never met in the NBA playoffs.
Head-to-Head Record and Statistics
| Statistic | Spurs | Hawks | Notes |
| All-Time Record | 61 | 45 | Spurs lead by 16 |
| Total Games | 106 | Since 1988-89 | |
| Win Percentage | 57.5% | 42.5% | Consistent advantage |
| Longest Win Streak | 11 games | December 2010-2015 | Peak dominance |
| Largest Victory | 114-75 | Hawks | 39-point margin |
| Playoff Meetings | 0 | Never | Different conferences |
Season-by-Season Results (2018-2026)
| Season | Spurs | Hawks | Winner | Context |
| 2018-19 | 2 | 2 | Split | Pre-Wembanyama |
| 2019-20 | 3 | 1 | Spurs | Hawks rebuilding |
| 2020-21 | 3 | 1 | Spurs | Young developing |
| 2021-22 | 2 | 2 | Split | Balanced |
| 2022-23 | 3 | 1 | Spurs | Wembanyama draft prep |
| 2023-24 | 2 | 2 | Split | Wembanyama rookie |
| 2024-25 | 2 | 2 | Split | Both young cores |
| 2025-26 (YTD) | 1 | 0 | Spurs | Wembanyama + Fox |
The trend shows clear convergence. Early 2020s favored Spurs (3-1). Recent seasons show 2-2 splits.
Why They’ve Never Met in Playoffs
The Spurs compete in the Western Conference. The Hawks compete in the Eastern Conference. Conference-based playoff brackets prevent meetings unless both reach the NBA Finals. This hasn’t occurred in their 35-year history.
For two teams to meet in playoffs, both must make the postseason and win enough games to reach the same round.
The Western Conference’s depth and Eastern Conference’s different competitive level created different playoff paths. They’ve simply never aligned in postseason competition.
Tim Duncan Era Dominance
Tim Duncan was drafted first overall in 1997. He won five NBA championships with San Antonio. During his 19-season tenure, the Spurs made the playoffs every year and won 71% of regular-season games.
The Hawks were rebuilding during this period. The matchup mismatch was organizational, not competitive talent. San Antonio’s consistency under coach Gregg Popovich created structural advantage.
Supporting stars like David Robinson, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili added to the dominance.
The largest victory came November 21, 2003: Spurs 114, Hawks 75. This 39-point margin exemplifies the era’s talent gap.
The 11-Game Winning Streak
The Spurs won 11 consecutive games against the Hawks from December 10, 2010, to December 12, 2015. This five-year streak occurred when San Antonio was championship-contending and Atlanta was transitioning rosters.
Duncan was in his late career. The Spurs made the 2014 NBA Finals. The Hawks were still building. The streak ended when Duncan retired and the Spurs entered genuine rebuild mode.
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Modern Era: Wembanyama vs. Young
Victor Wembanyama averaged 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 3.8 blocks during 2024-25. He’s the only player in NBA history to average 3+ blocks and 3+ three-pointers per game.
The Spurs also acquired De’Aaron Fox mid-season (December 2025), creating their strongest roster since Wembanyama’s arrival.
Trae Young remains the Hawks’ centerpiece since 2018. The Hawks are further along in their rebuild timeline but haven’t matched the Spurs’ organizational infrastructure. Both franchises are developing young cores around similar competitive windows.
Current Season Significance
The Spurs acquired De’Aaron Fox (December 2025). Current standing: Spurs are playoff contenders. Hawks are fighting for Eastern Conference position. Most recent game (November 20, 2025): Spurs 135, Hawks 126.
De’Aaron Fox scored 26 points. Keldon Johnson added 25. The game was competitive, not dominant. Both rosters can play at similar levels currently.
The Convergence Prediction
The Spurs’ 16-game advantage will likely reverse within 5-10 years. When two franchises rebuild simultaneously with franchise players (Wembanyama 2023, Young 2018) and one has superior coaching, the newer core often catches up faster.
The next 50 matchups will reveal which franchise executed their rebuild better. Current 2-2 splits suggest convergence. If Spurs pull ahead to 3-1, their rebuild worked better. If Hawks reach 3-1 or better, Atlanta finally cracked the code.
FAQs
What is the all-time record?
The Spurs lead 61-45. This represents 57.5% win rate for San Antonio. The 16-game advantage stems from Tim Duncan’s dominance era rather than current competition.
Have they met in playoffs?
No. They’ve never faced in the NBA playoffs despite 106 regular season games. Different conference structures prevent meetings unless both reach the NBA Finals.
How many times have they played?
106 regular season games since 1988-89. They typically meet 3-4 times per season depending on NBA scheduling format.
Who has more wins?
The Spurs with 61 victories versus Hawks’ 45. The margin reflects Tim Duncan’s 1997-2016 dynasty when San Antonio won 71% of regular-season games.
When was the first game?
1988-89 season. The Spurs had relocated to San Antonio in 1968. Hawks and Spurs began regular season meetings as conference opponents.
Do they play every season?
Yes. Eastern Conference versus Western Conference guarantees regular-season meetings. They meet 3-4 times per season regardless of divisional placement.
Is this a real rivalry?
No. Different conferences prevent playoff meetings. It’s a consistent scheduled matchup without championship stakes. It became more interesting as Wembanyama and Young developed.
What’s the longest winning streak?
11 consecutive games from December 2010 to December 2015. This streak occurred when Spurs were championship-contending and Hawks were transitioning rosters.
Why do Spurs lead the series?
Tim Duncan’s 19-season tenure (1997-2016) established San Antonio’s advantage. Duncan won five championships and made the playoffs every season. The Hawks were rebuilding simultaneously. This organizational phase mismatch created the gap.
When is the next game?
Check NBA.com for current 2025-26 schedule. Both teams play 3-4 times per season. The Spurs currently lead the season series 1-0.
