1985–86 Atlanta Hawks season

The 1985–86 Atlanta Hawks season was the franchise's thirty-seventh season in the National Basketball Association and the eighteenth in Atlanta, Georgia. The Hawks entered the season with rookies Jon Koncak and Spud Webb. The Hawks were transformed into one of the youngest teams in the NBA. The Hawks were led by "The Human Highlight Reel" Dominique Wilkins. He would have an outstanding year as he led the NBA in scoring with an average of 30.3 points per game. One of the highlights of the season came when Webb (measuring five feet, seven inches) won the NBA Slam Dunk contest during All-Star Weekend. In the second half of the season, the Hawks would be one of the strongest teams in the league. The club won 35 of their final 52 games to finish the season with a record of 50 wins and 32 losses. In the playoffs, the Hawks would eliminate the Detroit Pistons in 4 games. In the 2nd round, the Hawks would be defeated by the Boston Celtics in 5 games.

Season standings

 * z - clinched division title
 * y - clinched division title
 * x - clinched playoff spot

Regular season
9,901
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 1
 * October 25, 1985 7:30p.m. EDT
 * Washington
 * L 91-100
 * Wilkins (32)
 * Rollins (9)
 * Webb (10)
 * The Omni 10,129
 * 0–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 2
 * October 26, 1985 9:00p.m. EDT
 * @ Milwaukee
 * L 91–117
 * Wilkins (18)
 * Levingston (9)
 * Williams (7)
 * MECCA Arena 10,237
 * 0–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 3
 * October 29
 * New York
 * W 102-87
 * Dominique Wilkins (22)
 * Dominique Wilkins (13)
 * Ray Williams (8)
 * Omni Coliseum
 * 1–2


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 4
 * November 1, 1985 7:30p.m. EST
 * @ Boston
 * L 105–109
 * Wilkins (40)
 * Wilkins (10)
 * Wittman (5)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 1–3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 5
 * November 2, 1985 7:30p.m. EST
 * Philadelphia
 * W 114–113 (OT)
 * Wilkins (28)
 * Levingston, Koncak (9)
 * Webb (11)
 * The Omni 12,214
 * 2–3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 6
 * November 5, 1985 9:30p.m. EST
 * @ Denver
 * L 113–128
 * Koncak (21)
 * Kevin Willis (10)
 * Johnson (6)
 * McNichols Sports Arena 8,691
 * 2–4
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 7
 * November 6
 * @ Phoenix
 * W 114-106
 * Dominique Wilkins (34)
 * Dominique Wilkins (9)
 * Spud Webb (5)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,805
 * 3–4
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 8
 * November 8
 * @ Golden State
 * L 119-130
 * Cliff Levingston (23)
 * Levingston, Koncak, Willis (6)
 * Williams, Johnson, Webb (5)
 * Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 14,780
 * 3–5
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 9
 * November 9
 * @ L.A. Clippers
 * W 97-94
 * Cliff Levingston (20)
 * Dominique Wilkins (14)
 * Eddie Johnson (8)
 * Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 8,716
 * 4–5
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 10
 * November 13
 * Phoenix
 * W 108-101
 * Cliff Levingston (23)
 * Cliff Levingston (11)
 * Eddie Johnson (10)
 * Omni Coliseum 4,608
 * 5–5
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 11
 * November 15, 1985 7:30p.m. EST
 * Detroit
 * W 122–118
 * Wilkins (30)
 * Levingston (10)]
 * Johnson, Wittman (6)
 * The Omni 12,924
 * 6–5
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 12
 * November 16
 * @ New York
 * L 96-103
 * Dominique Wilkins (19)
 * Tree Rollins (8)
 * Eddie Johnson (7)
 * Madison Square Garden 15,422
 * 6–6
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 13
 * November 20
 * Chicago
 * W 116-101
 * Dominique Wilkins (28)
 * Cliff Levingston (17)
 * Eddie Johnson (7)
 * Omni Coliseum 7,179
 * 7–6
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 14
 * November 23, 1985 7:30p.m. EST
 * Utah
 * L 106–116
 * Wilkins (31)
 * Wilkins, Koncak, Rollins (7)
 * Johnson (8)
 * The Omni 6,115
 * 7–7
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 15
 * November 24
 * @ Cleveland
 * L 90-98
 * Cliff Levingston (17)
 * Cliff Levingston (11)
 * Randy Wittman (8)
 * Richfield Coliseum 6,145
 * 7–8
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 16
 * November 26
 * New York
 * W 104-94
 * Dominique Wilkins (35)
 * Dominique Wilkins (9)
 * Randy Wittman (5)
 * Omni Coliseum 7,488
 * 8–8
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 17
 * November 27, 1985 8:30p.m. EST
 * @ Milwaukee
 * L 96–114
 * Johnson (24)
 * Tree Rollins (8)
 * Johnson (8)
 * MECCA Arena 10,879
 * 8–9
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 18
 * November 29
 * @ New Jersey
 * L 97-107
 * Dominique Wilkins (30)
 * Dominique Wilkins (9)
 * Eddie Johnson (5)
 * Brenden Byrne Arena 10,329
 * 8–10
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 19
 * November 30, 1985 7:30p.m. EST
 * Boston
 * L 97–102
 * Wilkins (24)
 * Willis (12)
 * Battle (5)
 * The Omni 13,101
 * 8–11


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 20
 * December 4, 1985 7:30p.m. EST
 * Portland
 * W 109–98
 * Wilkins (31)
 * Rollins (12)
 * Rivers (10)
 * The Omni 4,113
 * 9–11
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 21
 * December 6, 1985 7:30p.m. EST
 * Milwaukee
 * W 94–93
 * Wilkins (29)
 * Wilkins (15)
 * Rivers (10)
 * The Omni 5,562
 * 10–11
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 22
 * December 10, 1985 7:30p.m. EST
 * @ Boston (at Hartford, CT)
 * L 110–114
 * Wilkins (32)
 * Wilkins (9)
 * Rivers (7)
 * Hartford Civic Center 14,493
 * 10–12
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 23
 * December 11
 * Seattle
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 24
 * December 13
 * @ Indiana
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 25
 * December 14, 1985 7:30p.m. EST
 * Philadelphia
 * W 107–103
 * Wilkins (29)
 * Wilkins, Willis (8)
 * Johnson (9)
 * The Omni 4,638
 * 12–13
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 26
 * December 17
 * New Jersey
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 27
 * December 19, 1985 7:30p.m. EST
 * Dallas
 * L 108–120
 * Wilkins (29)
 * Levingston, Willis (10)
 * Rivers (10)
 * The Omni 5,867
 * 13–14
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 28
 * December 21, 1985 7:30p.m. EST
 * Houston
 * W 123–122
 * Wilkins (49)
 * Wilkins (11)
 * Rivers (10)
 * The Omni 8,563
 * 14–14
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 29
 * December 27, 1985 7:30p.m. EST
 * @ Washington
 * L 109–111
 * Wilkins (35)
 * Wilkins (14)
 * Rivers (5)
 * Capital Centre 8,178
 * 14–15
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 30
 * December 28
 * @ New York


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 31
 * January 3, 1986 7:30p.m. EST
 * Detroit
 * W 111–101
 * Wilkins (32)
 * Willis (13)
 * Rivers (13)
 * The Omni 15,817
 * 16–15
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 32
 * January 4
 * @ Chicago
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 33
 * January 7
 * L.A. Clippers
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 34
 * January 9, 1986 7:30p.m. EST
 * @ Detroit
 * W 110–99
 * Rivers (29)
 * Wilkins, Willis (11)
 * Rivers (6)
 * Pontiac Silverdome 9,400
 * 19–15
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 35
 * January 10, 1986 7:30p.m. EST
 * @ Boston
 * L 108–115
 * Wilkins (34)
 * Willis (13)
 * Webb (6)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 19–16
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 36
 * January 14
 * Sacramento
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 37
 * January 16
 * Cleveland
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 38
 * January 18, 1986 7:30p.m. EST
 * Boston
 * L 122–125 (OT)
 * Wilkins (36)
 * Koncak (10)
 * Johnson (9)
 * The Omni 16,522
 * 21–17
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 39
 * January 20, 1986 7:30p.m. EST
 * Milwaukee
 * W 101–98
 * Wilkins (33)
 * Willis (17)
 * Johnson (11)
 * The Omni 9,467
 * 22–17
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 40
 * January 22
 * Golden State
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 41
 * January 24
 * New York
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 42
 * January 25, 1986 7:30p.m. EST
 * @ Washington
 * L 103–111
 * Wilkins (35)
 * Willis (12)
 * Battle (5)
 * Capital Centre 7,038
 * 24–18
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 43
 * January 28
 * Indiana
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 44
 * January 29, 1986 7:30p.m. EST
 * @ Detroit
 * L 94–107
 * Wilkins (30)
 * Willis (12)
 * Rivers (12)
 * Pontiac Silverdome 12,386
 * 25–19
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 45
 * January 31, 1986 7:30p.m. EST
 * Detroit
 * W 116–103
 * Wilkins (36)
 * Koncak, Willis (9)
 * Rivers (11)
 * The Omni 12,624
 * 26–19


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 46
 * February 1
 * @ New Jersey
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 47
 * February 4
 * @ Cleveland
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 48
 * February 6
 * @ Indiana
 * - align="center"
 * colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 49
 * February 11, 1986 8:30p.m. EST
 * @ Houston
 * L 100–113
 * Levingston, Webb, Wilkins (13)
 * Koncak, Willis (9)
 * Battle (5)
 * The Summit 16,016
 * 28–21
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 50
 * February 13
 * @ Sacramento
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 51
 * February 14, 1986 10:30p.m. EST
 * @ L.A. Lakers
 * L 117–141
 * Wilkins (29)
 * Wilkins (8)
 * Rivers (6)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 29–22
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 52
 * February 16, 1986 8:00p.m. EST
 * @ Portland
 * W 110–101
 * Levingston (25)
 * Levingston, Willis (11)
 * Rivers (10)
 * Memorial Coliseum 12,666
 * 30–22
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 53
 * February 17
 * @ Seattle
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 54
 * February 19, 1986 9:30p.m. EST
 * @ Utah
 * L 105–109
 * Wittman (23)
 * Levingston (9)
 * Rivers (7)
 * Salt Palace Acord Arena 12,654
 * 30–24
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 55
 * February 21
 * Indiana
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 56
 * February 22
 * New Jersey
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 57
 * February 24, 1986 7:30p.m. EST
 * L.A. Lakers
 * W 102–93
 * Wilkins (33)
 * Willis (18)
 * Webb (13)
 * The Omni 16,522
 * 33–24
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 58
 * February 26
 * Cleveland
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 59
 * February 28, 1986 7:30p.m. EST
 * @ Detroit
 * L 103–115
 * Wilkins (35)
 * Levingston (14)
 * Rivers (8)
 * Pontiac Silverdome 25,888
 * 34–25


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 60
 * March 1
 * San Antonio
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 61
 * March 4, 1986 7:30p.m. EST
 * Philadelphia
 * W 128–121
 * Wilkins (32)
 * Willis (9)
 * Rivers (21)
 * The Omni 13,315
 * 36–25
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 62
 * March 5, 1986 7:30p.m. EST
 * @ Philadelphia
 * W 122–114 (OT)
 * Wilkins (37)
 * Willis (12)
 * Wittman (9)
 * The Spectrum 15,192
 * 37–25
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 63
 * March 7
 * @ Chicago
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 64
 * March 8, 1986 7:30p.m. EST
 * Milwaukee
 * W 111–109
 * Wilkins (29)
 * Willis (12)
 * Rivers (11)
 * The Omni 15,822
 * 39–25
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 65
 * March 11, 1986 7:30p.m. EST
 * Denver
 * W 128–116
 * Willis (39)
 * Willis (21)
 * Wittman (5)
 * The Omni 8,905
 * 40–25
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 66
 * March 12
 * @ New Jersey
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 67
 * March 14, 1986 7:30p.m. EST
 * Boston
 * L 114–121
 * Wilkins (42)
 * Rollins (10)
 * Webb (9)
 * The Omni 16,522
 * 41–26
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 68
 * March 15
 * @ New York
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 69
 * March 17
 * Chicago
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 70
 * March 19
 * @ San Antonio
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 71
 * March 21, 1986 8:30p.m. EST
 * @ Dallas
 * W 107–103
 * Wilkins (28)
 * Rollins (10)
 * Webb (10)
 * Reunion Arena 17,007
 * 44–27
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 72
 * March 22, 1986 9:00p.m. EST
 * @ Milwaukee
 * L 98–113
 * Wittman (18)
 * Levingston (9)
 * Davis (10)
 * MECCA Arena 11,052
 * 44–28
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 73
 * March 25
 * @ Cleveland
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 74
 * March 26, 1986 7:30p.m. EST
 * @ Philadelphia
 * L 103–112
 * Wilkins (31)
 * Wilkins (7)
 * Rivers (8)
 * The Spectrum 14,125
 * 45–29
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 75
 * March 28
 * @ Indiana
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 76
 * March 29
 * Cleveland


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 77
 * April 1, 1986 7:30p.m. EST
 * Washington
 * W 107–91
 * Wilkins (33)
 * Willis (16)
 * Rivers (10)
 * The Omni 6,835
 * 47–30
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 78
 * April 4, 1986 7:30p.m. EST
 * @ Washington
 * L 129–135 (OT)
 * Wilkins (46)
 * Rollins (14)
 * Wittman (7)
 * Capital Centre 9,113
 * 47–31
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 79
 * April 5
 * @ Chicago
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 80
 * April 8
 * Chicago
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 81
 * April 10
 * New Jersey
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 82
 * April 12
 * Indiana

Playoffs

 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 1
 * April 17, 1986 8:00p.m. EST
 * Detroit
 * W 140–122
 * Wilkins (28)
 * Rollins, Levingston (8)
 * Rivers (16)
 * The Omni 12,538
 * 1--0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 2
 * April 19, 1986 3:30p.m. EST
 * Detroit
 * W 137–125
 * Wittman (35)
 * Rollins (14)
 * Webb (18)
 * The Omni 12,964
 * 2–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 3
 * April 22, 1986 8:00p.m. EST
 * @ Detroit
 * L 97–106
 * Wilkins (21)
 * Wilkins, Levingston (7)
 * Rivers (8)
 * Pontiac Silverdome 13,312
 * 2–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 4
 * April 25, 1986 8:00p.m. EST
 * @ Detroit
 * W 114–113 (2OT)
 * Wilkins (38)
 * Rivers (13)
 * Rivers (9)
 * Pontiac Silverdome 15,288
 * 3–1


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 1
 * April 27, 1986 1:00p.m. EDT
 * @ Boston
 * L 91–103
 * Willis (18)
 * Willis (8)
 * Webb (5)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 0–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 2
 * April 29, 1986 8:30p.m. EDT
 * @ Boston
 * L 108–119
 * Willis (23)
 * Willis, Rollins (10)
 * Rivers (7)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 0–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 3
 * May 2, 1986 7:30p.m. EDT
 * Boston
 * L 107–111
 * Wilkins (38)
 * Willis (12)
 * Rivers (14)
 * The Omni 12,357
 * 0–3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 4
 * May 4, 1986 1:00p.m. EDT
 * Boston
 * W 106–94
 * Wilkins (37)
 * Rollins (16)
 * Webb (12)
 * The Omni 12,357
 * 1–3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 5
 * May 6, 1986 7:30p.m. EDT
 * @ Boston
 * L 99–132
 * Webb (15)
 * Rollins (8)
 * Webb (8)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 1–4

Playoffs
Player Statistics Citation:

Awards

 * Mike Fratello, NBA Coach of the Year Award
 * Stan Kasten, NBA Executive of the Year Award
 * Dominique Wilkins, All-NBA First Team