Why is Atlanta Hawks vs Houston Rockets game postponed? Reasons explored 

The Atlanta Hawks vs Houston Rockets game originally scheduled for this afternoon has been postponed. The NBA announced the decision Saturday morning, adding that the game would be played at a later time.

In a statemen, the league said the matchup set to be played at State Farm Arena won't be happening today due to the severe weather in the Atlanta area.

"The National Basketball Association game scheduled for this afternoon between the Houston Rockets and Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena has been postponed. The decision was made in consultation with local officials and to prioritize the safety of the players, fans and staff due to the severe weather and hazardous icy conditions in the Atlanta area," the statement read.

This comes after a winter storm hit the southeastern United States this week. 25 states were impacted with cold, snowy and icy weather as a result. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency. Two two six inches of snow were reported in downtown Atlanta on Friday.

Flights have been delayed and canceled amid the winter weather. The National Weather Service Atlanta announced Saturday that the city officially had 2.1 inches of snow on Friday, a daily record.

Atlanta Hawks have the last play-in tournament spot in Eastern Conference

This postponed matchup would have been a terrific opportunity for the Atlanta Hawks to get above the .500 mark, although they would have to move past the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. The Rockets (25-12) are one of the biggest surprises in the NBA this season and they entered this game having won four of their last five matchups.

The Hawks (19-19) currently rank ninth in the East standings, enough to secure the final play-in tournament spot. They are tied with the Detroit Pistons and one game away from the Miami Heat (19-17), but fans will have to wait to see their team back in action. At the end of the day, safety goes first and the NBA is prioritizing that.

After parting ways with Dejounte Murray, the Hawks have tried to find consistency, but that's something Quin Snyder, Trae Young and Co. are still working on. The next game for the Hawks is supposed to take place at State Farm Arena on Tuesday against the Phoenix Suns. Time will tell whether they can take the court again or wait until Wednesday to play at United Center against the Chicago Bulls.