January 20, 2026, packed the NBA calendar with nine high-stakes regular season matchups, featuring streaks snapped, star-powered comebacks, and standings shifts across both conferences. From a historic single-quarter scoring outburst to a sixth consecutive win for a surging team, the day delivered drama that reshaped playoff races and play-in positioning. Here’s a detailed breakdown of each contest:

1. Milwaukee Bucks 108 vs. Atlanta Hawks 102

The Bucks snapped their three-game losing streak with a gritty road win over the Hawks, who also saw their own three-game skid extend to four. Giannis Antetokounmpo anchored Milwaukee’s effort, while Atlanta’s depleted lineup struggled to overcome defensive lapses and key absences.

Milwaukee started slowly but found rhythm in the second quarter, outscoring Atlanta 32-25 to erase an early deficit. Antetokounmpo finished with 27 points and 8 rebounds, building on his 21-point outing in the previous loss, while bench standout Kyle Kuzma added 18 points—matching his team-high from the Bucks’ prior game. The Bucks leaned on interior defense to limit Atlanta’s scoring opportunities, as the Hawks missed injured stars Domantas Sabonis and Bogdan Bogdanovic.

Atlanta, which allows nearly 120 points per game (ranking sixth-worst in the league), couldn’t contain Milwaukee’s late-game push. Jalen Johnson struggled with a recent slump, and the Hawks’ offense sputtered after a promising first quarter—they were held to just 25 points in the fourth quarter. The loss dropped Atlanta to 20-25 in the Eastern Conference, while the Bucks improved to 18-24, closing the gap to 0.5 games behind the tenth-place Hawks.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder 115 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers 107

The Thunder bounced back from their overtime loss to the Heat, securing a road win over the surging Cavaliers despite playing without injured guard Jalen Williams. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander carried Oklahoma City’s offense, while Cleveland’s Tyrese Haliburton couldn’t replicate his recent 39-point performance.

Oklahoma City (36-9) overcame Williams’ absence—he left the previous game with a hamstring injury—by leaning on Gilgeous-Alexander’s scoring prowess. After tallying 39 points in the Thunder’s five-game win streak finale, he added 31 points and 6 assists to keep his team atop the Western Conference. Bench players Aaron Wiggins and Donovan Mitchell combined for 33 points, offsetting Cleveland’s balanced attack.

Cleveland (24-20) had won seven of its last 10 games but couldn’t overcome the Thunder’s defensive intensity. Haliburton led the Cavaliers with 22 points, but key absences (Darius Garland, Sam Merrill, Max Strus) left the offense shorthanded. The Cavaliers fought to within five points in the fourth quarter, but Oklahoma City’s clutch free-throw shooting sealed the victory.

3. Los Angeles Clippers 110 vs. Washington Wizards 106

The Clippers extended their winning streak to six games with a hard-fought road win, overcoming the absence of Kawhi Leonard and outlasting the Wizards’ late rally. James Harden delivered a dominant performance, cementing his role as the team’s closer.

Harden finished with 36 points, 7 rebounds, and 9 assists—building on his 31-point, 10-assist outing in the Clippers’ overtime win over the Raptors. He scored 10 points in the third quarter and led a fourth-quarter comeback, as the Clippers erased an 88-83 deficit with a decisive 17-5 run. Ivica Zubac anchored the interior with 14 points and 12 rebounds, while Jordan Miller added 16 points (including 11 in the fourth quarter) to key the rally.

Washington (10-32) dropped its seventh consecutive game despite a breakout 28-point performance from Alex Sarr. Kyshawn George contributed 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists, and Carleton Carrington added 17 points and 7 assists, but the Wizards couldn’t hold onto their third-quarter lead. The team’s young core—including sixth overall pick Tre Johnson, who shot 1-of-10 for 4 points—struggled with consistency down the stretch.

The game was tightly contested throughout: the first quarter ended tied 26-26, the Clippers led 54-53 at halftime, and Washington held an 81-79 advantage after three quarters. The Clippers’ defensive intensity in the final minutes proved decisive, as they improved to 19-23 and inched closer to Western Conference play-in position.

4. Dallas Mavericks 121 vs. New York Knicks 114

The Mavericks snapped the Knicks’ three-game losing streak with a road win, fueled by red-hot three-point shooting and a strong bench performance. Luka Doncic orchestrated Dallas’ offense, while New York struggled without the injured Jalen Brunson.

Dallas (18-26) won its third game in four outings, shooting nearly 50% from three-point range against a Knicks defense that had faltered in recent games. Klay Thompson, coming off the bench, led the Mavericks with 23 points—his highest total of the season—while Doncic added 27 points and 10 assists. The Mavericks overcame the absence of multiple starters (including Dereck Lively II) by spreading the floor and capitalizing on New York’s defensive lapses.

New York (25-18) saw its lead in the Eastern Conference shrink, as Julius Randle, OG Anunoby, and Miles McBride each scored 20+ points but couldn’t keep up with Dallas’ offense. Without Brunson, the Knicks’ offense lacked rhythm, especially in the fourth quarter, where they were outscored 32-25. The loss dropped the Knicks to third in the East, as trailing teams closed the gap.

5. Utah Jazz 109 vs. San Antonio Spurs 118

The Spurs extended their winning streak to three games with a home victory, led by Victor Wembanyama’s dominant performance and balanced scoring from the supporting cast. Utah’s three-game losing streak continued as the Jazz played without key contributors.

San Antonio (30-13) climbed back to second place in the Western Conference, with Wembanyama replicating his 39-point, 9-rebound effort from the previous game against the Timberwolves. De’Aaron Fox added 25 points and 12 assists, and Keldon Johnson contributed 20 points—matching his output from the Spurs’ recent win. The team overcame the absence of Devin Vassell by sharing the ball, with six players scoring in double figures.

Utah (14-29) lost its third straight game despite a 29-point performance from Paul George and 18 points from Taylor Hendricks. The Jazz, which is prioritizing player development this season, got 25 points and 6 rebounds from bench player Ochai Agbaji, but key absences (Walker Kessler, Bojan Bogdanovic, Lauri Markkanen) left the team shorthanded. The Jazz couldn’t contain San Antonio’s interior attack, as Wembanyama dominated the paint throughout the game.

6. Indiana Pacers 95 vs. Philadelphia 76ers 122

The 76ers snapped their two-game home losing streak with a dominant win over the league-worst Pacers, led by Joel Embiid’s scoring outburst and balanced team play. Indiana, playing with a depleted lineup, never recovered from a slow start.

Philadelphia (23-18) bounced back from losses to the Cavaliers by scoring 35 points in the first quarter and never looking back. Embiid led the way with 33 points, matching his output from the previous loss, while Tyrese Maxey added 22 points and four other players scored in double figures. The 76ers’ defense limited Indiana to just 95 points—well below the Pacers’ season average.

Indiana (10-34), which lost by 43 points to the Pistons in its previous game, played without Pascal Siakam and Tyrese Haliburton. The Pacers couldn’t generate consistent offense against Philadelphia’s defense, as they were held to fewer than 25 points in three of the four quarters. The loss solidified Indiana’s place at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.

7. Phoenix Suns 128 vs. Brooklyn Nets 112

The Suns extended their winning streak to two games with a road victory, led by Devin Booker’s scoring and strong bench contributions. Brooklyn’s struggles continued as the Nets lost their seventh game in eight outings.

Phoenix (26-17) bounced back from a two-game road losing streak, with Booker scoring 27 points—building on his clutch performance against the Knicks. Bench players Grayson Allen and Josh Okogie provided valuable scoring punch, helping the Suns pull away in the second half. The team’s defense limited Brooklyn to just 112 points, as the Nets struggled to find consistent offense.

Brooklyn (12-29) lost its sixth game in seven outings, despite six players scoring in double figures. Reserve Yves Pons led the Nets with 16 points, but the team couldn’t match Phoenix’s offensive efficiency. The Nets were outscored by 16 points in the second half, as their defense couldn’t contain the Suns’ perimeter attack.

8. Boston Celtics 135 vs. Detroit Pistons 110

The Celtics dominated the Eastern Conference-leading Pistons with a historic offensive performance, led by Jaylen Brown’s career-high scoring and a record-setting quarter. Detroit’s five-game winning streak came to an end in lopsided fashion.

Boston (27-15) set a franchise record with 52 points in the second quarter—matching their output from the previous game’s win over the Hawks. Brown led the way with 41 points, while Sam Hauser added 30 points off the bench. The Celtics shot 58% from the field and 47% from three-point range, overwhelming Detroit’s defense from the opening tip.

Detroit (30-11) had won five of its previous six games but couldn’t keep up with Boston’s offensive onslaught. The Pistons jumped out to an early 21-2 lead but scored just 25 points in the second quarter, allowing the Celtics to take control. Cade Cunningham led Detroit with 24 points, but the team’s bench couldn’t provide enough support to mount a comeback.

9. Miami Heat 105 vs. Golden State Warriors 118

The Warriors extended their winning streak to four games with a dominant home victory, led by a balanced offensive attack and stifling defense. Miami, which entered the game tied with Golden State for eighth place in their respective conferences, couldn’t overcome the Warriors’ depth.

Golden State (25-19) placed eight players in double figures, building on their 136-116 win over the Hornets. Reserve De’Anthony Melton led the way with 24 points, while Stephen Curry added 14 points and 5 assists—taking a backseat to his teammates’ strong performances. The Warriors’ defense limited Miami to just 105 points, as the Heat struggled to find rhythm without key contributors.

Miami (22-21) lost for the third time in four games, despite a balanced effort from their rotation. Bam Adebayo led the Heat with 22 points and 10 rebounds, but the team couldn’t contain Golden State’s perimeter attack. The Warriors built a double-digit lead in the first half and never let Miami get closer than eight points in the second half.