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Friday night in the NBA brought close finishes, big scoring runs, and a few injury scares. Several teams used strong fourth quarters to change the story of their games. A few stars carried heavy loads, while others watched late leads disappear. Here is a clear look at each team from every game.
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) moves the ball up court between Houston Rockets center Clint Capela (30) and guard Reed Sheppard (15) during the second half at Little Caesars Arena. Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images
Winners: Houston Rockets
Houston leaned on Kevin Durant to control the night. He scored 32 points and did not commit a single turnover in 40 minutes. His shooting helped the Rockets dominate the third quarter by a 34-20 margin. Alperen Sengun added 19 points and Reed Sheppard scored 18. Amen Thompson filled the box score with 15 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. Defense changed the game in the third period when Detroit struggled to get clean looks. The Rockets also ended a long road slump and won their fourth game in five tries.
Losers: Detroit Pistons
Detroit lost its four-game winning streak after a strong first half. Jalen Duren led the team with 18 points and seven rebounds. Other starters did not match his energy and shot poorly. The Pistons were outplayed after halftime and could not recover from the third-quarter run. Late pushes cut the lead, but missed chances kept them from tying the score.
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) goes down with an injury as guard Jordan Goodwin (23) and forward Oso Ighodaro (11) look on against the Atlanta Hawks in the third quarter at State Farm Arena. Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Winners: Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta found life in the final quarter with a 26-12 run. Jalen Johnson posted 23 points and 18 rebounds for his league-leading 30th double-double. Onyeka Okongwu scored 25 points and worked hard inside. CJ McCollum continued his steady season with 21 points off the bench. The Hawks shot well from deep and used balanced scoring to pull away. This win also followed a recent victory over Memphis and stopped a longer slide.
Losers: Phoenix Suns
Phoenix lost control after Devin Booker hurt his ankle late in the third quarter. Booker had already scored 31 points with four rebounds and three assists. His exit changed the rhythm of the game. The Suns could not match Atlanta’s pace in the fourth. Missed shots and slower movement made it harder to protect the lead.
Brooklyn Nets guard Nolan Traore (88) brings the ball up court against Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) during double overtime at Barclays Center. Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Winners: Boston Celtics
Boston survived a wild game that needed two extra periods. Payton Pritchard scored 32 points. Jaylen Brown added a triple-double with 27 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds. Hugo Gonzalez hit a clutch three to force the second overtime. Sam Hauser and Anfernee Simmons delivered key baskets late. The Celtics also showed calm after blowing a late lead in regulation. Winning on the road after a poor ending in regulation showed strong focus.
Losers: Brooklyn Nets
Brooklyn nearly shocked a top team. Michael Porter Jr. scored 30 points and Nolan Traore had a career-high 21. Nic Claxton forced overtime with a late dunk. The Nets even led late in the first overtime. Missed free throws and one late defensive breakdown allowed Boston to escape. This was another close loss in a season full of them.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Jaylon Tyson (20) drives to the basket against Sacramento Kings guard Dennis Schroder (17) during the second half at Rocket Arena. Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Winners: Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland leaned on Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley in the final minutes. Mitchell scored 33 points and hit a key three late. Mobley matched a season high with 29 points and added 13 rebounds and seven assists. The Cavs also stayed perfect against teams below .500 in recent weeks. Defense tightened late when Sacramento missed several open threes. The group also won without Darius Garland, who remained sidelined.
Losers: Sacramento Kings
Sacramento fought back from an early hole and even led in the fourth. Domantas Sabonis posted 24 points, 16 rebounds, and six assists. Dennis Schroder and DeMar DeRozan combined for 41 points. Missed three-pointers in the final minute ended their chances. This loss marked the fourth in a row and came at the start of a long road trip.
Memphis Grizzlies forward/center Jaren Jackson Jr. (8) shoots as New Orleans Pelicans forward Karlo Matkovic (17) defends during the third quarter at FedExForum. Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Winners: New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans erased a double-digit deficit with strong inside play. Saddiq Bey scored a season-high 36 points and added 19 in the fourth quarter alone. Trey Murphy III scored 32 and Zion Williamson finished with 24 points and 11 rebounds. The Pelicans attacked the paint and used size to take control late. They also snapped a losing streak and finally beat Memphis after six straight losses to them.
Losers: Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis played without Ja Morant and still built a lead behind hot shooting. Jaren Jackson Jr. had 26 points and 12 rebounds. Jock Landale added 24 and 11. Late defense failed to slow Zion and Bey. Trade talk around Morant added more noise to a tough night.
Indiana Pacers guard/forward Andrew Nembhard (2) drives between Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) and guard Isaiah Joe (11) during the second half at Paycom Center. Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Winners: Indiana Pacers
Indiana pulled off a rare win against the league’s top team. Andrew Nembhard scored 27 points with 11 rebounds. Jarace Walker hit a career-high 26 and sealed the game with late free throws. Pascal Siakam added 21. The Pacers survived a late push by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and closed the game with smart plays. This win also ended a short skid for an injury-hit roster.
Losers: Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City missed several key players and still nearly stole the game. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 47 points and was perfect from the line. Chet Holmgren added 25 points and 13 rebounds. A missed three at the buzzer ended the comeback. The Thunder showed fight but could not finish.
Denver Nuggets guard Bruce Brown (11) drives towards the basket against Milwaukee Bucks center Myles Turner (3) during the fourth quarter at Fiserv Forum. Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Winners: Denver Nuggets
Denver won with a short lineup and without Nikola Jokic. Julian Strawther scored a season-high 20. Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown added steady offense. The Nuggets built a big lead and barely held on. Free throws in the final seconds kept them ahead. This victory came despite several injuries during the game.
Losers: Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee lost Giannis Antetokounmpo to a calf injury late. He still posted 22 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists before leaving. Ryan Rollins scored 21 and nearly saved the night. A last-second heave fell short. Health worries now sit on top of another close loss.
Portland Trail Blazers guard Jrue Holiday (5) drives to the basket past Toronto Raptors forward/guard Scottie Barnes (4) and forward/guard RJ Barrett (9) during the second half at Moda Center. Credit: Jaime Valdez-Imagn Images
Winners: Toronto Raptors
Toronto controlled most of the game with balance. Sandro Mamukelashvili scored 22 points and Brandon Ingram added 20. Scottie Barnes and Ochai Agbaji helped push the lead in the fourth. The Raptors overcame poor three-point numbers and more turnovers by winning inside. This marked their third straight win.
Losers: Portland Trail Blazers
Portland played without Deni Avdija and struggled early with cold shooting. Jrue Holiday and Shaedon Sharpe each scored 21. Late runs cut the lead but never erased it. A bad first quarter left them chasing the game the rest of the night.
January 23 delivered drama across the league. Houston and Atlanta showed how one strong quarter can flip a game. Boston and Cleveland relied on stars when pressure rose. New Orleans used power inside to erase a late deficit. Indiana earned a rare win against a top seed with calm free throws. Denver survived despite injuries, while Toronto stayed steady from start to finish.
The post NBA results: January 23, 2026 – winners and losers appeared first on The Big Lead.
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Houston Rockets vs Detroit Pistons (111-104)
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Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) moves the ball up court between Houston Rockets center Clint Capela (30) and guard Reed Sheppard (15) during the second half at Little Caesars Arena. Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images
Winners: Houston Rockets
Houston leaned on Kevin Durant to control the night. He scored 32 points and did not commit a single turnover in 40 minutes. His shooting helped the Rockets dominate the third quarter by a 34-20 margin. Alperen Sengun added 19 points and Reed Sheppard scored 18. Amen Thompson filled the box score with 15 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. Defense changed the game in the third period when Detroit struggled to get clean looks. The Rockets also ended a long road slump and won their fourth game in five tries.
Losers: Detroit Pistons
Detroit lost its four-game winning streak after a strong first half. Jalen Duren led the team with 18 points and seven rebounds. Other starters did not match his energy and shot poorly. The Pistons were outplayed after halftime and could not recover from the third-quarter run. Late pushes cut the lead, but missed chances kept them from tying the score.
Atlanta Hawks vs Phoenix Suns (110-103)
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Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) goes down with an injury as guard Jordan Goodwin (23) and forward Oso Ighodaro (11) look on against the Atlanta Hawks in the third quarter at State Farm Arena. Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Winners: Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta found life in the final quarter with a 26-12 run. Jalen Johnson posted 23 points and 18 rebounds for his league-leading 30th double-double. Onyeka Okongwu scored 25 points and worked hard inside. CJ McCollum continued his steady season with 21 points off the bench. The Hawks shot well from deep and used balanced scoring to pull away. This win also followed a recent victory over Memphis and stopped a longer slide.
Losers: Phoenix Suns
Phoenix lost control after Devin Booker hurt his ankle late in the third quarter. Booker had already scored 31 points with four rebounds and three assists. His exit changed the rhythm of the game. The Suns could not match Atlanta’s pace in the fourth. Missed shots and slower movement made it harder to protect the lead.
Boston Celtics vs Brooklyn Nets (130-126, double overtime)
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Brooklyn Nets guard Nolan Traore (88) brings the ball up court against Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) during double overtime at Barclays Center. Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Winners: Boston Celtics
Boston survived a wild game that needed two extra periods. Payton Pritchard scored 32 points. Jaylen Brown added a triple-double with 27 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds. Hugo Gonzalez hit a clutch three to force the second overtime. Sam Hauser and Anfernee Simmons delivered key baskets late. The Celtics also showed calm after blowing a late lead in regulation. Winning on the road after a poor ending in regulation showed strong focus.
Losers: Brooklyn Nets
Brooklyn nearly shocked a top team. Michael Porter Jr. scored 30 points and Nolan Traore had a career-high 21. Nic Claxton forced overtime with a late dunk. The Nets even led late in the first overtime. Missed free throws and one late defensive breakdown allowed Boston to escape. This was another close loss in a season full of them.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Sacramento Kings (123-118)
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Cleveland Cavaliers guard Jaylon Tyson (20) drives to the basket against Sacramento Kings guard Dennis Schroder (17) during the second half at Rocket Arena. Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Winners: Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland leaned on Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley in the final minutes. Mitchell scored 33 points and hit a key three late. Mobley matched a season high with 29 points and added 13 rebounds and seven assists. The Cavs also stayed perfect against teams below .500 in recent weeks. Defense tightened late when Sacramento missed several open threes. The group also won without Darius Garland, who remained sidelined.
Losers: Sacramento Kings
Sacramento fought back from an early hole and even led in the fourth. Domantas Sabonis posted 24 points, 16 rebounds, and six assists. Dennis Schroder and DeMar DeRozan combined for 41 points. Missed three-pointers in the final minute ended their chances. This loss marked the fourth in a row and came at the start of a long road trip.
New Orleans Pelicans vs Memphis Grizzlies (133-127)
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Memphis Grizzlies forward/center Jaren Jackson Jr. (8) shoots as New Orleans Pelicans forward Karlo Matkovic (17) defends during the third quarter at FedExForum. Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Winners: New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans erased a double-digit deficit with strong inside play. Saddiq Bey scored a season-high 36 points and added 19 in the fourth quarter alone. Trey Murphy III scored 32 and Zion Williamson finished with 24 points and 11 rebounds. The Pelicans attacked the paint and used size to take control late. They also snapped a losing streak and finally beat Memphis after six straight losses to them.
Losers: Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis played without Ja Morant and still built a lead behind hot shooting. Jaren Jackson Jr. had 26 points and 12 rebounds. Jock Landale added 24 and 11. Late defense failed to slow Zion and Bey. Trade talk around Morant added more noise to a tough night.
Indiana Pacers vs Oklahoma City Thunder (117-114)
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Indiana Pacers guard/forward Andrew Nembhard (2) drives between Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) and guard Isaiah Joe (11) during the second half at Paycom Center. Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Winners: Indiana Pacers
Indiana pulled off a rare win against the league’s top team. Andrew Nembhard scored 27 points with 11 rebounds. Jarace Walker hit a career-high 26 and sealed the game with late free throws. Pascal Siakam added 21. The Pacers survived a late push by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and closed the game with smart plays. This win also ended a short skid for an injury-hit roster.
Losers: Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City missed several key players and still nearly stole the game. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 47 points and was perfect from the line. Chet Holmgren added 25 points and 13 rebounds. A missed three at the buzzer ended the comeback. The Thunder showed fight but could not finish.
Denver Nuggets vs Milwaukee Bucks (102-100)
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Denver Nuggets guard Bruce Brown (11) drives towards the basket against Milwaukee Bucks center Myles Turner (3) during the fourth quarter at Fiserv Forum. Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Winners: Denver Nuggets
Denver won with a short lineup and without Nikola Jokic. Julian Strawther scored a season-high 20. Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown added steady offense. The Nuggets built a big lead and barely held on. Free throws in the final seconds kept them ahead. This victory came despite several injuries during the game.
Losers: Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee lost Giannis Antetokounmpo to a calf injury late. He still posted 22 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists before leaving. Ryan Rollins scored 21 and nearly saved the night. A last-second heave fell short. Health worries now sit on top of another close loss.
Toronto Raptors vs Portland Trail Blazers (110-98)
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Portland Trail Blazers guard Jrue Holiday (5) drives to the basket past Toronto Raptors forward/guard Scottie Barnes (4) and forward/guard RJ Barrett (9) during the second half at Moda Center. Credit: Jaime Valdez-Imagn Images
Winners: Toronto Raptors
Toronto controlled most of the game with balance. Sandro Mamukelashvili scored 22 points and Brandon Ingram added 20. Scottie Barnes and Ochai Agbaji helped push the lead in the fourth. The Raptors overcame poor three-point numbers and more turnovers by winning inside. This marked their third straight win.
Losers: Portland Trail Blazers
Portland played without Deni Avdija and struggled early with cold shooting. Jrue Holiday and Shaedon Sharpe each scored 21. Late runs cut the lead but never erased it. A bad first quarter left them chasing the game the rest of the night.
Conclusion
January 23 delivered drama across the league. Houston and Atlanta showed how one strong quarter can flip a game. Boston and Cleveland relied on stars when pressure rose. New Orleans used power inside to erase a late deficit. Indiana earned a rare win against a top seed with calm free throws. Denver survived despite injuries, while Toronto stayed steady from start to finish.
The post NBA results: January 23, 2026 – winners and losers appeared first on The Big Lead.
Continue reading...
