NBA game reviews – 2026-01-06

Big Night in the NBA: High Scores, Blowouts and Late Drama

It was a cracking slate of NBA games, with everything from outright thrashings to late-game nail-biters. Across the board, attacking basketball was the theme, with multiple teams cracking the 120-point mark and a stack of standout individual performances.

The New York Knicks were blown off the floor by a red-hot Detroit Pistons offence, the Boston Celtics controlled the Chicago Bulls despite a late surge, and the Toronto Raptors comfortably handled the Atlanta Hawks. In the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder ran riot in Charlotte, the Houston Rockets edged the Phoenix Suns, and the Denver Nuggets snuck past the Philadelphia 76ers in a one-point thriller. To cap it off, the Utah Jazz exploded for 137 points against the Portland Trail Blazers, while the Los Angeles Clippers just held off a furious Golden State Warriors comeback.

Below is a game-by-game breakdown of the scores and the key performances based entirely on the official stat lines.

Detroit Pistons vs New York Knicks

Detroit put on an offensive clinic at home, belting New York 121–90. The Pistons won every quarter on the scoreboard: 30–29 in the first, 34–25 in the second, 25–15 in the third, and 32–21 in the fourth. After a competitive first half (64–54 Detroit), the hosts completely took control after the break, outscoring the Knicks 57–36 in the second half.

Cade Cunningham was the standout for Detroit with 29 points, 3 rebounds and 13 assists, giving him a massive 45 PRA (points + rebounds + assists). He also chipped in defensively with 2 blocks and a steal, but did have 5 turnovers, reflected in his total of 8 for the combined turnovers/steals/blocks metric.

Javonte Green delivered excellent two-way impact off the bench or as a secondary option: 17 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist for 20 PRA, while knocking down 4 three-pointers and adding 3 steals and no turnovers (3 in the tos + steals + blocks column). Jaden Ivey also stepped up with 16 points, 3 rebounds and 1 assist (19 PR, 20 PRA), plus a three and a steal.

Detroit’s frontcourt was busy on the glass. Paul Reed posted 8 points and 8 rebounds (16 PR, 17 PRA) with a block and a steal, while Isaiah Stewart piled up 7 points and 9 rebounds (16 PR and RA, 16 PRA) along with 2 blocks and 2 in the combined defensive/tos metric.

On the defensive end, several Pistons were active in the passing lanes and at the rim. Daniss Jenkins recorded 2 blocks and a steal (3 steals+blocks), Marcus Sasser had 1 steal and 1 block (2 steals+blocks), and Javonte Green’s 3 steals were a big part of Detroit’s ability to turn defence into easy offence.

For the Knicks, Jalen Brunson led the way with 25 points and 3 rebounds (28 PR and 28 PRA), but couldn’t get much going as a facilitator, finishing without an assist and committing 6 turnovers (6 tos + steals + blocks, all from tos). Miles McBride provided a bright spot with 17 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists (19 PR, 21 PRA) and a hot shooting night from deep with 5 made threes.

OG Anunoby was busy defensively, tallying 3 steals and 1 block (4 steals+blocks) to go with 5 points and 2 boards. Mitchell Robinson controlled the glass for New York with 10 rebounds and 2 points (12 PR, 13 PRA) plus a block and a steal. But overall, the Knicks’ offence stalled in the second half, and their turnovers – particularly from Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns (6 turnovers, 8 PRA) – allowed Detroit to run away with it.

Boston Celtics vs Chicago Bulls

Boston handled business at home with a 115–101 win over Chicago. The Celtics came out firing, winning the first quarter 31–14 and carrying a 54–33 lead into half-time. The Bulls fought back in the second half (68–61 in their favour), but the early deficit was simply too much to overcome.

Boston spread the scoring nicely. Anfernee Simons led all Celtics scorers with 27 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists (30 PR, 30 PA, 33 PRA), and torched Chicago from deep with 8 made three-pointers. Payton Pritchard added 21 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists (27 PR, 26 PA, 32 PRA), hitting 4 threes and running the offence efficiently.

In the frontcourt, Neemias Queta dominated the glass with 13 rebounds and 13 points (26 PR, 27 PRA) plus a block and a steal. Derrick White was everywhere with 10 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists (16 PR, 17 PA, 23 PRA), including 1 three, 3 steals, 1 block and no turnovers – a hugely clean and impactful line.

The Celtics’ supporting cast all chipped in. Jaylen Brown posted 14 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists (22 PR, 18 PA, 26 PRA). Hugo Gonzalez had a well-rounded 5 points, 7 rebounds and 1 assist (12 PR, 6 PA, 13 PRA). Sam Hauser contributed 9 points, 1 rebound and 1 assist (10 PR, 10 PA, 11 PRA) with three triples. Defensively, Boston leaned on Derrick White (4 steals+blocks total) and Queta’s interior presence.

For Chicago, Matas Buzelis was a standout despite the loss. He finished with 26 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists (29 PR, 28 PA, 31 PRA), with 3 made threes and a block. Nikola Vučević delivered a classic double-double: 15 points and 15 rebounds (30 PR, 22 PA, 37 PRA), plus 7 assists and 1 steal, giving him one of the most complete box scores of the night.

Ayo Dosunmu added 15 points, 3 rebounds and 5 assists (18 PR, 20 PA, 23 PRA) and knocked down 3 triples, while Tre Jones chipped in 10 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists (15 PR, 14 PA, 19 PRA). However, Chicago’s 33-point first half never gave them a platform to seriously threaten Boston, who controlled the tempo and spacing from the opening tip.

Toronto Raptors vs Atlanta Hawks

Toronto looked comfortable at home in a 118–100 win over Atlanta. The Raptors edged every quarter – 31–26, 30–23, 25–24 and 32–27 – and led 61–49 at the half. Their offence hummed all night, while the Hawks struggled to slow down Toronto’s versatile core.

Scottie Barnes put together a monster all-around performance: 18 points, 8 rebounds and 10 assists (26 PR, 28 PA, 36 PRA). He also tallied 3 turnovers but was central to everything Toronto did offensively, finishing with 3 tos + steals + blocks in the combined defensive/tos metric.

Collin Murray-Boyles was another huge contributor, posting 17 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists (24 PR, 24 RA, 31 PRA), while adding 3 steals and 2 blocks (5 steals+blocks) with no turnovers. RJ Barrett chipped in 17 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists (23 PR, 21 PA, 27 PRA) and was aggressive attacking the rim.

Brandon Ingram and Sandro Mamukelashvili rounded out a very balanced scoring punch. Ingram delivered 19 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists (28 PR, 22 PA, 31 PRA), with 3 made threes and 2 steals+blocks combined. Mamukelashvili had 12 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists (18 PR, 15 PA, 21 PRA), stretching Atlanta’s defence with a three-pointer and solid playmaking.

The Raptors also generated plenty of defensive pressure. Collin Murray-Boyles had 3 steals and 2 blocks, Gradey Dick chipped in 2 steals, and Jamal Shead added 2 steals and 1 block (3 steals+blocks).

On the Hawks’ side, Jalen Johnson filled the box score with 13 points, 14 rebounds and 7 assists (27 PR, 21 RA, 34 PRA). Onyeka Okongwu was also huge inside with 17 points and 12 rebounds (29 PR, 15 RA, 32 PRA), along with 4 steals (4 steals+blocks) and 3 assists – a very strong two-way line.

Zaccharie Risacher recorded 16 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists (20 PR, 20 RA, 24 PRA) with 2 threes, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 14 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists (19 PR, 9 RA, 23 PRA) and hit 2 triples. Still, Atlanta never found enough stops to seriously slow a Raptors side that had seven players in double figures.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs Charlotte Hornets

In Charlotte, the Thunder blew the game open after quarter time to claim a 124–97 road win. The first quarter was even at 33–33, but OKC dominated the middle two periods 34–17 and 32–21 before cruising home in the fourth (25–26). They led 67–50 at half-time and outscored the Hornets 57–47 in the second half.

The Thunder shared the load offensively. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put up 21 points, 2 rebounds and 6 assists (23 PR, 27 PA, 29 PRA), with a three-pointer and a block. Chet Holmgren was similarly effective, logging 15 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists (21 PR, 17 PA, 23 PRA) and a three, while also protecting the paint.

Jalen Williams chipped in 16 points, 2 rebounds and 4 assists (18 PR, 20 PA, 22 PRA) with 1 three, while Kenrich Williams had a big bench impact with 8 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists (11 PR, 10 RA, 13 PRA), plus 2 steals and no turnovers.

Ajay Mitchell and Aaron Wiggins also stood out among the role players. Mitchell recorded 11 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists (14 PR, 13 PA, 16 PRA) including 2 made threes and 3 steals. Wiggins added 11 points, 2 rebounds and 0 assists (13 PR, 11 PA, 13 PRA) with 2 steals and 2 blocks (4 steals+blocks), and 2 threes.

Defensively, OKC were all over the Hornets’ ball-handlers. Isaiah Joe, Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace, Kenrich Williams, Ajay Mitchell and Aaron Wiggins all recorded multiple steals, and Luguentz Dort had 2 blocks as part of his 5 points, 4 rebounds and 0 assists (9 PR & RA, 9 PRA) outing.

For Charlotte, Brandon Miller was clearly the standout. He finished with 28 points, 6 rebounds and 1 assist (34 PR, 29 PA, 35 PRA), drilling 7 three-pointers and adding 2 steals and 2 blocks (4 steals+blocks total). Kon Knueppel also impressed with 23 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists (28 PR, 28 RA, 33 PRA), including 5 made threes, though he was hurt by 5 turnovers.

Moussa Diabate produced a big-energy line off the bench: 9 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists (21 PR, 14 PA, 26 PRA), with 17 in the RA column and 26 PRA in total. Miles Bridges had 17 points and 11 rebounds (28 PR, 21 RA, 32 PRA), but Charlottle’s 17-point second quarter and 21-point third quarter effectively killed any chance of a comeback.

Houston Rockets vs Phoenix Suns

In one of the tighter contests of the day, the Rockets edged the Suns 100–97 at home. Phoenix jumped out early, taking the first quarter 29–25 and the second 31–29 to lead 60–54 at the half. Houston tightened up defensively after the break, winning the third 24–18 and the fourth 22–19 to complete the comeback.

Kevin Durant delivered another huge offensive performance with 26 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists (36 PR, 30 PA, 40 PRA). He hit 2 three-pointers and added 1 block, but his effort wasn’t quite enough to drag Phoenix over the line.

For the Rockets, their attack was well-balanced. Amen Thompson posted 17 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists (24 PR, 23 PA, 30 PRA), while Jabari Smith matched him with 17 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists (24 PR, 20 PA, 27 PRA) and hit 3 triples.

Steven Adams was a force inside with 8 points, 11 rebounds and 2 assists (19 PR, 10 PA, 21 PRA), and Tari Eason gave Houston a serious boost with 12 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists (20 PR, 14 PA, 22 PRA) plus a steal and a block.

From the perimeter, Reed Sheppard added 11 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists (14 PR, 13 PA, 16 PRA) with 1 three and 2 steals, while Dorian Finney-Smith chipped in 3 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist (7 PR, 4 PA, 8 PRA) and hit a three.

On the Suns’ side, Devin Booker led the scoring with 27 points, 0 rebounds and 3 assists (27 PR, 30 PA, 30 PRA), including 2 threes. Dillon Brooks added 15 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists (19 PR, 17 PA, 21 PRA), and Royce O’Neale was excellent with 15 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists (21 PR, 18 PA, 24 PRA), going 5-of-? from deep with 5 made threes.

Collin Gillespie rounded out the Suns’ key contributors with 11 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists (17 PR, 15 PA, 21 PRA) and 3 triples, while Oso Ighodaro quietly posted 9 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists (17 PR, 11 PA, 19 PRA). Still, the Rockets’ second-half defensive lift and superior rebounding edge – led by Adams and Eason – proved decisive.

Philadelphia 76ers vs Denver Nuggets

This was the blockbuster of the day – a genuine thriller that ended 125–124 in Denver’s favour. The game was locked 58–58 at half-time. Philly then edged ahead with a 35–29 third quarter, but the Nuggets stormed back in the fourth, winning the final term 33–27 to snatch the one-point victory.

For Philadelphia, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey were immense. Embiid stacked up 32 points, 10 rebounds and 2 assists (42 PR, 34 PA, 44 PRA), adding a steal and a block. Maxey posted 28 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists (34 PR, 34 PA, 40 PRA), drilling 4 three-pointers and registering 4 steals and 2 blocks (6 steals+blocks, 7 in the tos + steals + blocks tally).

Rookie VJ Edgecombe also shone with 17 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists (25 PR, 26 PA, 34 PRA), hitting 5 threes and contributing 2 steals and 2 blocks (4 steals+blocks). Quentin Grimes chipped in 16 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists (20 PR, 18 PA, 22 PRA) with 3 made threes.

Across the floor, Denver’s attack was extremely balanced but driven by big nights from Jalen Pickett and Peyton Watson. Pickett delivered 29 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists (34 PR, 36 PA, 41 PRA), including 7 threes and 0 steals/blocks but 4 turnovers. Peyton Watson was right there with him, tallying 24 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists (31 PR, 28 PA, 35 PRA) plus 1 steal and 2 blocks (3 steals+blocks, 9 tos + steals + blocks given his 6 turnovers).

Zeke Nnaji also played a pivotal role with 21 points, 8 rebounds and 1 assist (29 PR, 22 PA, 30 PRA). Bruce Brown added 19 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists (25 PR, 21 PA, 27 PRA), while Hunter Tyson finished with 14 points, 3 rebounds and 1 assist (17 PR, 15 PA, 18 PRA).

Ultimately, the Nuggets’ 33-point fourth quarter and their three-point shooting – highlighted by Nnaji’s 4 threes and Pickett’s 7 – were the difference in a game where both teams scored 62 points in the second half before Denver’s one-point edge was confirmed.

Portland Trail Blazers vs Utah Jazz

If you like high-octane offence, this was the game of the night. The Jazz dismantled the Blazers 137–117 at home, putting up huge numbers in every quarter: 36–26 in the first, 42–31 in the second, 36–26 in the third, before easing off slightly in a 23–34 fourth. Utah led 78–57 at half-time and never looked like losing.

Deni Avdija had one of the biggest lines of the day with 33 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists (41 PR, 42 PA, 50 PRA), while hitting 4 threes. He also limited his mistakes with just 2 turnovers and no steals or blocks, reflecting 2 in the tos + steals + blocks category.

Shaedon Sharpe lit it up as well, finishing with 29 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists (34 PR, 36 PA, 41 PRA) and knocking down 5 three-pointers. Donovan Clingan put together a dominant interior performance, recording 12 points, 17 rebounds and 2 assists (29 PR, 14 PA, 31 PRA) with 3 blocks and 4 turnovers (7 in the tos + steals + blocks metric).

Caleb Love and Toumani Camara added further scoring depth. Love produced 14 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists (17 PR, 18 PA, 21 PRA) with 2 threes, while Camara tallied 15 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists (19 PR, 18 PA, 22 PRA) and sank 2 triples.

Off the bench or in supporting roles, Sidy Cissoko (14 points, 0 rebounds, 2 assists – 14 PR, 16 PRA – with 4 threes and 3 steals+blocks) and Kris Murray (10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists – 13 PR, 12 PA, 15 PRA) both added valuable punch.

For Portland, Jusuf Nurkić’s stat line was massive: 21 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists (33 PR, 26 PA, 38 PRA), including 2 made threes, 2 steals and 1 block (3 steals+blocks). Lauri Markkanen had 22 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists (26 PR, 26 PA, 30 PRA), knocking down 3 triples and adding 3 steals and a block (4 steals+blocks).

Keyonte George added 15 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists (19 PR & PA, 23 PRA) with 1 three, while Isaiah Collier put up 10 points, 3 rebounds and 8 assists (13 PR, 18 PA, 21 PRA). But Portland simply couldn’t cope with Utah’s relentless scoring bursts – especially the 42-point second quarter and 36-point third.

Los Angeles Clippers vs Golden State Warriors

The last game of the night was a thriller in LA, with the Clippers hanging on for a 103–102 win over the Warriors. The Clippers started fast, winning the first quarter 31–19 and taking a 55–51 lead into half-time. They extended the advantage in the third (21–13), but Golden State roared back with a 38–27 fourth quarter and nearly stole it late.

Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with a typically all-around line: 24 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists (36 PR, 29 PA, 41 PRA). He also recorded 1 steal and 2 blocks (3 steals+blocks, 8 in the tos + steals + blocks metric thanks to 5 turnovers), anchoring both ends of the floor.

John Collins provided strong support with 18 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist (22 PR, 19 PA, 23 PRA), including 3 made threes and 3 blocks. Kris Dunn was excellent as a secondary playmaker, posting 16 points, 3 rebounds and 6 assists (19 PR, 22 PA, 25 PRA), hitting 2 triples and collecting a steal.

Young guard Kobe Sanders added 20 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists (27 PR, 23 PA, 30 PRA), with 2 threes and 3 turnovers. Ivica Zubac did the dirty work inside with 10 points, 11 rebounds and 3 assists (21 PR, 13 PA, 24 PRA), plus a block.

For the Warriors, Stephen Curry was once again the focal point, finishing with 27 points, 4 rebounds and 6 assists (31 PR, 33 PA, 37 PRA). He drained 4 three-pointers and added 3 steals, though he also had 1 turnover.

Jimmy Butler produced a big two-way performance with 24 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists (30 PR, 26 PA, 32 PRA), along with 4 steals and a block (5 steals+blocks). Gary Payton II chipped in 14 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists (19 PR, 16 PA, 21 PRA), bringing his usual defensive intensity with a block.

Draymond Green almost triple-doubled the box score: 6 points, 5 rebounds and 12 assists (11 PR, 18 PA, 23 PRA), adding 2 steals and 0 blocks, while Moses Moody contributed 4 points, 2 rebounds and 1 assist (6 PR, 5 PA, 7 PRA) plus 3 steals and 1 block (4 steals+blocks). Despite their furious late charge, the Warriors fell just short, undone by the early hole they dug in the first and third quarters.

Wrapping Up a Wild Day in the NBA

From Detroit’s 31-point demolition of New York and Utah’s 137-point offensive blitz, to Denver’s one-point escape in Philly and the Clippers’ tight win over Golden State, this slate had a bit of everything. Star players like Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Deni Avdija, Cade Cunningham and Kawhi Leonard all put up big lines, while younger names such as VJ Edgecombe, Collin Murray-Boyles, Brandon Miller and Matas Buzelis showed they’re more than ready for the spotlight.

For punters, days like this are a great reminder of how quickly momentum and margins can swing – especially in high-scoring matchups and games where one hot shooting quarter can decide the result.

If you’re looking to get an edge on future slates, make sure you’re not flying blind. Use our odds comparison tool to line up prices from multiple bookies, spot value on sides and player markets, and react to form trends like the ones we’ve seen in these games. Before you place your next bet, jump onto our odds comparison platform and make sure you’re getting the best price on every market you play.