NBA · Game Review

NBA game reviews – 2026-01-19

NBA Results & Game Reviews: Big Nights From Stars, Blowouts and Statement Wins

It was a cracking slate of NBA action, with a mix of blowouts, big individual performances and a few teams sending clear messages about where they sit in the pecking order. From Memphis running riot over Orlando, to the Lakers cruising past the Raptors on the back of massive nights from Luka Dončić and Deandre Ayton, punters had plenty to digest.

Below is a game-by-game breakdown using the hard numbers from the box scores: final scores, quarter splits and standout stat lines. If you’re tracking form for your next bet, these performances matter – especially for player props and team totals.

Orlando Magic vs Memphis Grizzlies

Memphis took control early and never really looked back, beating Orlando 126–109. The Grizzlies piled on 72 points in the first half while holding the Magic to 53, setting up a comfortable night in front of their home fans.

The opening term told the story: Memphis exploded for 40 points in the 1st quarter while Orlando managed 23. The second quarter was closer (32–30 to Memphis), but that early 17-point gap forced the Magic to chase all game. The second half was essentially even – Memphis edged 54–56 – but by then the damage was done.

Ja Morant runs the show

Ja Morant put together a superb all-round performance. He led the Grizzlies with 24 points, and his playmaking and rebounding numbers leap off the page:

  • 24 points
  • 5 rebounds
  • 13 assists
  • 29 points + rebounds; 37 points + assists; 42 points + rebounds + assists
  • 3 combined turnovers, steals and blocks

For player prop backers, Morant comfortably cleared typical assist and PRA (points + rebounds + assists) ranges, showing he’s in classic usage-heavy form when the offence runs through him.

Frontcourt punch: Jock Landale and Jaren Jackson Jr.

Jock Landale was one of the surprise standouts, stuffing the stat sheet:

  • 21 points
  • 8 rebounds
  • 3 assists
  • 2 blocks and 1 steal (3 stocks)
  • 29 PR, 24 PA, 32 PRA; 5 turnovers + steals + blocks

Jaren Jackson Jr. added his usual blend of scoring and rim protection:

  • 17 points
  • 5 rebounds
  • 2 assists
  • 2 blocks and 1 steal (3 stocks)
  • 22 PR, 17 PA, 22 PRA; 5 turnovers + steals + blocks

Between Landale and Jackson Jr., Memphis had a strong interior presence on both ends, which helped them maintain the lead despite Orlando’s late push.

Two-way engine: John Konchar and the Grizz defence

John Konchar’s line will turn the heads of defensive prop punters:

  • 5 steals and 1 block (6 stocks)
  • 0 turnovers (0 TOs)
  • 3 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists (9 PRA, 6 PR, 6 RA)

He finished with 6 steals + blocks and 6 total turnovers + steals + blocks, a monster defensive return on relatively low offensive usage.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope also had a strong defensive night with 3 steals and 3 steals + blocks, plus 7 points and 1 rebound (8 PA, 9 PRA).

Orlando’s bright spots: Anthony Black and Wendell Carter Jr.

Despite the loss, Orlando had solid individual efforts. Anthony Black was a standout:

  • 19 points
  • 2 rebounds
  • 6 assists
  • 27 PRA (21 PR, 25 PA)
  • 4 turnovers and 0 steals/blocks (4 tos + steals + blocks)

Wendell Carter Jr. also produced a very strong line:

  • 18 points
  • 7 rebounds
  • 4 assists
  • 25 PR, 22 PA, 29 PRA
  • 2 blocks and 2 steals (4 stocks), 1 turnover; 5 tos + steals + blocks

Paolo Banchero (16 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists, 33 PRA) flirted with a triple-double, but the Magic could never erase that early deficit. For totals and spread bettors, this was a classic example of a game where the 1st quarter decided everything: down 17 early, Orlando were always going to struggle to cover.

Brooklyn Nets vs Chicago Bulls

The Bulls dominated from the jump and cruised to a 124–102 home win. Chicago set the tone with a 39–22 opening quarter and carried a 70–51 lead into half-time. Brooklyn could never seriously threaten, with Chicago winning three of the four quarters and drawing even in none.

Balanced Bulls offence with multiple threats

Chicago spread the scoring load nicely. Coby White led all scorers on the Bulls with 24 points, plus:

  • 4 rebounds
  • 3 assists
  • 7 made threes
  • 28 PR, 27 PA, 31 PRA; 3 tos + steals + blocks

He was red hot from deep, dropping 7 three-pointers, a huge result for three-point prop punters.

Nikola Vučević and Ayo Dosunmu were also excellent:

  • Nikola Vučević: 17 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists (28 PR, 23 PA, 34 PRA)
  • Ayo Dosunmu: 19 points, 1 rebound, 5 assists (20 PR, 24 PA, 25 PRA)

Vučević’s 34 PRA and double-double make him a go-to option in PRA and rebound markets when the matchup suits. Rookie Matas Buzelis chipped in 17 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists (27 PRA), showing nice versatility.

Support cast steps up

Jalen Smith added 12 points and 10 rebounds (22 PR, 15 PA, 25 PRA), plus 2 steals and 2 steals + blocks, a handy double-double off the bench that punished any soft Brooklyn interior rotations. Isaac Okoro rounded things out with 9 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists (17 PRA), plus 1 steal and 1 block (2 stocks).

Nets struggle to keep up

Brooklyn’s 102 points came mostly from a spread of mid-level contributions. No one cracked 20 points, with Nolan Traore topping the scoring for the visitors with:

  • 16 points
  • 1 rebound
  • 2 assists (17 PR, 18 PA, 19 PRA)
  • 4 made threes

Danny Wolf (14 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists – 19 PRA) and Jalen Wilson (14 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist – 20 PRA) were solid, while Nic Claxton delivered his usual stat-stuffing:

  • 12 points
  • 5 rebounds
  • 4 assists
  • 1 block and 2 steals (3 stocks)
  • 17 PR, 16 PA, 21 PRA; 4 tos + steals + blocks

But ultimately, Brooklyn couldn’t match Chicago’s efficient perimeter shooting or ball movement. From a betting angle, Chicago’s early 39–22 quarter effectively killed Nets spread tickets and pushed game-total overs into a strong position by half-time.

New Orleans Pelicans vs Houston Rockets

In a high-quality offensive outing, Houston held home court and beat New Orleans 119–110. The Rockets set the tone with back-to-back 32-point quarters to start the game, taking a 64–54 lead into the break. The Pelicans shaded the second half 56–55, but Houston always had enough buffer to stay in control.

Houston’s frontcourt dominance: Jabari Smith and Alperen Sengun

Jabari Smith produced one of the stat lines of the day:

  • 32 points
  • 8 rebounds
  • 0 assists
  • 7 made threes
  • 40 PR, 32 PA, 40 PRA
  • 1 steal, 1 block; 2 tos + steals + blocks

He was lethal from deep (7 threes) and an absolute nightmare for New Orleans’ defence. For three-point and PRA prop bettors, this was a dream result.

Alperen Sengun backed him up with a classic all-round performance:

  • 21 points
  • 8 rebounds
  • 4 assists
  • 29 PR, 25 PA, 33 PRA
  • 5 steals, 1 block (6 stocks), 4 turnovers; 10 tos + steals + blocks

Those 5 steals and 6 stocks in total are huge for defensive props, while his 33 PRA shows elite offensive involvement.

Amen Thompson and Kevin Durant fill it up

Amen Thompson showed his two-way chops:

  • 20 points
  • 8 rebounds
  • 6 assists
  • 28 PR, 26 PA, 34 PRA
  • 1 steal, 1 block (2 stocks); 4 tos + steals + blocks

Kevin Durant was his usual efficient self:

  • 18 points
  • 6 rebounds
  • 8 assists
  • 24 PR, 26 PA, 32 PRA
  • 1 steal, 0 blocks; 4 tos + steals + blocks

With four Houston players (Smith, Sengun, Durant, Thompson) all clearing 30 PRA, the Rockets offence looked well-balanced and extremely dangerous.

Pelicans keep pace but can’t close the gap

The Pelicans had plenty of positives despite the loss. Deni Avdija was easily their standout:

  • 30 points
  • 8 rebounds
  • 8 assists
  • 38 PR, 38 PA, 46 PRA
  • 2 steals and 1 block (3 stocks), 3 turnovers; 4 tos + steals + blocks

That’s one of the biggest PRA lines of the entire slate and an elite fantasy stat set.

Donovan Clingan (21 points, 17 rebounds, 3 assists – 38 PR, 24 PA, 41 PRA) owned the glass, while Shaedon Sharpe dropped 27 points with 7 rebounds (34 PR, 27 PA, 34 PRA). Toumani Camara (17 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists – 20 PR, 19 PA, 22 PRA) and Sidy Cissoko (8 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist – 10 PR, 9 PA, 11 PRA) added solid support.

The Pelicans actually edged the second half 56–55, but that 10-point deficit at half-time proved too steep. From a betting perspective, early Houston backers on the spread and Pelicans’ player over props both came out nicely.

Charlotte Hornets vs Denver Nuggets

The Hornets travelled to Denver and walked away with a comprehensive 110–87 road win over the Nuggets. Charlotte led 60–34 at half-time after a dominant 33–18 first quarter and 27–16 second term. Denver “won” the second half 53–50, but the contest was effectively over at the main break.

Brandon Miller and Deni Avdija headline for Charlotte

Brandon Miller led the Hornets in scoring:

  • 23 points
  • 4 rebounds
  • 1 assist
  • 27 PR, 24 PA, 28 PRA
  • 4 made threes

He was deadly from behind the arc, finishing with 4 triples, and set the tone early in that 33-point opening quarter.

Deni Avdija delivered another massive all-round outing (in this fixture for Charlotte rather than New Orleans in the previous game set):

  • 30 points
  • 8 rebounds
  • 8 assists
  • 38 PR, 38 PA, 46 PRA
  • 2 steals and 1 block (3 stocks), 3 turnovers; 4 tos + steals + blocks

His line mirrors the elite PRA output seen in the Rockets-Pelicans game and highlights how often he’s at the centre of everything his side does offensively.

LaMelo Ball and supporting cast

LaMelo Ball contributed in multiple ways:

  • 10 points
  • 1 rebound
  • 6 assists
  • 11 PR, 16 PA, 17 PRA
  • 3 steals, 0 blocks (3 stocks), 1 turnover; 4 tos + steals + blocks
  • 2 made threes

Collin Sexton (14 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists – 16 PR, 19 PA, 21 PRA) and Kon Knueppel (14 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists – 18 PR, 17 PA, 21 PRA) rounded out a well-balanced Charlotte perimeter attack. In the frontcourt, Donovan Clingan dominated the glass with 21 points and 17 rebounds (38 PR, 24 PA, 41 PRA), plus 1 steal and 1 block (2 stocks).

Denver’s young group can’t keep pace

Denver’s offence never really found rhythm, finishing with just 87 points and only 34 by half-time. Jamal Murray led the way with 16 points, 1 rebound and 2 assists (17 PR, 18 PA, 19 PRA), while Julian Strawther added 15 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists (17 PR, 17 PA, 19 PRA).

Defensively, Peyton Watson stood out with 3 blocks and 1 steal (4 stocks), and 11 points plus 4 rebounds (15 PR, 11 PA, 15 PRA). Bruce Brown also contributed 9 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists (9 PR, 12 PA, 12 PRA) with 2 steals and 2 blocks (4 stocks).

However, the Nuggets’ 18-point first quarter and 16-point second left them playing catch-up all night. For under backers on Denver totals and overs on Hornets spreads, this was a dream scenario.

Portland Trail Blazers vs Sacramento Kings

In one of the more entertaining contests of the day, Sacramento edged Portland 117–110 on the road. The Kings shaded the 1st quarter 32–32 (a tie), pulled away in the second with a 32–21 frame and then played the Blazers almost even over the final two quarters (29–29 and 24–28).

Donovan Clingan and Deni Avdija steal the show

For Portland, rookie big man Donovan Clingan put up a monster:

  • 21 points
  • 17 rebounds
  • 3 assists
  • 38 PR, 24 PA, 41 PRA
  • 1 steal, 1 block (2 stocks); 2 tos + steals + blocks

That’s a genuine strong double-double with serious auxiliary numbers, golden for rebound and PRA punters.

Deni Avdija again delivered an elite stat line for his side:

  • 30 points
  • 8 rebounds
  • 8 assists
  • 38 PR, 38 PA, 46 PRA
  • 2 made threes
  • 1 block, 0 steals; 4 tos + steals + blocks

With 46 PRA, he provided one of the biggest fantasy and betting outputs of the entire slate.

Shaedon Sharpe and Toumani Camara step up

Shaedon Sharpe was superb:

  • 27 points
  • 7 rebounds
  • 0 assists
  • 34 PR, 27 PA, 34 PRA
  • 3 made threes
  • 1 steal, 0 blocks; 6 tos + steals + blocks (with 5 turnovers)

Toumani Camara added 17 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists (20 PR, 19 PA, 22 PRA) with 1 steal and 1 block (2 stocks). Portland got solid role-player efforts from Sidy Cissoko (8 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist – 10 PR, 9 PA, 11 PRA) and Duop Reath in limited usage.

Kings’ experienced backcourt holds firm

Sacramento relied on their veteran guards and wings to close this one out. Russell Westbrook led the Kings in scoring with:

  • 23 points
  • 3 rebounds
  • 7 assists
  • 26 PR, 30 PA, 33 PRA
  • 3 made threes
  • 3 steals, 0 blocks; 5 tos + steals + blocks

Malik Monk was electric off the bench:

  • 23 points
  • 1 rebound
  • 2 assists
  • 24 PR, 25 PA, 26 PRA
  • 5 made threes
  • 1 block, 0 steals; 1 tos + steals + blocks

Zach LaVine rounded out the perimeter scoring trio with 18 points, 1 rebound and 1 assist (18 PR, 19 PA, 19 PRA), draining 3 threes and adding 1 steal.

In the frontcourt, Dylan Cardwell (12 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists – 22 PR, 14 PA, 24 PRA) and Domantas Sabonis (8 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists – 16 PR, 10 PA, 18 PRA) did enough to keep Clingan’s monster outing from turning the game.

Overall, Sacramento’s balance and late-game experience told, while Portland’s young core showed plenty of promise for future punters looking at overs in points and rebounds markets.

Toronto Raptors vs Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers capped the day with a strong 110–93 home win over the Raptors. Toronto started hot with a 30–23 1st quarter, but LA flipped the script from there, winning the remaining three quarters 32–24, 32–26 and 23–13. The Lakers led 55–54 at the half and absolutely smothered the Raptors in the fourth.

Luka Dončić and Deandre Ayton dominate

Luka Dončić and Deandre Ayton were the twin pillars of the Lakers’ offence.

Dončić’s line was everything punters would hope for:

  • 25 points
  • 2 rebounds
  • 7 assists
  • 27 PR, 32 PA, 34 PRA
  • 5 made threes
  • 1 steal, 1 block; 6 tos + steals + blocks (with 4 turnovers)

Ayton was even more dominant inside:

  • 25 points
  • 13 rebounds
  • 1 assist
  • 38 PR, 26 PA, 39 PRA
  • 1 steal, 1 block; 1 tos + steals + blocks (with 0 turnovers)

Ayton delivered a massive double-double and smashed typical PRA lines, while Dončić delivered elite scoring and playmaking with heavy three-point volume.

LeBron James still all class

LeBron James was his usual all-round threat:

  • 24 points
  • 4 rebounds
  • 7 assists
  • 28 PR, 31 PA, 35 PRA
  • 2 made threes
  • 2 steals and 2 blocks (4 stocks), 3 turnovers; 5 tos + steals + blocks

Alongside Marcus Smart (8 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists – 13 PR, 11 PA, 16 PRA; 1 steal) and Jarred Vanderbilt (2 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist – 11 PR, 3 PA, 12 PRA; 2 steals and 2 blocks), the Lakers had multiple players contributing both ways.

Raptors rely on Barnes, Ingram and Mamukelashvili

Toronto’s offence was driven by its trio of playmakers:

  • Scottie Barnes: 22 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists (31 PR, 25 PA, 34 PRA), 1 steal
  • Brandon Ingram: 19 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists (25 PR, 26 PA, 32 PRA), 3 steals and 1 block (4 stocks)
  • Sandro Mamukelashvili: 20 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists (26 PR, 22 PA, 28 PRA), 1 steal and 1 block (2 stocks)

Collin Murray-Boyles chipped in with 11 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists (18 PR, 16 PA, 23 PRA), while Immanuel Quickley had 9 points, 3 rebounds and 7 assists (12 PR, 16 PA, 19 PRA) but was quiet scoring-wise.

The key issue for Raptors backers was the fourth quarter: they managed just 13 points to LA’s 23, sinking any chance of a backdoor cover. For under punters on Toronto team totals, the late fade was exactly what you wanted.

Conclusion: What Today’s Results Mean – and How to Use Them

Across the board, this slate delivered a clear pattern: the teams that started fast and won the first quarter comfortably not only took the points, but often covered spreads and pushed totals into strong positions. Memphis, Chicago, Houston, Charlotte and the Lakers all seized early control and never really surrendered it.

From a player perspective, several names stood out for bettors:

  • Ja Morant – 24 points with 13 assists and 42 PRA, showing elite playmaking form.
  • Jabari Smith – 32 points and 7 threes, a three-point and scoring machine.
  • Alperen Sengun – 21-8-4 with 5 steals, elite for PRA and defensive stats.
  • Deni Avdija – multiple games with 30+ points and 40+ PRA-type production across the day’s slate, proving to be a genuine stat-stuffer.
  • Donovan Clingan – huge rebounding and double-doubles, ideal for boards and PRA markets.
  • Luka Dončić and Deandre Ayton – both smashing expectations for the Lakers, especially in points, rebounds and threes.

If you’re betting regularly, these kinds of box scores are gold. They tell you who’s getting usage, who’s rebounding, who’s defending the perimeter and who’s padding those PRA numbers. But the key is comparing those insights against the odds on offer.

Before you lock in your next wager – whether it’s a team line, total, or a player prop on points, rebounds, assists or threes – make sure you’re getting the best price on the market. Use our odds comparison tool to line up every major bookie in one place, find the value on your angles, and squeeze the most out of every bet.

The stats are in your favour – make sure the odds are as well.