Wednesday night in the NBA had everything. Big road wins. Defensive battles. Blowouts. Late drama. Star players stepped up while some teams struggled to keep pace. Several games swung on defense and effort more than shooting. Others were decided early and never changed direction.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Charlotte Hornets (94-87)
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) collides into Charlotte Hornets forward Kon Knueppel (7) during the second half at the Spectrum Center. Credit: Sam Sharpe-Imagn Images
Winner: Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland took control early and did just enough to close it out. Donovan Mitchell led the way with 24 points and set the pace right away. Evan Mobley had a big night, finishing with 14 points and 14 rebounds. The Cavs jumped out to a huge first-quarter lead, going up by 21 after shooting almost perfectly. Defense carried them all night. Charlotte scored only 32 points in the first half and struggled to find clean looks. Jarrett Allen added 13 points and nine rebounds, while Jaylon Tyson scored 14. Cleveland held on even after the lead got tight late.
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Loser: Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets missed 38 three-pointers and shot just 8-for-46 from deep. Brandon Miller scored 24 points, and Kon Knueppel added 21 points and 11 rebounds. LaMelo Ball had a rough game off the bench, scoring four points on 1-for-15 shooting. Charlotte also lost the rebounding battle badly, which hurt them all game.
Boston Celtics vs Indiana Pacers (119-104)
Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (9) tries to go between Boston Celtics center Luka Garza (52) and guard Anfernee Simons (4) during the second half at TD Garden. Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
Winner: Boston Celtics
Boston responded well after a tough loss earlier in the week. Jaylen Brown powered the Celtics with 30 points and 10 rebounds. Sam Hauser made five three-pointers and scored 17 points. Neemias Queta added energy inside with 17 points and nine rebounds. Boston built a 23-point lead in the first half and never fully lost control. Early shooting set the tone, as Hauser hit three triples in the first 68 seconds. The Celtics stayed calm when Indiana made a third-quarter push.
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Loser: Indiana Pacers
Indiana fought but dug too deep a hole. Pascal Siakam had a strong night with 32 points and 10 rebounds. Jarace Walker provided 19 points off the bench. The Pacers cut the deficit to nine in the third quarter but could not get stops after that. Defensive breakdowns in the first half proved costly. The comeback run stalled once Boston answered with timely shooting.
New York Knicks vs Brooklyn Nets (120-66)
Brooklyn Nets guard Nolan Traore (88) drives past New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby (8) in the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Winner: New York Knicks
New York delivered a historic performance. The Knicks won by 54 points, the largest margin in franchise history. Jalen Brunson scored 20 points with ease. Landry Shamet was perfect from deep, going 6 for 6 and scoring 18 points. New York led by as many as 59 points and dominated both halves. The Knicks opened the fourth quarter with a 16-0 run that ended any doubt. They outscored Brooklyn 60-28 after halftime. This win snapped a four-game losing streak in emphatic fashion.
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Loser: Brooklyn Nets
Brooklyn had no answers. Michael Porter Jr. led the team with just 12 points on poor shooting. The Nets have now lost eight of nine games. Energy was missing from the start and never returned. The rivalry has been one-sided, as New York has now won 13 straight meetings. This was Brooklyn’s worst loss of the season and showed the gap between the two teams.
Atlanta Hawks vs Memphis Grizzlies (124-122)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) dribbles around a screen set by center Jock Landale (31) on Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) during the fourth quarter at FedExForum. Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Winner: Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta earned a hard-fought win in a game full of momentum swings. Jalen Johnson was outstanding with 32 points and 15 rebounds. His basket with 40 seconds left sealed the game. Luke Kennard added 18 points and hit his first six shots, including four threes. Onyeka Okongwu also scored 18. The Hawks snapped a four-game losing streak and stayed composed late. Atlanta reached double-digit three-pointers again, extending a long streak.
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Loser: Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis played well but came up short. Ja Morant posted 23 points and 12 assists. His final three-point attempt missed at the buzzer. Jaylen Wells scored 18 points. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Cedric Coward added 17 each. Memphis led midway through the fourth but could not stop Atlanta’s late run. The Grizzlies stayed close all night but missed key stops when it mattered most.
Detroit Pistons vs New Orleans Pelicans (112-104)
New Orleans Pelicans guard/forward Micah Peavy (14) dribbles against the Detroit Pistons during the second half at Smoothie King Center. Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
Winner: Detroit Pistons
Detroit continued its strong run. Jalen Duren had 20 points and 15 rebounds and controlled the paint. Daniss Jenkins added 17 points. The Pistons never trailed and built a steady lead. Duncan Robinson chipped in 15 points off the bench. Detroit has now won seven of its last eight games and looks confident on both ends.
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Loser: New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans struggled again. Saddiq Bey scored 20 points. Zion Williamson left early in the third quarter due to illness and did not return. He finished with four points. Trey Murphy III had 17 points but shot poorly. The Pelicans cut the lead to five late but could not get closer. This loss continued a rough stretch for a team near the bottom of the standings.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs Milwaukee Bucks (122-102)
Oklahoma City Thunder center/forward Chet Holmgren (7) drives to the basket against Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) in the first half at Fiserv Forum. Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
Winner: Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City delivered a statement win despite missing key players. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was brilliant with 40 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds. He shot 16 of 19 from the floor. Ajay Mitchell and Kenrich Williams added 18 points each. The Thunder forced eight first-quarter turnovers and built a huge early lead. The margin never dropped below 14. Oklahoma City closed its road trip strong and looked sharp on both ends.
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Loser: Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee could not keep up. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 19 points and 14 rebounds but lacked support early. The Bucks missed Myles Turner and Kevin Porter Jr. Defensive lapses in the first quarter set the tone. Milwaukee’s bench scored 46 points, but the damage was already done. Turnovers and slow starts continue to hurt them.
Toronto Raptors vs Sacramento Kings (122-109)
Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram (3) calls a play against the Sacramento Kings during the fourth quarter at Golden 1 Center. Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images
Winner: Toronto Raptors
Toronto flipped the game after halftime. Scottie Barnes scored 23 points, with 14 coming in the third quarter. Brandon Ingram added 23 points. The Raptors outscored Sacramento 43-21 in the third and took control. Sandro Mamukelashvili contributed 22 points and nine rebounds. Toronto earned its first win in Sacramento in nearly three years.
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Loser: Sacramento Kings
Sacramento faded after a strong first half. Russell Westbrook scored 23 points. Zach LaVine added 19. Malik Monk had 17. The Kings played without Domantas Sabonis, who was rested. The third-quarter collapse decided the game. Sacramento has now lost three straight after a recent hot stretch.
Conclusion
January 21 delivered clear statements across the league. Cleveland and New York showed how defense and focus can control games. Oklahoma City proved depth and discipline still matter. Atlanta and Toronto won by staying patient late. On the other side, Charlotte, Brooklyn, and New Orleans were undone by slow starts and missed shots.
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