Yeah, they did. If you’re checking the scores after a late night, the short answer is that No. 6 Duke beat California 71-56 on Wednesday night, January 14, 2026.
It wasn't exactly a walk in the park. For a good chunk of the first half, it actually looked like Cal might pull off the upset in front of a screaming, sold-out crowd in Berkeley. But then the Blue Devils decided to play defense. That 26-point second half they forced? Absolute lockdown.
Did Duke win the basketball game? Breaking down the Cal victory
When people ask did Duke win the basketball game, they’re usually looking for more than just a final score. They want to know if the Blue Devils looked like a Final Four team or if they just scraped by.
Honestly, it was a tale of two halves.
The Golden Bears came out swinging. They actually held a 27-21 lead late in the first half after an aggressive 12-2 run. Haas Pavilion was shaking. It felt like one of those "trap games" where a ranked team flies across the country and forgets how to shoot. Then Isaiah Evans happened.
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Duke closed the first half on a 13-0 tear. Evans was everywhere, hitting deep threes and punctuating the run with a spinning dunk that basically sucked the air out of the building. By the time the halftime horn sounded, Duke was up 37-30.
The Freshman Factor: Cameron Boozer and Isaiah Evans
You can't talk about this game without mentioning Cameron Boozer. The kid is a monster. He finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds, marking his eighth double-double of the season.
There was a moment in the second half where Cal crawled back to a 41-41 tie. The momentum was shifting. Boozer just put his head down and started bullying people in the paint. He scored seven points in a three-minute span that pushed the lead back to double digits.
Then you have Isaiah Evans. He’s becoming the go-to guy when the shot clock is winding down. He finished with 17 points, including four shots from behind the arc. Even when his shooting percentage dipped a bit in the second half, his gravity on the court opened up lanes for Nikolas Khamenia, who quietly chipped in 10 points off the bench.
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Why the defense won the day
If you look at the box score, you’ll see Cal shot 36.5% from the floor. That’s miserable.
Jon Scheyer has been preaching defensive consistency all year, and he finally got it in the second half. Dame Sarr was the unsung hero here. He spent most of the night glued to Cal’s Dai Dai Ames, holding him scoreless in the first half.
The Blue Devils' length is starting to become a nightmare for ACC opponents. They out-rebounded Cal 44-30. When you’re giving up that many second-chance opportunities and shooting 21.7% from three, you aren't beating a top-10 team. Period.
Where does Duke stand now?
This win puts Duke at 16-1 overall and a perfect 5-0 in the ACC.
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- They’ve won five straight conference games.
- They are currently the only team without a loss in ACC play.
- Their only loss this season was a one-point heartbreaker to Texas Tech back in December.
It’s a scary thought for the rest of the league. Duke isn't even playing "perfect" basketball yet. They still have stretches where the offense goes stagnant—like that 11.7% three-point shooting slump they hit in the second half of the Cal game. But when you defend like they do, you can afford a few cold spells.
Looking ahead to the West Coast trip
Duke isn't heading back to Durham just yet. They’re staying out West to face Stanford on Saturday, January 17.
Stanford is sitting at 14-4 and they've been tough at home. If Duke plays like they did in the second half against Cal, they should handle it. If they show up with that sluggish first-half energy again? Maples Pavilion can be a weird place to play.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Watch the rotations: Keep an eye on Nikolas Khamenia. His minutes are climbing because he’s becoming a reliable third or fourth scoring option.
- Check the perimeter D: Duke’s ability to run shooters off the line is their biggest strength right now. If Stanford starts hitting early, it’ll be a long night.
- Monitor the Boozer/Flagg dynamic: While Cooper Flagg has been the headline, Cameron Boozer is currently the most consistent statistical producer on the floor.
So, if your buddy asks did Duke win the basketball game, you can tell them yes—and tell them why. They won because they own the glass and they don't let people score in the paint. Simple as that.
For the next game against Stanford, look for Duke to try and establish the inside game earlier to avoid another first-half scare. The tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 PM ET on ACCN.