You're sitting there, remote in hand, wondering is there any basketball games on tonight NBA fans should actually care about. Honestly, Sundays in January usually feel like a giant waiting room for the playoffs, but tonight—Sunday, January 18, 2026—is actually kind of a weirdly packed slate. We've got six games scattered across the clock, including a morning (for us) London special and a late-night West Coast closer.
If you missed the morning tip-off from across the pond, don't sweat it. Most of the action is saved for the prime-time window. Whether you're looking for Kevin Durant's latest scoring clinic or just want to see if the Lakers can keep their heads above water, the league has a little bit of everything tonight.
Tonight’s NBA Schedule: Times and Matchups
The day kicked off early with the Orlando Magic vs. Memphis Grizzlies at The O2 Arena in London. That was a noon ET start on Amazon Prime Video. If you're just waking up or checking the scores now, that one's likely in the books or winding down. For the rest of the evening, here is how the board looks:
- Brooklyn Nets at Chicago Bulls: 7:00 PM ET. You can catch this on YES or CHSN. The Bulls are sitting at 19-22 and are currently 6-point favorites.
- New Orleans Pelicans at Houston Rockets: 7:00 PM ET. Airing on SCHN and Gulf Coast Sports. This is a Southwest Division clash where the Rockets (24-15) are massive 13-point favorites against a struggling 10-34 Pelicans squad.
- Charlotte Hornets at Denver Nuggets: 8:00 PM ET. Tune in on ALT or FDSSE.
- Portland Trail Blazers at Sacramento Kings: 9:00 PM ET. Watch on NBCS-CA or KUNP.
- Toronto Raptors at Los Angeles Lakers: 9:30 PM ET. This one is on SportsNet LA and TSN.
The Big Storylines for Jan 18, 2026
When you ask is there any basketball games on tonight NBA style, you're usually looking for the drama. Tonight, the spotlight is firmly on Houston. The Rockets have been a surprise force this season. Kevin Durant is still playing like he's 25, averaging 26.3 points and basically carrying the offensive load. Alongside him, Alperen Sengun is flirting with All-Star numbers, putting up roughly 21.6 points and 9.2 rebounds a night. They are hosting a Pelicans team that is, frankly, in the basement. Without much depth beyond Zion Williamson (22.6 PPG) and Trey Murphy III, New Orleans is fighting an uphill battle at the Toyota Center.
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Then you've got the Bulls and Nets. It’s a battle of the "middling" teams, but Josh Giddey has been a spark for Chicago lately, averaging nearly 20 points. Brooklyn is trying to snap a four-game road losing streak, which is never easy at the United Center.
Over in Denver, the Nuggets are dealing with some massive injury headaches. Nikola Jokic is officially OUT with a knee issue. That changes everything. When the Joker sits, the Nuggets become a completely different, and much more vulnerable, team. Peyton Watson and Jamal Murray are going to have to do the heavy lifting against a Charlotte team that plays fast and loose.
Injury Reports and Betting Angles
If you're looking at the spread, the Rockets -13 is a huge number. But given the Pelicans' 10-34 record, it’s not exactly shocking.
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Denver vs. Charlotte is the one to watch for "trap game" potential. With Jokic sidelined, that 8:00 PM tip becomes a lot more interesting for the Hornets. Charlotte is thin in the frontcourt themselves—missing Mason Plumlee and Moussa Diabate—so expect a lot of small-ball and high-scoring perimeter play.
The late game features the Lakers hosting Toronto. The Lakers are sitting at 24-14, but they’ve been inconsistent. Keep an eye on the injury report there; they’ve had a rotating door of "questionable" tags lately. Marcus Smart and LeBron James are expected to lead the way, but they're facing a Raptors team that's been hovering right around the .500 mark (24-17) and remains dangerous on the break.
How to Watch the Games Tonight
Basically, if you have NBA League Pass, you're golden for most of these. If not, here’s the breakdown:
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- Amazon Prime Video: Handled the London game earlier.
- Regional Networks: YES (Nets), CHSN (Bulls), SCHN (Rockets), and SportsNet LA (Lakers) are your primary homes for the night.
- Streaming: Fubo and YouTube TV generally carry the regional sports networks (RSNs) needed for your local market.
The league is also gearing up for the premiere of "Sunday Night Basketball" on NBC and Peacock later this season, but for tonight, January 18, it’s a mix of local broadcasts and League Pass.
Actionable Next Steps for NBA Fans
To make the most of tonight's slate, start by checking the final active roster for the Nuggets at 7:30 PM ET. Since Jokic is out, the betting lines and player props for Jamal Murray will likely shift significantly. If you’re a fantasy manager, pick up Peyton Watson immediately if he’s sitting on your waiver wire; his usage rate skyrockets when the big man is in street clothes. Finally, sync your TV to the 7:00 PM ET window for the Bulls-Nets game if you want the most competitive contest of the night, as that six-point spread suggests a game that will actually go down to the wire.