If you're asking is there any basketball games today, you’re in luck because Friday, January 16, 2026, is actually one of those sleeper days that ends up being a total heater. Honestly, it's a massive night across the board. Whether you’re a die-hard NBA fan, someone who lives for the chaos of college hoops, or even if you’ve started dabbling in EuroLeague because the pace is just different, there is a lot to watch.
Basically, the schedule is packed. We’ve got heavyweight NBA clashes on national TV, some huge conference rivalry games in the NCAA, and a literal "Clásico" happening across the pond. It's the kind of night where you’ll want to have the remote close and maybe a second screen going.
The NBA Slate: Heavy Hitters and Playoff Previews
The big news tonight in the NBA is the schedule shake-up. Originally, we were supposed to see the Bulls and the Nets, but ESPN flexed the Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Philadelphia 76ers into that 7:00 PM ET slot. And thank god they did. Watching Tyrese Maxey and Donovan Mitchell trade buckets is way more interesting than watching two teams hovering around the play-in tournament.
But that’s just the start of it.
Tonight's Key NBA Matchups
- Cleveland Cavaliers at Philadelphia 76ers (7:00 PM ET): This is the national spotlight game. Cleveland has been rolling lately, and the Wells Fargo Center is going to be loud.
- New Orleans Pelicans at Indiana Pacers (7:00 PM ET): If you like fast-paced, high-scoring transition play, this is your game. Tyrese Haliburton vs. Zion Williamson is just a fun contrast in styles.
- Chicago Bulls at Brooklyn Nets (7:30 PM ET): Even though it got bumped from the national TV slot, it’s still happening. Good for a casual watch if you’re a fan of either team.
- Los Angeles Clippers at Toronto Raptors (7:30 PM ET): The Clippers have been on a bit of a tear lately, and Toronto always plays tough at home.
- Minnesota Timberwolves at Houston Rockets (9:30 PM ET): This is a sneaky good game. The Wolves are trying to hold onto a top seed in the West, while the Rockets are surprisingly scrappy this season.
- Washington Wizards at Sacramento Kings (10:00 PM ET): Late-night hoops for the West Coast crowd. Sacramento’s offense is usually a lock for some highlight-reel plays.
The Western Conference race is getting tight, so games like the Wolves-Rockets one actually matter a lot more than you'd think for mid-January.
College Basketball: Big 12 Drama and Mid-Major Grudges
College hoops is where the real intensity lives right now. Conference play is in full swing, and tonight features some absolute "must-win" scenarios for teams trying to build their March Madness resumes.
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One of the biggest games on the calendar is Baylor at Kansas (8:00 PM ET). Look, playing at Phog Allen Fieldhouse is basically the final boss of college basketball. Baylor has the talent, but the Jayhawks in Lawrence? That's a tall order.
We also have Colorado State at Boise State (10:30 PM ET). If you haven't been watching the Mountain West this year, you're missing out. It's a bloodbath every single night. These teams legit hate each other, and the atmosphere in Boise is going to be electric.
Other Notable NCAA Games
- Toledo at Kent State (6:30 PM ET): High-level MAC action.
- Creighton at Providence (6:30 PM ET): The Big East is always a physical grind.
- Marquette at DePaul (8:30 PM ET): Marquette is looking to keep their momentum in the conference standings.
- Loyola (IL) at Dayton (8:30 PM ET): A classic A-10 battle.
On the women's side, there are some great matchups too, like UTSA at Florida Atlantic and Drexel at College of Charleston. The parity in the women's game this year is higher than I've ever seen it.
The European Giant: Real Madrid vs. Barcelona
If you’ve already finished your workday and you’re looking for something to watch right now, you might have caught the EuroLeague Clásico. Real Madrid and FC Barcelona just finished their Round 22 clash at the Movistar Arena.
Real Madrid has been the "best home side" in the competition lately, and they were looking to extend their winning streak in European Clásicos to four. These games are played with a defensive intensity that you rarely see in the NBA regular season. It’s a totally different flavor of basketball—more focused on set plays and grueling half-court sets.
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Other EuroLeague action today included Fenerbahçe vs. Valencia and Olympiacos vs. KK Partizan. The atmosphere in Belgrade or Istanbul makes an NBA arena feel like a library, seriously.
Why Today’s Games Actually Matter
We are in the "dog days" of the season, but for anyone wondering is there any basketball games today that actually carry weight, the answer is a resounding yes.
In the NBA, we’re seeing the standings begin to solidify. Teams like the Timberwolves and Cavaliers aren't just "good stories" anymore; they're legitimate contenders. Tonight is a litmus test for them. Can the Cavs win a gritty road game in Philly? Can the Wolves handle a desperate Rockets team?
In college, it's all about the "Quad 1" wins. A win for Baylor at Kansas would basically punch their ticket to a high seed in the tournament.
Where to Watch Everything
- NBA: ESPN, NBA League Pass, and local Bally Sports or MSG networks.
- College: ESPN, FS1, and various conference-specific streamers like ESPN+.
- EuroLeague: ESPN+ or EuroLeague TV.
Pro Tips for Following the Action
If you're trying to track all these games at once, don't just rely on the standard ticker. Use an app like Wikihoops to see which NBA games are actually "watchable" based on fan ratings—it helps you skip the blowouts. For college, keep an eye on the live KenPom ratings to see which upsets are brewing in real-time.
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Honestly, the best way to handle a Friday night like this is to start with the 7:00 PM ET NBA tip-offs, keep the Baylor-Kansas game on a tablet, and then transition to the West Coast games for the late-night "After Dark" chaos.
Tonight isn't just a random Friday in January. It's a cross-section of the entire basketball world. From the star power of the Sixers to the tactical warfare of the EuroLeague, there's enough here to keep any fan occupied until the early hours of Saturday morning.
Make sure your streaming subs are active and your phone is charged. You're going to need it to keep up with the scoreboards tonight.
Your Next Steps:
- Check the local listings for the 7:00 PM ET window to see if the Cavs/Sixers game is available in your area.
- Download a sports book or score tracking app to get live notifications for the NCAA upsets, especially in the Mountain West.
- Set a reminder for the Baylor vs. Kansas tip-off; that game is likely to have major implications for the Top 25 rankings next week.