Basketball is weird. Honestly, if you just look at the box score of a game like the one between the Chicago Bulls and the Brooklyn Nets tonight, you think you know the story. You see 112-109 and assume it was a wire-to-wire thriller. It wasn't. Not even close. For about three quarters, it looked like the Bulls had forgotten how to play professional basketball. They were down by 20 points early in the fourth. Then, suddenly, the "Clutch Bulls" trope became a real thing again.
They stormed back. They actually took a lead with under a minute left thanks to a Tre Jones finish. But then they choked. Or the Nets just remembered they were at home. Either way, the final NBA playoff scores from this mid-January slate are telling a much deeper story about who is actually ready for April and who is just faking it.
The Reality of Tonight's NBA Playoff Scores
We have to be honest about the standings. Even though it's January 16, every game right now is basically a playoff game for teams like the Nets and Bulls. Brooklyn came into tonight with only 11 wins. They are a "bad" team by every metric. Yet, they outplayed Chicago for 40 minutes.
The math problem is what killed the Bulls. Brooklyn made 19 threes. Chicago made 11. You can’t win a game in 2026 when you’re being outscored by 24 points from behind the arc. It doesn’t matter if Jalen Smith puts up a B+ performance with 14 points and 13 rebounds. If you can’t defend the perimeter, you’re toast.
The Nets took a 92-72 lead just seconds into the fourth quarter. Most people probably turned the TV off. If you did, you missed a 15-3 run that turned a blowout into a heart-stopper. Tre Jones was the catalyst, but in the end, Cam Thomas and the Nets' grit held them off.
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Why the Clippers Are the Scariest Team in the West Right Now
While Chicago was struggling with basic math in Brooklyn, the L.A. Clippers were in Toronto proving they might be the most dangerous "low seed" in history. They beat the Raptors 121-117 in overtime. James Harden was vintage. He had 31 points and 10 assists.
The Clippers started this season 6-21. Think about that. They were a joke. Since then, they've won 12 of their last 14 games. They've won five in a row now. Tonight, they trailed 109-101 with three and a half minutes left in regulation. Harden went on a personal 8-0 run to force overtime.
Toronto is good. They had Scottie Barnes scoring 24 and Brandon Ingram adding 19. But the Clippers have this weird veteran composure now. Even without Kawhi Leonard, who was out with a sprained ankle, they just refuse to lose. If the playoffs started today, nobody—and I mean nobody—would want to see the Clippers in the first round.
Looking at the Eastern Conference Mess
The East is a total disaster right now. In a good way, I guess?
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- Cleveland vs. Philly: The Cavs just barely escaped with a 117-115 win. This was a revenge game for the Sixers after getting blown out by 26 points a couple of days ago. Joel Embiid played, which is always the headline. He’s been managing that left knee, but he looked mobile enough. It just wasn't enough to stop Cleveland's depth.
- Indiana vs. New Orleans: The Pacers took down the Pelicans 127-119. New Orleans is in a dark place. Their fans are over it. You go on Reddit and it’s just people asking to trade everyone. Zion Williamson is playing—he’s actually played 17 straight games—but the supporting cast is struggling.
- The Bottom Feeders: Sacramento beat Washington 106-97. It wasn't pretty. It was two teams near the bottom of the standings trying to find an identity. Sacramento got the job done, but it’s hard to see either of these teams making a real run at the Play-In tournament.
The Playoff Picture as of January 16
It's easy to forget that the actual NBA Playoffs don't start until April 18. But the seeds are being sowed right now.
| Matchup | Final Score | Key Performer |
|---|---|---|
| Nets vs. Bulls | 112-109 | Cam Thomas (BKN) |
| Clippers vs. Raptors | 121-117 (OT) | James Harden (LAC) |
| Cavaliers vs. 76ers | 117-115 | Donovan Mitchell (CLE) |
| Pacers vs. Pelicans | 127-119 | Pascal Siakam (IND) |
| Rockets vs. Timberwolves | 101-96 | Alperen Sengun (HOU) |
The Rockets beating Minnesota is actually a massive result. Houston is sitting at the 6th seed in the West, and beating a 4th-seeded Wolves team proves they aren't just a "hot start" team. They are legit. Alperen Sengun is playing like an All-Star lock.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Standings
We tend to obsess over the top two seeds. The Pistons and Celtics are dominant in the East. The Thunder are running away with the West. But the real drama is in the 7 through 10 spots.
The Bulls are currently the 10th seed. They are clinging to that final Play-In spot. Losing to a 13th-seeded Nets team is the kind of thing that comes back to haunt you in April. When we talk about NBA playoff scores, we usually think about June, but the scores tonight determined whether Chicago will even get a chance to play in the postseason.
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The Pelicans are basically out of it at 15th in the West. It’s a tragedy considering the talent on that roster. On the other hand, the Clippers have jumped to 11th and are breathing down the necks of the Grizzlies and Warriors.
Actionable Takeaways for NBA Fans
If you're following the race for the 2026 title, stop looking at the winning percentages and start looking at the "Last 10" column.
- Watch the Clippers' Road Trip: They are 7-14 on the road but have won four of their last five away games. If they fix their road woes, they are a top-4 team disguised as a lottery team.
- Monitor the Embiid Reports: Philadelphia is 12-8 when he plays and mediocre when he doesn't. His "knee management" is the most important storyline in the Atlantic Division.
- The "Math Problem": Keep an eye on the three-point attempts. Teams like the Nets are winning games they have no business winning simply because they are taking—and making—more shots from deep.
The road to the 2026 NBA Finals is already getting crowded. Tonight proved that no lead is safe, no seed is guaranteed, and James Harden still has a few masterpieces left in the tank. If you want to keep track of the movement, focus on the tiebreakers. With the East so bunched up between the 4th and 9th seeds, a single January loss to a sub-.500 team like Brooklyn could be the difference between a home playoff series and watching from the couch.
Keep an eye on the injury reports for tomorrow's back-to-backs. With several stars like Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett sidelined, the bench depth of these middle-of-the-pack teams is about to be tested.