Checking the nba scores on a Sunday morning usually feels like a routine chore, but today hit different. If you haven't looked at the box scores from last night yet, you're in for a shock. Anthony Edwards just dropped a career-high 55 points, and his team still lost. How does that even happen?
Honestly, the Western Conference is a blender right now. Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs managed to withstand that 55-point nuclear blast from Edwards to secure a 126-123 victory. It was wild. The Spurs actually put up 48 points in the second quarter alone—their highest-scoring frame in almost four decades. You’d think a 25-point halftime lead would be safe, but Edwards almost single-handedly erased it with a fadeaway that put Minnesota up late in the fourth. Then Wemby happened. He finished with 39, grabbed the game-sealing rebound, and essentially reminded everyone why the Spurs are sitting comfortably in the second seed while the Timberwolves are scrambling to find consistent defense.
📖 Related: NFL Football Field Dimensions: Why Those 120 Yards Aren't What You Think
The Night the Underdogs Bit Back
It wasn't just the Spurs game that felt upside down. Look at what happened in Miami. The Heat took down the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder 122-120. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was his usual "MVP-favorite" self, putting up 39 points, but Bam Adebayo decided he was a splash brother for a night. Bam hit six triples. Six! That’s a career high. When your center is stretching the floor like that, even a juggernaut like OKC is going to have a bad time.
The Thunder had their five-game win streak snapped, which is a rare sight this season. They’re still the heavy favorites to repeat, currently sitting at +110 odds to win the 2026 title, but last night showed they aren't invincible if a team can pull them out of their defensive shell.
Saturday Night Roundup:
- Dallas Mavericks 138, Utah Jazz 120: Klay Thompson hit another milestone, and the Mavs just cruised. The Jazz look like they’ve already started looking at mock drafts for June.
- Portland Trail Blazers 132, LA Lakers 116: This one was ugly for Lakers fans. Shaedon Sharpe had 25, but the bigger story was who wasn't there. Luka Doncic was out with a groin strain. Without him, the Lakers' offense looked stagnant. LeBron James had a near triple-double (20/9/8), but he’s 41. He can’t carry a Luka-less roster against a hungry Blazers team that has won seven of their last nine.
- Denver Nuggets 121, Washington Wizards 115: Jamal Murray went off for 42. Denver is just lurking in that third spot, waiting for OKC to slip up again.
Why Today's NBA Scores Matter for the Standings
We are officially in the "dog days" of January, but the East is surprisingly competitive. The Detroit Pistons—yes, you read that right—are still holding onto the number one seed with a 30-10 record. They absolutely dismantled Indiana 121-78 last night. It’s the most lopsided score we’ve seen in weeks.
If you’re tracking the nba scores today, Sunday, January 18, you need to keep an eye on the "Global Game" happening in London. The Memphis Grizzlies are taking on the Orlando Magic at The O2 Arena. It’s a noon tip-off Eastern Time. It’s a weird environment for players—long flights, different rims, and a crowd that cheers for every made basket regardless of the team. Orlando is currently the 5th seed in the East, and they’ve been playing some of the grittiest defense in the league.
Sunday's Critical Matchups:
- Brooklyn Nets vs. Chicago Bulls (7:00 PM ET): A total battle for the play-in fringes. Both teams are hovering around 10-12 games under .500.
- New Orleans Pelicans vs. Houston Rockets (7:00 PM ET): Houston is the 5th seed in the West and looks legit. New Orleans, at 10-33, is basically a "get right" game for the Rockets' offense.
- Charlotte Hornets vs. Denver Nuggets (8:00 PM ET): Expect a high score here. Denver has the #1 offensive rating in the league, and Charlotte’s defense is... well, it’s a work in progress.
- Toronto Raptors vs. LA Lakers (9:30 PM ET): Even without Luka, the Lakers are 1.5-point favorites at home. But Toronto has been surprisingly decent on the road this year (12-8 ATS).
The Reality of the "Luka-LeBron" Experiment
There was so much hype when the Lakers landed Luka Doncic. People thought it would be an automatic ring. But as we see in the latest nba scores, it’s complicated. Having two ball-dominant players—one who is the future of the league and one who is its greatest legend—creates a weird gravity on the court.
💡 You might also like: Why the New England Patriots and the Super Bowl Just Hit Different: A Messy History of Greatness
Luka is currently the league’s leading scorer (33.6 PPG), but when he sits, the Lakers' win percentage plummet. They've lost nine of their last fourteen. The "Doncic Trade" cost them depth, and in a long 82-game season, depth is what keeps you out of the play-in tournament. NBA executives are already whispering about LeBron's next move. His $53 million salary is a huge chunk of the cap, and if the Lakers don't make a deep run, do they prioritize the 26-year-old Luka or the 41-year-old King? It’s the biggest storyline of 2026.
How to Actually Use This Info
If you’re looking at these scores to gain an edge in your fantasy league or just to win an argument at the bar, stop looking at the final totals and start looking at the "Pace" ratings.
Chicago is playing at the 3rd fastest pace in the league. When they play a team like Brooklyn (27th in pace), the "Under" is usually a safe bet because the Nets will try to turn the game into a slog.
Similarly, don't sleep on the Detroit Pistons. They aren't a fluke. Their point differential (+7.0) is second only to OKC and Denver. They are beating teams by an average of a touchdown every night.
💡 You might also like: 2016 Notre Dame Football: What Really Happened During the Season From Hell
Actionable Takeaways for the Week:
- Watch the Lakers' injury report: If Luka is out for more than three games, fade them. They don't have the bench to cover his production.
- Buy high on the Spurs: Wembanyama is finally getting the help he needs. Their win over Minnesota wasn't luck; they outplayed a contender for 48 minutes.
- Monitor the London game results: International games often lead to a "hangover" effect for the next two games back in the States. Expect Memphis and Orlando to struggle with their shooting percentages next Wednesday.
The season is halfway over, and the gap between the elite and the basement is widening. Whether you're tracking the race for the #1 seed or just waiting to see if LeBron can defy father time for one more playoff run, the daily box scores are telling a much deeper story than just who won and who lost. Stay tuned to the late-night West Coast games tonight; the Lakers-Raptors tilt at Crypto.com Arena is going to tell us a lot about how Los Angeles handles adversity without their superstar.