If you turned off the TV early last night, you missed a statement. Honestly, the Western Conference is becoming a bit of a shark tank, and Tuesday night’s slate just dumped more blood in the water.
We saw the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder finally solve their biggest riddle of the season. We saw a 41-year-old LeBron James flirt with a triple-double like it’s 2012. And somewhere in Milwaukee, there’s likely a very long, very quiet meeting happening after the Bucks got absolutely dismantled on their own floor.
People keep asking about the nba scores last night yesterday because the standings are shifting daily. This wasn't just a random Tuesday in January. It was a night where the hierarchy of the West got a little clearer, while the East’s middle class continued to cannibalize itself.
The Thunder Finally Crack the Wembanyama Code
For some reason, the San Antonio Spurs have had the Thunder’s number. Entering last night, OKC was 0-3 against the Spurs this season. Imagine being 33-7 and having a losing record against a team that’s still technically "developing."
That ended at Paycom Center.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put up 34 points in a 119-98 rout. It wasn't just the scoring, though. It was the fact that he has now scored 20+ points in 111 consecutive games. That is the second-longest streak in the history of the league. Let that sink in. He hasn't had an "off" night in terms of scoring in over a year.
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Chet Holmgren held his own in the "Battle of the Unicorns" against Victor Wembanyama. Chet didn't light up the scoreboard (8 points), but he grabbed 10 boards and swatted 3 shots. Wemby finished with 17 and 7, but the Thunder’s defense—even without Lu Dort and Isaiah Hartenstein—was suffocating. They held San Antonio to 40% shooting.
LeBron’s Near Triple-Double and the Lakers' Blowout
The Lakers are weird. One night they look like they’re stuck in mud, and the next, they’re dropping 141 points on the Atlanta Hawks.
LA Lakers 141, Atlanta Hawks 116.
LeBron James turned 41 two weeks ago. Last night, he put up 31 points, 9 rebounds, and 10 assists. He missed a triple-double by one rebound. If he had grabbed it, he would have broken his own record for the oldest player to record one. Deandre Ayton was a monster on the glass with 18 rebounds.
The Hawks looked totally gassed. They’ve been hovering around .500, but last night they looked like a team that didn't want to be in Crypto.com Arena. The Lakers shot the lights out, especially in the second quarter where they put up 44 points.
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The Milwaukee Meltdown
If you're a Bucks fan, look away.
Minnesota Timberwolves 139, Milwaukee Bucks 106.
Losing is one thing. Getting beat by 33 points at Fiserv Forum is another. Julius Randle led the Wolves with 29 points. Minnesota’s depth is just terrifying right now. They moved the ball, hit their shots, and basically ran the Bucks off the court. Milwaukee's defense, which used to be their calling card, looked porous. They allowed 38 points in the first quarter and never recovered.
Rounding Out the Scoreboard
Here is the quick-hit list of the rest of the nba scores last night yesterday so you can catch up before tonight's games:
- Denver Nuggets 122, New Orleans Pelicans 116: Jamal Murray went off for 35 points. The Pelicans hung around thanks to 13 rebounds from De’Jean Queen, but the Nuggets' late-game execution is just too polished.
- Houston Rockets 119, Chicago Bulls 113: This game had 35 lead changes. Seriously. It was a seesaw until Jabari Smith Jr. hit a clutch three-pointer late. Kevin Durant led Houston with 28, while Chicago’s Tre Jones had a career-high 34 points in the loss.
- Miami Heat 127, Phoenix Suns 121: Bam Adebayo led the way with 29 points. The Suns got 25 from Grayson Allen, but Miami’s fourth-quarter defense forced enough stops to seal it.
- Golden State Warriors 119, Portland Trail Blazers 97: A predictable outcome. De'Anthony Melton led the Warriors with 23 points. Portland’s rookie Donovan Clingan had 9 rebounds, but they just couldn't match Golden State’s pace.
What This Means for Your Wednesday
The Thunder have officially hit the midway point of the season at 34-7. They are on pace for 68 wins. That's historic territory. Meanwhile, the Lakers have climbed back into a spot where they don't look like a play-in team—at least for today.
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If you're tracking the standings, keep an eye on the Rockets. They snapped a three-game skid and finally look like the chemistry between Durant and Alperen Sengun (who had 23 points and 11 assists last night) is actually clicking.
For tonight, expect some heavy legs. The 76ers host the Cavaliers, and the Pacers play the Raptors. Most of these teams are playing the front or back end of back-to-backs.
Actionable Insights for NBA Fans:
- Monitor the Thunder’s Injury Report: Winning without Hartenstein and Dort is impressive, but it’s not sustainable for a long playoff run. Watch for their return dates.
- Watch the Bulls’ Trade Value: Tre Jones having a career night usually means a team is showcasing a player. With the Bulls struggling, keep an ear out for trade rumors.
- Adjust Fantasy Rosters: If you have any Bucks players, maybe bench the secondary options. That team is in a funk and the minutes are becoming unpredictable.
- Check the Western Conference Seedings: The gap between the 1-seed (OKC) and the 2-seed (SA) just widened. The Spurs are 27-12, but they've lost 6 of their last 10. They are cooling off at the wrong time.
The 2025-26 season is proving that you can’t trust a lead and you definitely can't count out the veterans. Between LeBron's longevity and SGA's historic consistency, the league is in a very strange, very entertaining place right now.