If you woke up late and missed the early tip-off from across the pond, you missed a show. Ja Morant is back. Not just "available on the roster" back, but full-speed, flying-through-the-air, making-defenders-look-silly back. The Memphis Grizzlies handled the Orlando Magic 126-109 at The O2 Arena in London earlier today, and honestly, the energy in that building felt like a playoff game.
It was the NBA's first regular-season trip to London since 2019. Ja didn't disappoint the international crowd. He dropped 24 points and dished out 13 assists, looking like he hadn't missed a single beat despite sitting out the last six games with a calf injury.
NBA Scores Today Games: The International Breakdown
London was the highlight, but the nba scores today games list is still growing as the action shifts back to North America. The Grizzlies-Magic matchup was a tale of two halves. Memphis looked crisp, fueled by Morant’s return and a sneaky-good performance from Jock Landale, who chipped in 21 points off the bench.
Orlando struggled to find their rhythm in the foggy London afternoon. Anthony Black led them with 19 points, but Paolo Banchero couldn't quite replicate his dominant performance from their recent Berlin game. It’s a split series for the NBA’s European tour this year, and Memphis fans have to feel great about their superstar looking healthy again.
What happened last night?
You can't look at today's scores without acknowledging the absolute madness that went down Saturday night. We are seeing some of the highest individual scoring outputs of the decade right now.
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- Anthony Edwards went nuclear for 55 points—a career high. It still wasn't enough. The Spurs, led by Victor Wembanyama's 39 points and a massive late-game rebound, held off the Timberwolves 126-123.
- Jaylen Brown torched the Hawks for 41 points in a Celtics blowout (132-106).
- The Oklahoma City Thunder actually lost. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 39, but the Heat squeaked out a 122-120 win thanks to a late Andrew Wiggins triple.
The Evening Slate: Sunday Stars and Slumping Giants
As we move into the evening of January 18, 2026, the focus shifts to a struggling Lakers squad. They are hosting the Toronto Raptors at Crypto.com Arena (9:30 p.m. ET), and things are getting tense in LA. The Lakers are coming off a brutal 132-116 loss to Portland just 24 hours ago.
Word is Luka Doncic is dealing with some groin soreness, which puts a huge question mark on the Lakers' starting lineup. If he’s out, the pressure on the rest of the roster becomes immense. Toronto isn't exactly at full strength either, with RJ Barrett and Jakob Poeltl sidelined, so this could be a "last man standing" kind of game.
Other Games to Watch Right Now:
- Brooklyn Nets vs. Chicago Bulls (7:00 p.m. ET): A battle for positioning in the lower half of the East. Keep an eye on Nikola Vucevic; he’s been a playmaking hub lately.
- New Orleans Pelicans vs. Houston Rockets (7:00 p.m. ET): Trey Murphy III is on a heater. He’s been averaging over 30 points this month and basically has a green light to shoot from the parking lot.
- Charlotte Hornets vs. Denver Nuggets (8:00 p.m. ET): No Nikola Jokic tonight (knee), which is a massive blow for Denver. This gives Charlotte a real window to steal one on the road.
Why These Scores Matter for the Standings
We are past the midpoint of the season, and the "Pistons are good" narrative isn't a fluke anymore. Detroit actually holds the best record in the NBA right now (35-8), which feels surreal to say after the last few years.
The Western Conference is a complete bloodbath. Only a few games separate the top four teams, and every Sunday night result like the ones we're seeing today can swing home-court advantage. When you check the nba scores today games, you’re not just looking at wins; you’re looking at tiebreakers that will matter in April.
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Injury Bug Bites Hard
The 2025-26 season has been defined by stars missing time.
- Nikola Jokic (Knee) - Out tonight.
- Luka Doncic (Groin) - Game-time decision.
- Austin Reaves (Gastrocnemius strain) - Out.
- Christian Braun (Ankle) - Out.
It’s getting harder for teams to find consistency when the rotation changes every three days. That’s why the Grizzlies’ win today was so significant—getting Morant back gives them an identity they've been missing.
What to do with this info
If you're following the league closely, there are a few things you should be tracking as these games wrap up.
First, watch the injury reports for the Monday matinee games. With the Thunder coming off a rare loss and heading to Cleveland, their energy levels will be a major factor. Second, keep an eye on the Lakers' defensive rotations. They’ve been giving up way too many points in the paint lately, and if Toronto’s guards exploit that tonight, the media pressure in LA is going to reach a boiling point.
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Finally, if you missed the highlights of Morant's dunks in London, go find them. The "Eurostep" in Europe just hits different.
Check back for the final West Coast scores as the Lakers and Kings wrap up their night games. The playoff picture is shifting by the hour, and Sunday nights are consistently where the most interesting drama unfolds.
Make sure to monitor the late-night box scores for any updates on Luka Doncic's status before tip-off in Los Angeles. If he's ruled out, the betting lines and game flow will shift dramatically toward the Raptors' perimeter shooters.