Friday nights in the NBA usually bring the chaos, but January 16, 2026, felt like someone cranked the drama dial all the way to ten. If you were looking for a relaxed night of hoops, you didn’t find it. We had buzzer-beaters, career-highs from players you might not expect, and some seriously questionable late-game execution that’ll have coaches losing sleep for a week.
Honestly, the score of tonight's NBA game—or rather, the scores across all six matchups—tells a story of a league where no lead is safe.
Jaylon Tyson’s Explosion and the Cavs' Stunning Comeback
The biggest shocker happened in Philadelphia. Let’s be real, nobody had Jaylon Tyson dropping 39 points on their bingo card tonight. With Darius Garland and Sam Merrill sidelined, the Cleveland Cavaliers looked like they were walking into a buzzsaw against a healthy-ish Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
Philly was up by 11 with under nine minutes left. The crowd was ready to head for the exits and beat the traffic. Then, the wheels just fell off for the Sixers.
Cleveland ripped off a 13-2 run. De’Andre Hunter, who has been somewhat of a journeyman for this Cavs squad, hit a massive three to tie it at 102. From there, it was a total dogfight. Tyrese Maxey tied it up at 115 with a beautiful floating jumper with only eight seconds left.
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But then, Evan Mobley happened.
After a timeout, Tyson—who was basically doing everything but driving the team bus—found Mobley for a dunk with 4.8 seconds on the clock. Final score: Cleveland Cavaliers 117, Philadelphia 76ers 115. Maxey tried a half-court prayer at the buzzer, but it wasn't even close. The Cavs have now swept this mini two-game series in Philly, which is a massive statement for their depth.
The Nets Survived a 20-Point Collapse
Up in Brooklyn, the Nets almost gave their fans a collective heart attack. They were leading the Chicago Bulls by 20 points in the fourth quarter. You’d think that’s a safe cushion, right? Not in 2026.
The Bulls went on an absolute tear, eventually taking a 109-108 lead thanks to a Tre Jones layup with 11 seconds left. Barclays Center went dead silent.
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Michael Porter Jr. rescued them.
He drove for a layup with five seconds left to put Brooklyn back on top. Then, rookie Drake Powell made the play of the night, stealing Chicago’s inbound pass. Noah Clowney iced it at the free-throw line. Final score: Brooklyn Nets 112, Chicago Bulls 109. Brooklyn snapped a five-game skid, but Coach Jordi Fernandez is going to have some choice words about that fourth-quarter defense tomorrow morning.
Friday Night’s Full Results
If you missed any of the other action, here is the quick rundown of the score of tonight's NBA game across the rest of the schedule:
- LA Clippers 121, Toronto Raptors 117 (OT): James Harden turned back the clock with 31 points and 10 rebounds. Toronto pushed them to the limit, but the Clippers' veteran savvy won out in the extra period.
- Indiana Pacers 127, New Orleans Pelicans 119: Jay Huff had the game of his life. 29 points? From Jay Huff? The Pelicans had no answer for his spacing, and Indiana just kept piling on the points.
- Houston Rockets 110, Minnesota Timberwolves 105: Houston’s defense finally showed up. They held a high-powered Wolves team in check during the closing minutes at the Toyota Center.
- Sacramento Kings 128, Washington Wizards 115: Domantas Sabonis returned after missing 27 games with a knee injury. He didn’t look rusty at all, and the Kings made short work of a struggling Wizards team.
Why the Score of Tonight's NBA Game Matters for the Standings
We are deep enough into the season now that these games aren't just "early-season noise." The Eastern Conference is a total logjam. Cleveland is sitting at 24-19, while Philly drops to 22-18. That’s a razor-thin margin for playoff seeding.
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The Clippers winning their fifth straight is also something to watch. People keep waiting for the wheels to fall off that veteran roster, but Harden is playing some of the most disciplined basketball of his career.
What's really wild is seeing guys like Jaylon Tyson and Jay Huff dominate headlines. It shows how much the "next man up" philosophy is ruling the league right now. You can't just scout the stars anymore; you have to worry about the 8th man on the bench having a career night.
What to Watch for Next
If you're following these teams, keep an eye on the injury reports for Monday. Cleveland heads home to face Oklahoma City, but they desperately need Garland back to sustain this momentum. Meanwhile, the 76ers host Indiana, and if they don't fix their fourth-quarter execution, the Pacers' pace will run them out of the building.
The best way to stay ahead of the curve is to look at the betting lines for rebounding totals. As we saw tonight with Mobley and Clowney, interior presence is deciding these close games more than the three-point shootout.
Check the upcoming schedule for Monday’s slate. Most of these teams are hitting a "revanche" stretch where they face the same opponent again within a week. That's where the real coaching adjustments happen.
Actionable Insight: If you are tracking the Eastern Conference playoffs, pay attention to the "points in the paint" stat for the Sixers. Despite Embiid's scoring, they are getting outworked on the boards in late-game situations, which is exactly how Cleveland stole the win tonight. Watch for Nick Nurse to experiment with bigger lineups next week.