If you’re staring at your remote wondering exactly what nba team plays tonight, you’ve picked a hell of a Tuesday to tune in. We are officially in the "dog days" of the 2025-26 season. It's that weird mid-January stretch where some teams look like they’re ready for a vacation and others are fighting like their lives depend on a random Tuesday night in Oklahoma City.
Tonight, January 13, 2026, features a seven-game slate. Honestly, the headliner is obvious: Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs are heading into the Paycom Center to face Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the league-leading Oklahoma City Thunder.
But there’s a lot more happening under the surface. Injuries are starting to pile up across the league, and if you aren’t checking the late scratches, you might end up watching a G-League showcase by accident.
The Heavyweights: Spurs vs. Thunder
This is the game everyone is circling. The Thunder are sitting pretty at the top of the NBA with a 33-7 record, but they’ve looked surprisingly human lately. They actually lost to the Spurs three times already this season. It's one of those weird divisional hexes.
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SGA is playing at an MVP level, but all eyes are on the matchup in the paint. Wemby is a defensive nightmare, even if the Spurs (27-12) are still a few pieces away from being a true title favorite. The Thunder just got some incredible news recently, too—Nikola Topic has resumed training after his chemotherapy for testicular cancer. The vibe in OKC is going to be electric.
The game tips off at 8:00 PM ET and is being broadcast on NBC and Peacock as part of their "Coast 2 Coast Tuesday." If you’re a fan of high-level spacing and seven-footers who move like guards, don't miss this one.
The Full Slate for Tuesday, January 13
It’s not just about the West, though. There are some desperate teams playing tonight. Here is the rundown of what nba team plays tonight across the board:
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- Phoenix Suns at Miami Heat (7:30 PM ET): This one feels like a battle of two teams trying to find their identity. The Heat are 20-19 and on a three-game skid. They’re clinging to the 8th seed in the East. Meanwhile, the Suns (24-15) are trying to keep pace in a brutal Western Conference.
- Chicago Bulls at Houston Rockets (8:00 PM ET): The Rockets are heavy favorites here (-13.5 according to the books). Houston has been a tough out at the Toyota Center, while Chicago is just trying to stay in the play-in conversation at 18-20.
- Minnesota Timberwolves at Milwaukee Bucks (8:00 PM ET): This is a sneaky good game. Minnesota (26-14) is looking like the powerhouse that made back-to-back WCF appearances. Milwaukee (17-22) is struggling, but you can never count out Giannis at home. This one is streaming on Peacock.
- Denver Nuggets at New Orleans Pelicans (8:00 PM ET): Total injury disaster here. The Nuggets are without Nikola Jokic (left ankle bone bruise). No Jokic means Denver’s offense basically loses its brain. The Pelicans are arguably worse off, missing Dejounte Murray and Zion Williamson. It’s going to be a gritty, probably ugly, game of depth.
- Atlanta Hawks at Los Angeles Lakers (10:30 PM ET): The Lakers are 23-13 but short-handed. Austin Reaves is out for a month with a calf strain. However, they still have Luka Dončić (averaging 27.7 PPG) and LeBron James. Atlanta is 20-21 but on a three-game winning streak.
- Portland Trail Blazers at Golden State Warriors (11:00 PM ET): The nightcap. The Warriors (21-19) are 10.5-point favorites at the Chase Center.
Why Tonight's Schedule Matters for the Standings
We are approaching the midway point. The Detroit Pistons—yes, the Pistons—are actually leading the East at 28-10. It’s wild. But because they aren't playing tonight, the teams that are on the court have a chance to close the gap.
In the West, the Thunder have a target on their backs. Coach Mark Daigneault basically said as much last week—winning a championship means everyone plays you like it's Game 7. If the Spurs win tonight, they move within 4.5 games of OKC. That makes the race for the top seed much more interesting heading into February.
For teams like the Bucks and Pelicans, tonight is about survival. If you're 17-22 like Milwaukee, you can't afford to drop home games, even against a tough Minnesota squad.
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How to Watch and Follow Along
If you're trying to catch these games live, your best bet is NBA League Pass for the out-of-market stuff. But the big ones—Spurs/Thunder and Blazers/Warriors—are on NBC/Peacock.
- Check the injury reports about 30 minutes before tip-off. With Jokic and Reaves out, the betting lines and rotations are shifting fast.
- Keep an eye on the Lakers/Hawks game if you want to see how Luka and LeBron are splitting the playmaking duties without Reaves to facilitate.
- Watch the Thunder/Spurs game on NBC for the best production value and the "Coast 2 Coast" analysis.
Knowing what nba team plays tonight is only half the battle; knowing who is actually healthy is what makes the difference when you're sitting down to watch.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check the Final Injury Report: Head over to the official NBA injury portal or follow beat writers on social media. Late scratches for stars like Jamal Murray (questionable tonight) can completely change the game's dynamic.
- Sync Your Calendar: If you're a Peacock subscriber, remember that both the Wolves/Bucks and Spurs/Thunder games are available there tonight.
- Monitor the Play-In Race: Keep an eye on the Hawks and Heat results tonight; they are neck-and-neck for that 8th and 9th spot in the Eastern Conference.