Honestly, if you missed the Saturday night slate, you missed maybe the best individual scoring duel we’ve seen in years. Everyone is talking about who played in the NBA yesterday, but the real story is how the league’s young superstars are basically turning the "old guard" era into a distant memory.
Saturday, January 17, 2026, was a marathon. We had nine games. Some were total blowouts—looking at you, Indiana—and some were absolute heart-stoppers that came down to the final possession in South Beach and San Antonio.
The Game Everyone Will Remember: Wolves vs. Spurs
If you only watch one highlight reel from yesterday, make it the Minnesota Timberwolves at the San Antonio Spurs. Anthony Edwards was possessed. He dropped a career-high 55 points. Let that sink in for a second. 55. He was hitting step-back threes from the logo and basically treating the Frost Bank Center like a local YMCA run.
But here’s the kicker: Minnesota still lost.
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Why? Because Victor Wembanyama exists. Wemby put up 39 points, grabbed 9 rebounds, and blocked shots that honestly didn't look blockable. The Spurs won 126-123. It was high-level, "I can't believe what I'm seeing" basketball. Edwards actually scored 26 in the fourth quarter alone. That’s the highest-scoring quarter by any player so far this season. After the game, Ant-Man basically said he wished they could have just cleared the court and played 1-on-1.
Klay Thompson’s Historic Milestone in Dallas
While the young guns were hunting for 50-pieces, a legend was making history in Dallas. The Mavericks handled the Utah Jazz 138-120. It wasn't particularly close after the first quarter, but the atmosphere was electric for one reason: Klay Thompson.
Klay scored 23 points, all in the first half. During that flamethrower stretch, he eclipsed 17,000 career points. It’s kinda wild to see him in a Mavs jersey still doing the classic catch-and-shoot routine that broke the league a decade ago. Dallas had six players in double figures, including Brandon Williams and Max Christie, who both stepped up with 22 points.
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The Eastern Conference Scoreboard
The East was a bit more lopsided yesterday. The Detroit Pistons are actually terrifying right now. They absolutely dismantled the Indiana Pacers 121-78. Yes, a 43-point win. Detroit is now 30-10 and sitting comfortably at the top of the conference. If you told a Pistons fan three years ago they’d be on a 60-win pace in 2026, they would’ve asked what you were smoking.
The Boston Celtics also showed why they're the standard, cruising past the Atlanta Hawks 132-106. Jaylen Brown was the engine there with 41 points. Atlanta just had no answer for Boston’s depth, especially with the Celtics shooting nearly 50% from deep.
- Phoenix Suns 106, New York Knicks 99: Devin Booker went for 27 in a gritty, defensive win at the Garden.
- Miami Heat 122, Oklahoma City Thunder 120: A total slugfest. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 39, but Bam Adebayo’s 12 rebounds and clutch interior defense sealed it for Miami.
- Golden State Warriors 136, Charlotte Hornets 116: The Warriors' offense is clicking again. They dropped 43 points in the third quarter alone.
Late Night Chaos in Portland and Denver
If you stayed up for the West Coast games, you saw the Portland Trail Blazers stun the Lakers 132-116. Donovan Clingan is starting to look like a serious problem in the paint, finishing with 11 boards and a presence that altered everything the Lakers tried to do at the rim.
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In Denver, Jamal Murray reminded everyone why he’s a playoff nightmare, dropping 42 to fend off a surprisingly scrappy Washington Wizards team. The final was 121-115. Denver almost let that one slip, but Murray’s shot-making in the final three minutes was just too much for Jordan Poole and the Wiz.
What This Means for Your Week
The standings are tightening up. Detroit is for real. The Spurs are finally surrounding Wemby with enough talent to win these high-scoring shootouts. If you’re looking at who played in the NBA yesterday to figure out your fantasy waiver wire or just to keep up with the water cooler talk, the takeaway is simple: the talent gap in the league has never been smaller.
Next steps? Check the injury report for Anthony Edwards—he played 40 heavy minutes after coming back from a minor injury, and Minnesota has a back-to-back coming up. Also, keep an eye on the Pistons. They face the Celtics later this week in what might be a preview of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Get your League Pass ready. If yesterday was any indication, the second half of this 2025-26 season is going to be a bloodbath.