It is mid-January, which means the NBA season is officially in that "grind" phase where the early-season adrenaline has worn off and the All-Star break feels a million miles away. If you are looking for who plays the nba today, you've actually picked a pretty fascinating Sunday to tune in. We have a weird mix of international flair, some desperate teams trying to fix their defense, and a late-night showdown in Hollywood that features a jersey matchup you wouldn't have expected a few years ago.
The day actually starts way earlier than usual because of the London Game. If you missed the morning tip-off, you probably missed the Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic playing at The O2 Arena. It's always a bit of a crapshoot how teams perform after an 8-hour flight, but seeing Ja Morant (amidst all the trade rumors swirling around Memphis) and Paolo Banchero take the floor in the UK is a vibe.
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Once we get past the London festivities, the "normal" schedule kicks in around 7:00 PM ET. We’ve got six games total today, which is a manageable number for anyone trying to flip between League Pass channels.
Brooklyn Nets at Chicago Bulls (7:00 PM ET)
Honestly, this is a "get right" game for both teams. Chicago is sitting right on the edge of the play-in tournament in the East, and the Nets are basically in a full-blown identity crisis. If you’re a Bulls fan, you’re looking at the United Center crowd to provide some energy because this Nets team has a habit of playing spoiler.
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New Orleans Pelicans at Houston Rockets (7:00 PM ET)
Houston has been surprisingly tough at the Toyota Center this season. They are currently massive favorites in this matchup, and for good reason—the Pelicans have been struggling to find any offensive rhythm lately. Watch out for Alperen Şengün; his passing is still some of the best in the league for a big man.
Charlotte Hornets at Denver Nuggets (8:00 PM ET)
Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray are hosting a Hornets team that is 15-27 and looking a bit lost. Denver is currently on a four-game winning streak and looking to keep that momentum going at Ball Arena. Miles Bridges usually puts up solid numbers for Charlotte, but beating the Nuggets at altitude is a different beast entirely.
West Coast and Late Night Action
If you're a night owl, the back half of the schedule is where things get interesting.
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- Portland Trail Blazers at Sacramento Kings (9:00 PM ET): Portland is coming off a massive high after blowing out the Lakers 132-116 last night. They played with a chip on their shoulder that the Kings—who have been inconsistent—need to watch out for.
- Toronto Raptors at LA Lakers (9:30 PM ET): This is the headliner. Luka Dončić is now a Laker (still feels weird to say, right?) and he’s putting up ridiculous stats: 33.6 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 8.7 assists per game. But despite those numbers, the Lakers are in a "severe slump," according to local reports. They are facing a Raptors squad led by Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram that is actually ranked 5th in the league for limiting turnovers.
Why Today Matters for the Standings
We are at the point where the 2026 NBA Playoff Picture is starting to solidify. In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder are currently sitting at the top with a 34-7 record, but the Nuggets are right on their heels at 28-13. A win for Denver today against Charlotte is basically mandatory if they want to keep pressure on OKC.
The Lakers situation is getting tense. They are 24-16, which sounds decent, but they’ve been sliding down the standings and are currently projected as a 5th seed. In a Western Conference where the Spurs and Timberwolves are surging, every Sunday night loss feels like a catastrophe in the LA media market.
Real-Time Stats to Watch
If you’re betting or just playing fantasy, keep an eye on these specific metrics for today’s games:
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- Lakers Field Goal %: They are currently 2nd in the league at 49.7%, but their defense is a sieve (ranked 28th in opponent FG%).
- Nuggets Turnovers: Denver is elite here, ranked 3rd in the league for fewest turnovers.
- Raptors Ball Security: Toronto is also top-5 in protecting the rock, which makes that 9:30 PM matchup a game of efficiency.
Viewing Guide and Tips
You've got a few ways to catch the action. For the national/international games, Prime Video and Amazon handled the London broadcast. For the rest, it’s mostly NBA League Pass or regional networks like FDSSE, ALT, and SportsNet LA.
If you're streaming, Fubo or YouTube TV are the standard go-tos, but double-check your local blackouts. Nothing is more annoying than settling in for Lakers-Raptors only to realize you’re in a restricted zone.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
- Check the Injury Report: Before the 7:00 PM tip-offs, verify if Devin Booker or Jalen Brunson are actually playing if they have games today. Injuries have been a nightmare this week.
- Monitor the Trade Wire: With the Grizzlies reportedly entertaining trades for Ja Morant, every minute he spends on the bench (or on the floor) is being scrutinized by scouts.
- Set Your Lineups: If you're in a daily fantasy league, the Nuggets-Hornets game is likely to be high-scoring given Charlotte's defense, so look for Denver value plays beyond just Murray and Jokic.
The NBA is a marathon, but these mid-January Sunday nights are often where you see which teams actually have the depth to survive the long haul. Whether you're watching the Dončić show in LA or seeing if the Bulls can finally defend home court, there's plenty of basketball to get through today.