Man, what a night. If you went to bed early on Saturday, January 17, 2026, honestly, you missed some of the weirdest and most lopsided hoops we've seen all season. Usually, a Saturday night slate gives us at least one double-overtime thriller that keeps us up until 2:00 AM. Instead, last night was basically the night of the "Blowout."
We had a 40-point demolition in Detroit. We saw the Celtics turn the Hawks into a JV squad. But it wasn't all one-sided; South Beach gave us the one nail-biter that actually mattered.
The NBA standings are starting to look a bit more rigid as we hit the halfway mark of the season, but some of these performances—like Jaylen Brown’s absolute heater in Atlanta—make you wonder if the hierarchy is shifting.
The Celtics and Pistons Turned Saturday into a Track Meet
If you are looking for who won last night in basketball, the biggest "W" goes to the Detroit Pistons. I know, it sounds weird saying that in 2026, but this isn't the Troy Weaver era anymore. The Pistons didn't just beat the Indiana Pacers; they vaporized them 121–78.
Think about that. A 43-point margin.
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The Pacers looked completely undisciplined from the jump. They had two out-of-bounds turnovers in the first three minutes. It was sort of painful to watch. Detroit is now on a 60-win pace, and their depth is becoming a serious problem for the rest of the Eastern Conference.
Down in Atlanta, the Boston Celtics decided they didn't want to be outdone. They beat the Hawks 132–106, but even that score feels a bit generous to Atlanta. The C's were up by so much that they actually got outscored by 17 in the fourth quarter once the end of the bench came in, and they still won by 26.
Jaylen Brown's MVP Statement
Jaylen Brown is playing "ethical hoops" at a level we haven't seen. He dropped 41 points in just three quarters.
- Minutes Played: 30
- Shooting: 46% from the floor (and 91% from the line)
- Impact: A staggering +36 plus-minus.
Sam Hauser also went nuclear, dropping 30 points and raining down double-digit threes. It was a Saturday night beatdown that felt like a message to the rest of the league.
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The Close One: Miami Stuns the Thunder
The only game that really felt like a heavyweight fight was the Miami Heat vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder. Miami walked away with a 122–120 victory, but the story here is really about a massive momentum shift.
OKC was up by 12 points and looked like they were going to cruise. Then, Jalen Williams (J-Dub) went down with an injury. The vibe in the arena just shifted instantly. Miami’s Gardner checked in and immediately went 3-for-3 from deep to tie it up. The Thunder have had a rough string of luck lately with Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein also dealing with various stints on the sidelines during big games.
Miami just knows how to grind these out. They stayed composed, executed in the clutch, and escaped with a two-point win that the Thunder are going to be thinking about for a while.
Other Notable NBA Scores from Saturday Night
- Golden State Warriors 136, Charlotte Hornets 116: Steph didn't even have to do much. De'Anthony Melton led the way, and Al Horford's rim protection was reportedly "beautiful" to watch.
- Dallas Mavericks 138, Utah Jazz 120: Luka and company handled business at home.
- Portland Trail Blazers 132, Los Angeles Lakers 116: The Blazers protected the Moda Center in a game the Lakers never really felt "in."
- Denver Nuggets 121, Washington Wizards 115: A closer game than Denver probably wanted, but Jamal Murray found that "clutch gear" late to seal it.
College Hoops: Duke and Cal Pull Off the Highlights
On the NCAA side of things, the big story was the #6 Duke Blue Devils absolutely mauling Stanford 80–50. If you follow college ball, you know Cameron Boozer is the real deal. The freshman put up 30 points and 14 rebounds. He had 20 of those points in the first half alone. Stanford’s Ebuka Okorie, who usually averages way more, was held to just nine points because of some stifling defense from Dame Sarr.
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Meanwhile, in Berkeley, the California Golden Bears pulled off a massive 84–78 upset over #14 North Carolina. John Camden led Cal with 20 points, and the Bears' defense made the Tar Heels look confused during rotations.
Saturday NCAA Scoreboard
- Louisville 100, Pittsburgh 59: A total century-mark blowout.
- Gonzaga 71, Seattle 50: The Zags keep rolling.
- Michigan State 80, Washington 63: Sparty took care of business on the road.
- Purdue 69, USC 64: A classic Big Ten/Big waves battle that came down to the wire.
Why These Results Matter for Your Week
Honestly, the biggest takeaway from who won last night in basketball is the health of the contenders.
Seeing OKC lose another lead after an injury to a key player like J-Dub is a red flag for their seeding. On the flip side, Detroit’s dominance is no longer a "fluke" or a hot start. They are deep, they are young, and they are punishing teams that don't show up ready to play.
If you're looking at the betting lines or your fantasy roster for the coming week, keep an eye on the Warriors' bench depth and whether or not the Lakers can find some defensive consistency away from home.
For your next steps, check the injury report for Jalen Williams (OKC) before locking in any predictions for the Thunder’s next outing. Also, look at the Pistons' upcoming schedule; if they're playing another sub-.500 team, the "spread" might not be high enough. Finally, keep an eye on Jaylen Brown’s scoring prop bets—he’s clearly hunting for that First Team All-NBA (or MVP) nod and isn't slowing down.