You’re probably looking for a specific score because your parlay is sweating or you just woke up and realized you missed the West Coast tip-offs. It happens. Last night and into early this morning, January 16, 2026, the NBA slate delivered some seriously weird results that basically nobody saw coming.
If you were betting on the heavy favorites, you're likely annoyed.
The Shockers: LaMelo Ball and the Hornets Stun Los Angeles
Honestly, the biggest story is what went down at Crypto.com Arena. The Charlotte Hornets, who have been hovering below .500 for a while, absolutely dismantled the Los Angeles Lakers. The final was 135-117.
Luka Doncic did his thing, putting up 39 points and making it look easy early on. But then LaMelo Ball decided he was going to take over his hometown gym. Ball dropped 30 points, with a staggering 27 of them coming in the second half. He tied a career high with nine 3-pointers. Eight of those came in the second half alone. It was one of those runs where the hoop looks like an ocean. LeBron James finished with 29 points and nine boards, but the Lakers' bench was a disaster, shooting a combined 4-for-19.
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Golden State Holds Down the Chase Center
While the Lakers were falling apart, the Golden State Warriors were busy handling the New York Knicks. It wasn't a blowout from the start, but the Warriors pulled away late to win 126-113.
Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler led the charge here. The Knicks actually went into halftime with a narrow deficit after leading in the first quarter, but they just couldn't keep up with the Warriors' ball movement in the final twelve minutes. New York looked gassed.
Full Scoreboard: Who Won the Basketball Game Today?
If you're looking for the quick-hit list of winners from the January 15-16 window, here is the breakdown.
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- Charlotte Hornets 135, Los Angeles Lakers 117
- Golden State Warriors 126, New York Knicks 113
- Boston Celtics 119, Miami Heat 114
- Portland Trail Blazers 117, Atlanta Hawks 101
- Dallas Mavericks 144, Utah Jazz 122
- San Antonio Spurs 119, Milwaukee Bucks 101
- Oklahoma City Thunder 111, Houston Rockets 91
- Detroit Pistons 108, Phoenix Suns 105
The Celtics win was a wild one. Anfernee Simons came off the bench and went nuclear, scoring 39 points. He had 11 straight points in the fourth quarter to erase a Miami lead. It’s pretty rare to see a guy score nearly 40 as a reserve, but it’s becoming the Simons special this season.
What’s Happening in College Ball?
In the NCAA world, the big result was Gonzaga taking down Washington State 86-65. It was a dominant showing in Pullman. Elsewhere, Appalachian State beat James Madison 80-65 and Georgia Southern eked out a thriller against Old Dominion, winning 87-84.
Why the Lakers are Sliding
You've gotta wonder what's going on in the Lakers' locker room. This was their fourth loss in five games. Luka is scoring, but the defense is just non-existent right now. Giving up 135 to Charlotte is... not great.
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Coach JJ Redick tried leaning on his starters late, but the fatigue was obvious. They look slow on the perimeter. When a guy like LaMelo gets hot, they have no one who can stay in front of him.
What to Watch Next
If you are tracking the standings, keep an eye on these upcoming matchups. The Hornets are heading to Golden State on Saturday—can LaMelo keep that shooting stroke against Steph? That's a must-watch. Meanwhile, the Lakers have to travel to Portland. If they lose that one, the panic meter in LA is going to hit a ten.
Actionable Insights for Fans
- Check the Injury Reports: The Heat lost because they were missing Mitchell and Jaquez Jr. Don't place your bets until the final active list is out 30 minutes before tip.
- Watch the Bench Production: The Celtics won because of Simons' 39-point bench outburst. Modern NBA depth is more important than ever.
- Follow the Five-Game Trip: Charlotte is 2-1 on their current West Coast swing. Teams often find their rhythm midway through these long road trips.
The NBA season is entering that mid-January grind where the pretenders start to fall off. Watching how the Lakers respond to this "embarrassing" loss—LeBron's words, likely—will tell us everything about their playoff viability in 2026.