Honestly, if you're looking for the score of the NBA Finals from last night, you're either a time traveler or just really, really early for the party.
The NBA Finals didn't happen last night. We are currently smack in the middle of the 2025-26 regular season.
It's January 16, 2026.
The actual 2026 NBA Finals aren't scheduled to tip off until June 4, 2026. If the series goes the distance, we won't see a champion crowned until Game 7 on June 21.
So, what exactly did happen last night? While nobody hoisted the Larry O'Brien trophy, there was plenty of drama across the league that has major implications for who might eventually win it all.
✨ Don't miss: The Division 2 National Championship Game: How Ferris State Just Redrew the Record Books
Who Won the NBA Finals Last Night? Clearing Up the Confusion
Since the Finals are months away, most people asking about who won the NBA finals last night are likely thinking of the Emirates NBA Cup or a major regular-season clash.
The NBA Cup (that's the in-season tournament) wrapped up back in December. The New York Knicks took that one home, beating Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs in Las Vegas on December 16, 2025.
If you're checking the scores from Thursday, January 15, 2026, here is how the real games shook out:
- San Antonio Spurs 119, Milwaukee Bucks 101: Victor Wembanyama literally shaved his head before the game and then went out and dropped 22 points and 10 boards. He had a scary moment where he banged knees with Giannis, but he came back to dominate.
- Charlotte Hornets 135, Los Angeles Lakers 117: A total blowout at Crypto.com Arena. The Lakers looked sluggish, and the Hornets just couldn't miss.
- Detroit Pistons 108, Phoenix Suns 105: Detroit is actually the top seed in the East right now. Yeah, you read that right. They clawed back from 16 down to beat a Booker-less Suns team.
- Orlando Magic vs. Memphis Grizzlies: This was the "NBA Berlin Game." They played in Germany as part of the league's global outreach. Orlando pulled it out late.
- Oklahoma City Thunder 111, Houston Rockets 91: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren just dismantled Houston in the fourth quarter.
Why the 2026 Finals Race is Wide Open
The Oklahoma City Thunder are currently the betting favorites to win the 2026 NBA Finals. They are sitting at the top of the Western Conference with a ridiculous 35-7 record.
🔗 Read more: Por qué los partidos de Primera B de Chile son más entretenidos que la división de honor
SGA is playing like the MVP, and Chet Holmgren has transformed their interior defense into a "no-fly zone."
But don't count out the Denver Nuggets. Nikola Jokic is still averaging a triple-double like it's a casual Sunday at the park. They are currently 28-13 and lurking just behind the Thunder and the surprisingly good Spurs.
In the East, the landscape is weird. The Detroit Pistons are 29-10. If you told a fan that two years ago, they’d ask what kind of meds you were on.
The Boston Celtics and New York Knicks are right there, but Detroit’s depth under J.B. Bickerstaff has been the story of the season so far.
💡 You might also like: South Carolina women's basketball schedule: What Most People Get Wrong
Key Dates Leading to the 2026 NBA Finals
If you want to make sure you don't miss the actual Finals, mark these dates on your calendar:
- February 5, 2026: The Trade Deadline. This is where the real contenders separate themselves by mortgaging their future for one veteran shooter.
- February 15, 2026: All-Star Game at the new Intuit Dome in LA.
- April 12, 2026: Regular season ends.
- April 14–17, 2026: The Play-In Tournament.
- April 18, 2026: The Playoffs officially begin.
- June 4, 2026: Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
The "last night" results you see in January are just the foundation. The real answer to who won the NBA finals last night won't be available until a humid night in mid-June.
For now, the smart money is watching how the Thunder handle the pressure of being the frontrunners and whether the Knicks' NBA Cup win was a fluke or a sign of things to come.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the injury reports for the next two weeks. With the trade deadline approaching on February 5, several "bubble" teams like the Lakers and Heat are expected to be aggressive. Monitor the standings specifically for the 3rd through 6th seeds in the West, as only three games separate four teams. This stretch of January basketball often dictates who gets home-court advantage in the first round, which is statistically the biggest predictor of who reaches the conference finals.