If you’re checking your phone under the table at dinner or just woke up trying to figure out if your parlay actually hit, I've got you. Tuesday nights in January usually feel like a marathon of mid-season grit, and tonight—January 13, 2026—was exactly that. From the NBA hardwood to the frigid rinks of the NHL, the results are in.
Honestly, the biggest story might be what didn't happen: a Phoenix comeback. But we'll get to that. Whether you’re a die-hard stats geek or just want to know if your team sucked tonight, here is the breakdown of who actually walked away with the W.
The NBA Slate: Heat Survive and Thunder Roll
The Miami Heat almost gave their fans a collective heart attack tonight. They were up by 20 points against the Phoenix Suns and somehow, in typical "Cardiac Cane" fashion, let that lead evaporate. But they pulled it off. Bam Adebayo was a monster, putting up 29 points and hitting some absolutely cold-blooded jumpers in the final minutes to secure a 127-121 win. Norman Powell chipped in 27, and honestly, they needed every single one of them.
Meanwhile, in Oklahoma City, the Thunder continue to look like they’re playing a different sport than everyone else. They dismantled the San Antonio Spurs 119-98. It wasn't even as close as the score suggests. The Spurs just had no answer for the pace.
Over in Houston, the Rockets held off the Chicago Bulls 119-113. It was a scrappy game, the kind of Tuesday night matchup that leaves players bruised. The Bulls kept hanging around, but Houston’s offensive efficiency late in the fourth quarter was the difference-maker.
Other notable NBA scores from tonight:
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- Minnesota Timberwolves 139, Milwaukee Bucks 106 (A total blowout, the Bucks looked lost)
- Denver Nuggets 122, New Orleans Pelicans 116
- Houston Rockets 119, Chicago Bulls 113
NHL Results: A Night of Shutouts and Overtime Thrills
Hockey fans got a bit of everything tonight. If you like defense, you probably loved watching the Boston Bruins and St. Louis Blues. Both teams put up donuts on the scoreboard—for their opponents, at least.
The Bruins handled the Detroit Red Wings 3-0. It was a clinic in defensive positioning. At the same time, the St. Louis Blues did the exact same thing to the Carolina Hurricanes, winning 3-0 in a game where Carolina just couldn't find a gap in the netminding.
But if you wanted drama, Winnipeg was the place to be. The Jets and the New York Islanders went back and forth in a high-scoring affair that ended 5-4 in favor of the Jets. It was messy, fast, and exactly what you want from a random Tuesday night game in January.
NHL Final Scores for Jan 13:
- Winnipeg Jets 5, New York Islanders 4
- Nashville Predators 4, Edmonton Oilers 3 (Edmonton is still struggling with consistency)
- Boston Bruins 3, Detroit Red Wings 0
- St. Louis Blues 3, Carolina Hurricanes 0
College Basketball: Big Wins in the Big 12 and SEC
College hoops are starting to get that "March" feeling even though we're still two months out. Kansas looks like a juggernaut. They hosted Iowa State at Allen Fieldhouse and it was a loud, dominant 84-63 victory for the Jayhawks. If you’ve ever been to Lawrence, you know that place is a nightmare for visiting teams, and tonight was no exception.
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The Florida Gators also made a statement by going into Norman and handling the Oklahoma Sooners 96-79. Scoring 96 points on the road in a conference-adjacent matchup is no joke.
In a closer battle, UConn outlasted Seton Hall 69-64. It was one of those Big East grinders where every possession felt like a wrestling match. UConn’s experience showed in the final two minutes, hitting their free throws and locking down on the perimeter.
NCAA Men’s Basketball Highlights:
- Alabama 92, Mississippi State 76
- Nebraska 90, Oregon 55 (Total mismatch from the tip)
- Florida 96, Oklahoma 79
- Kansas 84, Iowa State 63
- Houston 77, West Virginia 48
- UConn 69, Seton Hall 64
Tennis: Australian Open Qualifying Heat
Down under, it’s already Wednesday morning, and the Australian Open qualifying rounds are in full swing at Melbourne Park. Local favorite Jason Kubler gave the home crowd something to cheer about with a straight-sets win over Harold Mayot (6-3, 6-4).
James McCabe also looked sharp, taking down Pavle Marinkov 6-2, 7-6. The energy at the "Happy Slam" is always different, even in the qualifiers. You can tell these players are fighting for their lives to get into that main draw.
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NFL Playoff Picture: The Dust Settles After Wild Card Weekend
While there were no NFL games today, the fallout from the Wild Card round is the main topic of conversation in every sports bar in America. The Houston Texans officially ended the opening round last night by crushing the Steelers 30-6.
This sets up a massive Divisional Round. We’re looking at:
- Buffalo Bills vs. Denver Broncos (Saturday)
- Houston Texans vs. New England Patriots (Sunday)
- San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks
- Los Angeles Rams vs. Chicago Bears
The Matthew Stafford-led Rams are the team nobody wants to play right now after their narrow 34-31 win over Carolina. Stafford tied Russell Wilson for the most game-winning drives among active quarterbacks, which is wild when you think about his career arc.
What You Should Watch For Tomorrow
Don't get too comfortable. The sports cycle resets in a few hours.
If you're looking to stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the injury reports for the Bucks. After that 33-point loss to Minnesota tonight, there are serious questions about their defensive rotation. Also, the Australian Open main draw is right around the corner—watch the qualifying finals tomorrow to see which dark horses make the cut.
Check the late-night scores for the West Coast NBA games (Lakers and Warriors were still in progress at the time of writing) to see if LeBron or Steph had a "vintage" night.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the waiver wire: If you're in a fantasy hockey league, look at the Jets' secondary scoring after that 5-goal performance.
- Betting hedge: Keep an eye on the line for the Rams vs. Bears game. Chicago is the 2-seed, but the Rams are playing with house money and a red-hot quarterback.
- Sync your calendar: The NFL Divisional round starts Saturday; make sure you've got the Bills/Broncos kickoff time blocked out.