Friday night was full of big performances and one-sided games in the NBA. The stars took over very early. The bench players made a key impact. Several teams easily protected the field. Others couldn’t keep up once the momentum changed. Here’s a complete list of winners and losers from each match, based on what happened on the field.
Los Angeles Lakers against Washington Wizards (142-111)
Winners: Los Angeles Lakers
Luka Doncic controlled the game from the first tip. He had already achieved a triple-double by halftime. His final line was 37 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds. This type of production in the first half is rare. LeBron James added 20 points and still looked explosive at 41 years old. Fans enjoyed seeing Bronny James score on a quick dunk late in the game. Deandre Ayton also dominated inside with 28 points and 13 rebounds. The Lakers shot 61 percent from the field. Their 77-48 halftime lead showed just how one-sided the evening had become.
Losers: Washington Wizards
Washington couldn’t slow Doncic down at any point. Malaki Branham led them with 17 points, but the assist was limited. The Wizards were on their second consecutive night. Fatigue set in early. Their defense allowed too many open looks. Trae Young remained injured. The team misfired badly in scoring and play. A chance for a rare three-game winning streak quickly vanished.
Orlando Magic against Toronto Raptors (130-120)
Winners: Orlando Magic
Desmond Bane saved the best for last. He scored 16 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter. His shot broke a 104-104 tie. Paolo Banchero filled the scoring with 20 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. Wendell Carter Jr. added 23 points and seven rebounds. Anthony Black scored 25 points. Orlando made 17 three-pointers and made 6 of 9 from deep in the fourth. The Magic showed patience after trailing by 13.
Losers: Toronto Raptors
Brandon Ingram scored 35 points. Scottie Barnes had 19 points, nine rebounds and four blocks. Toronto led at the end of the third quarter. The offense slowed down in the final period. Only five shots were fired in the fourth. The Raptors also made just 7 of 28 three-point attempts. This cold stretch ruined a good road race.
Boston Celtics against Sacramento Kings (112-93)
Winners: Boston Celtics
Payton Pritchard set the tone from the start with 22 points at halftime. He finished with 29. Baylor Scheierman added 16 and hit some big shots from deep. Neemias Queta worked hard inside with 10 points and 15 rebounds. Boston took a 72-46 halftime lead. Joe Mazzulla even won two replay challenges. The team responded well after losing to Atlanta earlier in the week.
Losers: Sacramento Kings
Zach LaVine scored 17 points but had little support. Nique Clifford added 15. Injuries hurt the Kings badly. Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray and Russell Westbrook were all absent. The road trip got worse with another loss. Sacramento fell to 3-22 on the road. Their defense couldn’t stop Boston’s shooters.
New York Knicks vs. Portland Trail Blazers (127-97)
Winners: New York Knicks
Jalen Brunson scored 26 points and controlled the pace. OG Anunoby added 24. Josh Hart recorded 20 points, six rebounds and five assists. Karl-Anthony Towns grabbed 20 rebounds. New York won its fifth straight game and remained strong at home with a 19-6 record. The defense also stood out. Deni Avdija was limited to 11 points following a bad shot.
Losers: Portland Trail Blazers
Shaedon Sharpe scored 26 points. Jerami Grant had 15 on the bench. Portland couldn’t handle New York’s depth. A 34-12 run in the first half created too big a gap. The Blazers also struggled late as the Knicks outscored them by 17 after halftime.
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Memphis Grizzlies (114-106)
Winners: New Orleans Pelicans
Saddiq Bey and Derik Queen each scored 22 points. Zion Williamson added 21. Herb Jones contributed 16. New Orleans exploded in the third quarter with a 35-15 run. Jose Alvarado made three three-pointers during that stretch. The defense also improved as Memphis had one of its lowest quarters of the season.
Losers: Memphis Grizzlies
Cam Spencer and Jaren Jackson Jr. each scored 16. Ja Morant missed another game with an elbow injury. Memphis couldn’t keep pace once the third quarter started. Bad shooting and turnovers made the comeback impossible. Their record continued to slide below .500.
Phoenix Suns against Cleveland Cavaliers (126-113)
Winners: Phoenix Suns
Dillon Brooks stayed hot after his career night on Thursday. He scored 27 points with efficient shooting. Jordan Goodwin added 17. Collin Gillespie had 16. Phoenix made 23 three-pointers and outscored Cleveland 45-32 in the third quarter. The Suns won again without Devin Booker, who injured his ankle.
Losers: Cleveland Cavaliers
De’Andre Hunter led the team with 17 points. Donovan Mitchell had 16 but committed eight turnovers. Cleveland has struggled with ball security. Fifteen turnovers in the first half really hurt them. Coach Kenny Atkinson was ejected in the fourth. Their five-game winning streak came to an end.
Denver Nuggets against Los Angeles Clippers (122-109)
Winners: Denver Nuggets
Nikola Jokic returned after a month’s absence and wasted no time. He scored 31 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in just 25 minutes. Jamal Murray added 22 points and nine assists. Peyton Watson scored 21 points. Jokic took over late with 11 points in less than four minutes. Denver has also improved its record in back-to-back games.
Losers: Los Angeles Clippers
James Harden finished with 25 points and nine assists. The Clippers were one of the hottest teams in the league. Their defense failed in the fourth quarter. Jokic created too many easy looks. The winning streak finally came to an end after 16 wins in 19 matches.
Brooklyn Nets against Utah Jazz (109-99)
Winners: Brooklyn Nets
Egor Demin set a rookie record with a three-pointer in his 34th consecutive game. He finished with 25 points and 10 rebounds. Cam Thomas scored 21. Brooklyn dominated second-chance points by a 20-2 margin. Strong late shooting helped seal the game. The win ended a seven-game losing streak.
Losers: Utah Jazz
Keyonte George had 26 points and seven assists. Brice Sensabaugh added 18 off the bench. Utah tied the game several times in the third quarter. They never took the lead. Brooklyn’s late three-pointer pushed the lead back to double digits.
Detroit Pistons against Golden State Warriors (131-124)
Winners: Detroit Pistons
Cade Cunningham had 29 points and 11 assists. Jalen Duren added 21 points and 13 rebounds. Detroit scored 77 points in the first half. They forced 18 turnovers and turned them into 31 points. 76 percent shooting in the first quarter set the tone. The Pistons held on even after Golden State’s rally.
Losers: Golden State Warriors
Stephen Curry scored 23 points but left with knee pain. Draymond Green committed his 10th technical foul. Golden State gave up too many easy baskets early. Their sequence in the third quarter was not enough to erase the damage. The defense struggled with Detroit’s speed and ball movement.
Conclusion
January 30 showed how quickly games can turn around in the NBA. Luka Doncic’s first triple-double stole the show. Desmond Bane’s late shot decided another result. Nikola Jokic proved his worth right after returning from injury. Several teams showed depth and discipline. Others couldn’t keep up with the pace of hot shots and fast starts. Nights like this remind fans why every game matters.
