Friday night in the NBA saw close finishes, big scores and a few injuries reported. Several teams took advantage of strong fourth quarters to change the story of their games. Some stars carried heavy loads, while others saw late trails disappear. Here’s a clear look at every team in every game.
Houston Rockets against Detroit Pistons (111-104)
Winners: Houston Rockets
Houston relied on Kevin Durant to control the evening. He scored 32 points and had no turnovers in 40 minutes. His shot helped the Rockets dominate the third quarter by a 34-20 margin. Alperen Sengun added 19 points and Reed Sheppard scored 18. Amen Thompson filled the scoring with 15 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. The defense turned things around in the third period as Detroit struggled to get any clear looks. The Rockets also ended a long stretch and won their fourth game in five tries.
Losers: Detroit Pistons
Detroit lost its four-game winning streak after a strong first half. Jalen Duren led the team with 18 points and seven rebounds. The other starters didn’t keep up with his energy and shot poorly. The Pistons were dominated after halftime and couldn’t recover down the stretch in the third quarter. Late surges reduced the lead, but missed chances prevented them from leveling the score.
Atlanta Hawks against Phoenix Suns (110-103)
Winners: Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta found life in the final quarter with a 26-12 run. Jalen Johnson had 23 points and 18 rebounds for his league-leading 30th double-double. Onyeka Okongwu scored 25 points and worked hard inside. CJ McCollum continued his regular season with 21 points coming off the bench. The Hawks shot well from deep and used balanced scoring to pull away. This victory also follows a recent victory over Memphis and stopped a longer slide.
Losers: Phoenix Suns
Phoenix lost control after Devin Booker injured his ankle late in the third quarter. Booker had already scored 31 points with four rebounds and three assists. His exit changed the pace of the match. The Suns couldn’t keep pace with Atlanta in the fourth. Missed shots and slower movement made it harder to protect the lead.
Boston Celtics against Brooklyn Nets (130-126, double overtime)
Winners: Boston Celtics
Boston survived a wild game that required two overtime periods. Payton Pritchard scored 32 points. Jaylen Brown added a triple-double with 27 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds. Hugo Gonzalez made a three-and-out to force the second overtime. Sam Hauser and Anfernee Simmons delivered key baskets late. The Celtics also showed composure after blowing a late lead in regulation. Winning on the road after a poor finish in regulation showed great focus.
Losers: Brooklyn Nets
Brooklyn almost shocked a top team. Michael Porter Jr. scored 30 points and Nolan Traore had a career-high 21. Nic Claxton forced overtime with a late dunk. The Nets even led at the end of the first overtime. Missed free throws and a late defensive breakdown allowed Boston to escape. It was another close loss in a season full of them.
Cleveland Cavaliers against Sacramento Kings (123-118)
Winners: Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland relied on Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley in the final minutes. Mitchell scored 33 points and scored three late. Mobley tied a season high with 29 points and added 13 rebounds and seven assists. The Cavs have also remained perfect against teams below .500 in recent weeks. The defense tightened up late when Sacramento missed several open threes. The group also won without Darius Garland, who remained on the sidelines.
Losers: Sacramento Kings
Sacramento fought back after a first hole and even led on the fourth. Domantas Sabonis had 24 points, 16 rebounds and six assists. Dennis Schroder and DeMar DeRozan combined for 41 points. The three missed points in the last minute ended their chances. This defeat marked the fourth in a row and came at the start of a long road trip.
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Memphis Grizzlies (133-127)
Winners: New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans erased a double-digit deficit with strong inside play. Saddiq Bey scored a season-high 36 points and added 19 in the fourth quarter alone. Trey Murphy III scored 32 and Zion Williamson finished with 24 points and 11 rebounds. The Pelicans attacked the paint and used size to take control late. They also ended a losing streak and finally beat Memphis after six straight losses against them.
Losers: Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis played without Ja Morant and still took a lead behind hot shooting. Jaren Jackson Jr. had 26 points and 12 rebounds. Jock Landale added 24 and 11. Late defense failed to slow down Zion and Bey. Trade talk surrounding Morant added even more noise to a difficult night.
Indiana Pacers against Oklahoma City Thunder (117-114)
Winners: Indiana Pacers
Indiana pulled off a rare victory against the best team in the league. Andrew Nembhard scored 27 points with 11 rebounds. Jarace Walker had a career-high 26 and sealed the game with late free throws. Pascal Siakam added 21. The Pacers survived a late surge from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and closed out the game with smart plays. The win also ended a short skid for an injured team.
Losers: Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City missed several key players and still almost stole the game. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 47 points and was perfect from the line. Chet Holmgren added 25 points and 13 rebounds. A missed three at the buzzer ended the comeback. The Thunder fought but couldn’t finish.
Denver Nuggets against Milwaukee Bucks (102-100)
Winners: Denver Nuggets
Denver won with a short roster and without Nikola Jokic. Julian Strawther scored a season-high 20. Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown added steady offense. The Nuggets blew a big lead and barely held on. Free throws in the final seconds allowed them to maintain the advantage. This victory came despite several injuries during the match.
Losers: Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee lost Giannis Antetokounmpo to a calf injury late. He still posted 22 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists before leaving. Ryan Rollins scored 21 and almost saved the night. A last-second uprising failed. Health concerns now add to another close loss.
Toronto Raptors vs. Portland Trail Blazers (110-98)
Winners: Toronto Raptors
Toronto controlled most of the game with poise. Sandro Mamukelashvili scored 22 points and Brandon Ingram added 20. Scottie Barnes and Ochai Agbaji helped extend the lead in the fourth. The Raptors overcame poor three-point numbers and more turnovers by winning inside. It was their third consecutive victory.
Losers: Portland Trail Blazers
Portland played without Deni Avdija and struggled early with cold shooting. Jrue Holiday and Shaedon Sharpe each scored 21 points. Late runs reduced the lead but never erased it. A poor first quarter left them chasing the game for the rest of the night.
Conclusion
The day of January 23 was dramatic throughout the league. Houston and Atlanta showed how one strong quarter can turn a game around. Boston and Cleveland relied on stars when the pressure mounted. New Orleans used its inside power to erase a late deficit. Indiana earned a rare victory against a top seed thanks to calm free throws. Denver survived despite injuries, while Toronto remained steady from start to finish.
