Jalen Johnson and the Atlanta Hawks defeated the Sacramento Kings Wednesday night.
What we know about Wednesday night’s games:
- The Nuggets defeated the Celtics 114-110 in the first game of our ESPN doubleheader behind Jamal Murray (22 pts, 17 ast).
- Now, it’s Lakers-Spurs (9:30 ET) on the Worldwide Leader.
- Immanuel Quickley and Paolo Banchero hit buzzer-beaters to lead the Raptors and Magic over the Hornets and Nets, respectively.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (46 pts, 6 reb, 6 ast) led the Thunder over the Jazz 129-125 in overtime.
JANUARY 7, 2026 / 10:50 ET
Thunder hold on to beat the Jazz
129-125 in overtime. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 46 points on 26 shots in the win, as well as six rebounds and six assists.
Listen to @PaycomCenter after that Chet dunk 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/MloNm7CfaB
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) January 8, 2026
JANUARY 7, 2026 / 10:46 ET
Spurs up at the half
48-43 over the Lakers.
Luka Dončić has 22 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists so far tonight, countered by Keldon Johnson’s 14 points for San Antonio. The Spurs have racked up 24 bench points, including those from the former Olympic gold medalist.
SNATCHED 🖐
🌟 https://t.co/frD28T3bmx
📺 @FanDuelSN_SW, ESPN pic.twitter.com/WudDZc4QNl
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 8, 2026
JANUARY 7, 2026 / 10:38 ET
Jazz and Thunder going to overtime
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has 37 points so far tonight.
SGA SENDS THE GAME TO OVERTIME!!!
WHAT A SHOT 🤯 pic.twitter.com/LmDT2uSCio
— NBA (@NBA) January 8, 2026
Drive to the rack and good things happen 🤝 pic.twitter.com/WAn5CIqxev
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) January 8, 2026
JANUARY 7, 2026 / 10:32 ET
Two buzzer-beaters tonight
Paolo Banchero (30 pts, 14 reb, 6 ast) came up clutch for the Magic as they knocked off the Nets 104-103 in Brooklyn.
🤯 PAOLO. BANCHERO. 🤯@TISSOT BUZZER-BEATER TO WIN THE GAME IN OT.
🚨⏰ Everyone Gets 24 https://t.co/OwLeVWeMlj pic.twitter.com/GxeeHgAOhR
— NBA (@NBA) January 8, 2026
JANUARY 7, 2026 / 10:21 ET
Jazz-Thunder going down to the wire
109-108 Jazz with under two minutes to go. Catch the finish on League Pass!
JANUARY 7, 2026 / 10:19 ET
A little Luka Magic
A special dime from the Don, although the Spurs are up early in the second quarter.
LUKA HALF-COURT LOB TO HAYES 💥 pic.twitter.com/EtzIJUVJ88
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 8, 2026
JANUARY 7, 2026 / 10:07 ET
Jamal Murray leads the Nuggets over the Celtics
114-110 Nuggets. Peyton Watson had 30 points for the Nuggets, while Jaylen Brown had 33 for the Celtics.
Jamal Murray tonight: DISHIN’ & SWISHIN’ 🔥
22 PTS
17 AST (career-high)
DEN W
He is the 1st player since Luka Dončić in 2024 to post consecutive games with 20+ PTS and 15+ AST! pic.twitter.com/bPyn1jauci
— NBA (@NBA) January 8, 2026
JANUARY 7, 2026 / 9:55 ET
Overtime in Brooklyn
WHAT A SHOT BY EGOR DЁMIN.
WE ARE HEADED TO OT IN BROOKLYN. https://t.co/UT0BWi7ioB pic.twitter.com/kYNlAbNpjl
— NBA (@NBA) January 8, 2026
JANUARY 7, 2026 / 9:35 ET
IQ at the buzzer
Raptors win 97-96!
IMMANUEL QUICKLEY GAME-WINNING TRIPLE.
RAPTORS WIN A WILD ONE IN CHARLOTTE!!
🚨 @TISSOT BUZZER-BEATER 🚨
Everyone Gets 24 pic.twitter.com/rQ9DkWUVqZ
— NBA (@NBA) January 8, 2026
JANUARY 7, 2026 / 9:17 ET
Raptors-Hornets going down to the wire
89-all with 2:58 to go in the fourth. Catch the finish on League Pass!
JANUARY 7, 2026 / 9:10 ET
Vintage Embiid
Joel Embiid has 28 points on 10-of-14 shooting as the Sixers lead the Wizards. The Process is at work tonight.
PIVOT! pic.twitter.com/vLGzra9gE0
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) January 8, 2026
JANUARY 7, 2026 / 9:05 ET
Kawhi at it again
The Klaw has 23 points, but the Knicks are up 73-72 with 5:35 to go in the third quarter.
Kawhi with the JUMPER! +2 📈 pic.twitter.com/qpwT66gTWu
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) January 8, 2026
Leonard’s been one of the hottest players in the Association as the Clippers have won seven of their last eight. Will he take them home tonight?
JANUARY 7, 2026 / 9:02 ET
Nuggets-Celtics going down to the wire
90-all with just over six minutes to go on ESPN! Catch the finish on ESPN.
Neemias Queta has 20 rebounds — 10 offensive — so far tonight. The last Celtic to do that was Robert Parish, back in 1989.
JANUARY 7, 2026 / 8:44 ET
Buzelis on the bounce
The former AT&T Dunk Contest contestant is putting up a highlight slam every night, it seems. This one’s a 78.5 on the Dunk Score scale.
Another lob to Matas! @BuzelisMatas | @CHSN__ pic.twitter.com/6dqTTVG6nV
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 8, 2026
JANUARY 7, 2026 / 8:34 ET
Guarding the Net
The Magic are up 48-42 with the second quarter about done, but this is an impressive swat from the Brooklyn big men.
Sharpe & Clowney hosting a BLOCK PARTY 🚫 pic.twitter.com/UMwVaays4W
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) January 8, 2026
JANUARY 7, 2026 / 8:20 ET
LaMelo with the dime
LaMelo Ball sizes up his defender, drives inside… and finds Miles Bridges for the one-handed JAM!
Tap to watch: https://t.co/tvY4fxy4Qs pic.twitter.com/Oaoc1QsK1E
— NBA (@NBA) January 8, 2026
JANUARY 7, 2026 / 8:12 ET
Raptors rocking behind Scottie Barnes
Scottie has 17, but the Hornets are up 45-40 as the second quarter winds down.
THE ROCK WAS FLYING 😤 pic.twitter.com/Tlj0ylyRZU
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) January 8, 2026
JANUARY 7, 2026 / 8:00 ET
Beef Stew for supper
17 first-half points for Isaiah Stewart, as the Pistons lead the Bulls 52-50 at the break.
Jaden Ivey’s added eight in his first start of the season.
Some Poison Ivey highlights while you wait pic.twitter.com/B5KgS3jZKr
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) January 8, 2026
JANUARY 7, 2026 / 7:45 ET
Maxey on the attack
Tyrese enters tonight’s action at No. 3 in the NBA scoring ranks at 31.0 ppg. Could be a special night for bucket-getters in the Association,.
16 in the 1Q for TYRESE MAXEY!
Turning defense to offense for Philly 💯 pic.twitter.com/LVrspHHP7T
— NBA (@NBA) January 8, 2026
JANUARY 7, 2026 / 7:30 ET
Jaylen Brown is rolling early
JB’s averaging 30.6 ppg in his last four games, including a 50-piece against the Clippers. He’s on one again tonight.
Jaylen Brown off to a HOT START on ESPN!
He’s got 13 of Boston’s first 19 points 🙌 pic.twitter.com/qr2N6QW6Ei
— NBA (@NBA) January 8, 2026
JANUARY 7, 2026 / 6:30 ET
Nickeil Alexander-Walker keeps shooting
Entering the season, Nickeil Alexander-Walker was known as a defender, a 3&D wing who helped link things together as the Minnesota Timberwolves went to the 2025 Western Conference Finals.
This year, as Trae Young’s availability has fluctuated, Alexander-Walker (20.5 ppg on 44.7/38.3/85.4 shooting) has stepped up into a scorer, helping budding star Jalen Johnson lead the way for the Atlanta Hawks offense.
Walker is confident firing from deep, with a smooth sense of driving through the lane that’s reminiscent of his cousin, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Before this run, Alexander-Walker last averaged double-digit points in 2021-22, when he split time between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Utah Jazz.
Quin Snyder, who coached Alexander-Walker in Utah as well, said he has evolved over the years, recently praising his leadership qualities and willingness to step up for the team.
“I think there was an instinct that he had, where he could continue to be more aggressive in other parts of his game. That’s been something, for myself, you not only want to instill, but encourage. I think that’s something that’s happening,” said Snyder. “One of the biggest things he’s given us is a voice, on and off the court. There’s a level of professionalism he brings, a work ethic… For a young team, with young players, he’s a person you want to play with, to help teach you and help you grow.”
JANUARY 7, 2026 / 6:00 ET
Welcome to an 12-game night in the NBA!
Luka Dončić and the Los Angeles Lakers take on Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs in the second half of tonight’s ESPN doubleheader.
We’ve got an ESPN doubleheader featuring Jamal Murray and the Denver Nuggets taking on Jaylen Brown and the Boston Celtics (7 ET), followed by Luka Dončić and the Los Angeles Lakers traveling to face Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs (9:30 ET) for a clash at the top of the Western Conference.
Here’s tonight’s complete schedule:
- Toronto Raptors vs. Charlotte Hornets, 7 ET
- Chicago Bulls vs. Detroit Pistons, 7 ET
- Washington Wizards vs. Philadelphia 76ers, 7 ET
- Denver Nuggets vs. Boston Celtics, 7 ET (ESPN)
- New Orleans Pelicans vs. Atlanta Hawks, 7:30 ET
- Orlando Magic vs. Brooklyn Nets, 7:30 ET
- LA Clippers vs. New York Knicks, 7:30 ET
- Phoenix Suns vs. Memphis Grizzlies, 8 ET
- Utah Jazz vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, 8 ET
- Los Angeles Lakers vs. San Antonio Spurs, 9:30 ET (ESPN)
- Milwaukee Bucks vs. Golden State Warriors, 10 ET
- Houston Rockets vs. Portland Trail Blazers, 10 ET
