• League Pass
  • Teams

NBA Celebrates MLK Day

A Pistons-Celtics thriller caps Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Follow along for live updates during the NBA's 9-game slate of action on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Ben Lambert, for NBA.com

Cade Cunningham helped the Pistons defeat the Celtics 104-103 on NBC and Peacock.

What we know after Monday’s games:

  • The Bucks defeated the Hawks 112-110 behind Giannis Antetokounmpo (21 pts, 17 reb, 6 ast), despite Atlanta’s second-half comeback attempt.
  • The Thunder dominated the Cavaliers 136-104 behind the star duo of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (30 pts) and Chet Holmgren (28 pts, 8 reb), hitting 49% of their 3-pointers along the way.
  • Max Christie (26 pts, 8 3PM) made it rain from deep as the Mavericks defeated the Knicks 114-97 on the road in Madison Square Garden.
  • The Pistons triumphed 104-103 as Jaylen Brown’s last second fadeaway bounced off the rim, tying the season series at two.
  • The 2026 NBA All-Star Game starters were revealed! Read on to learn more.

JANUARY 20, 2026 // 12:35 AM

Monday’s results

Tyrese Maxey (29 pts, 4 reb, 8 ast, 8 stl) is your top performer of the holiday.

JANUARY 20, 2026 // 12:27 AM

Golden State runs away with it

135-112, capping our Martin Luther King Jr. Day slate.

Brandin Podziemski (24 pts) led the Dubs offensively, as seven Warriors scored in double figures.

Norman Powell was the top scorer for the Heat with 21 points.

The Warriors shot 24-of-51 (47.1%) from 3-point range, taking control of the contest with a big second half.

JANUARY 19, 2026 // 11:53 AM

Warriors open up double-digit lead

98-88 with 2:25 to go in the third quarter. Golden State had it to 15 in a patented third-quarter flurry, but Miami’s battled back.

Simone Fontecchio has two 3-pointers in the period for Miami.

JANUARY 19, 2026 // 11:20 ET

Warriors lead 70-66 at the half

Andrew Wiggins (18 pts) leads Miami in scoring in his first game back in the Bay, while Heat legend Jimmy Butler III has 15 to pace the Warriors.

Stephen Curry has 11, including these two 3-pointers late in the second quarter.

It’s a quality nightcap, available for you on League Pass.

JANUARY 19, 2026 // 10:42 ET

Detroit survives Boston

Every game between these teams feels like a battle. In “another classic,” as Terry Gannon put it, Jaylen Brown’s last-second fadeaway rolled out. Detroit takes the win 104-103.

“Give me seven games of this,” said Brian Scalabrine. “This is a rivalry.”

Brown had 32 points to lead Boston, while Tobias Harris dropped 25 for Detroit.

“One thing about our group — we support each other,” said Harris.

The season series between the Celtics and Pistons goes down as a 2-2 split.

JANUARY 19, 2026 // 10:40 ET

Get to NBC or Peacock now!

104-103 Detroit. 4.4 seconds remaining. Boston ball.

JANUARY 19, 2026 // 10:28 ET

Cade Cunningham returns

With 4:25 to go. 96-95 Detroit.

JANUARY 19, 2026 // 10:24 ET

Cade back to the locker room

With 5:20 to go in the fourth. Pistons have a 96-91 lead — could be a critical development.

JANUARY 19, 2026 // 10:19 ET

Celtics and Pistons battling in the fourth

93-91 Detroit with 7:00 to go in the fourth quarter.

Jaylen Brown (24 pts, 10 reb) and Cade Cunningham (14 pts, 11 ast) are grinding it out in a physical contest between the beasts of the Eastern Conference. Detroit’s shooting 45% to 39% for Boston.

Jalen Duren threw down the top Dunk Score slam of the evening a little while back, clocking in at 83.6.

JANUARY 19, 2026 // 9:55 ET

Sixers defeat Pacers

113-104.

Joel Embiid (30 pts, 9 reb, 4 ast) and Tyrese Maxey (29 pts, 8 ast, 8 stl) were dominant for Philadelphia, overcoming a poor shooting night from 3-point range, as well as 25 points from Andrew Nembhard.

JANUARY 19, 2026 // 9:44 ET

Suns-Nets going down to the wire

117-111 Phoenix with under five minutes to go.

Dillon Brooks has 24 points, while Devin Booker and Collin Gillespie have 22 apiece. Michael Porter Jr. has 23 points and 6 rebounds.

Catch the finish on League Pass!

JANUARY 19, 2026 // 9:30 ET

Duncan Robinson is no stranger to the Celtics

After plenty of battles in Miami, Duncan’s making plays for Detroit against Boston.

JANUARY 19, 2026 // 9:15 ET

Pistons on a 7-0 run

Opening up a 56-46 lead as the first half winds down.

JANUARY 19, 2026 // 8:35 ET

Celtics and Pistons battling early

These two Eastern Conference rivals have played three games this season, with none decided by more than seven points. Get to NBC and Peacock to catch this edition.

JANUARY 19, 2026 // 7:42 ET

Mavericks triumph at Madison Square Garden

Knocking off the Knicks 114-97 in a wire-to-wire win.

Max Christie (26 points, 8 3PM) led the way offensively for Dallas, while Karl-Anthony Towns dropped 22 points and 18 rebounds.

“Shout out to my guys man. We followed the game plan and got it done as a team,” said Naji Marshall (19 pts, 8 reb, 4 ast), praising their “next man up” mentality. “Shout out to the team, man.”

JANUARY 19, 2026 // 7:30 ET

Spurs defeat the Jazz

123-110, led by Victor Wembanyama (33 pts, 10 reb, 2 blk, 2 stl, 7 3PM). Seven Spurs scored in double figures, as the team shot 56% from the field, with 44 field goals on 32 assists.

Keyonte George led Utah with 30 points.

JANUARY 19, 2026 // 7:25 ET

Embiid’s excellent early

76ers up 31-28 over the Pacers as the first quarter winds down.

JANUARY 19, 2026 // 7:09 ET

Dylan throws it down

Our top Dunk Score of the day at 73.4.

JANUARY 19, 2026 // 6:44 ET

Cash, Christie

JANUARY 19, 2026 // 6:19 ET

Mavericks lead 75-47 at the half

Max Christie had 18 points on six 3-pointers in the first half to lead Dallas, which is shooting 55% from distance so far at MSG.

“Just being aggressive,” said Christie. “They were falling tonight — got to keep doing that in the second half.”

Jalen Brunson has 11 points for New York, while Mitchell Robinson (12 pts, 12 reb) has a double-double.

JANUARY 19, 2026 // 6:04 ET

Keep watching the skies

JANUARY 19, 2026 // 5:45 ET

Mavericks up after one

31-22 on NBC and Peacock.

Max Christie leads the Mavericks with 9 points, while Dwight Powell is a team-high +13.

Mitchell Robinson (8 pts, 7 reb) is off to a strong start for the Knicks.

JANUARY 19, 2026 // 5:37 ET

Clippers hang on against Wizards

It came down to the final few possessions, but the Clippers held on against the Wizards 110-106.

James Harden (36 pts, 7 reb, 9 ast) delivered a vintage performance to lead LA, which also received 16 points from Jordan Miller and a double-double from Ivica Zubac (14 pts, 12 reb).

All five starters scored in double figures for the Wizards, led by Alex Sarr (28 pts).

JANUARY 19, 2026 // 5:28 ET

Alien watch

JANUARY 19, 2026 // 5:16 ET

Thunder roll over Cavaliers

136-104, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (30 pts) continued his steady scoring, aided by Chet Holmgren (28 pts, 8 reb, 2 blk, 4 3PM).

The Thunder hit 23-of-47 (48.9%) of their attempts from distance, while the Cavs were 8-of-35 (22.9%).

Donovan Mitchell (19 pts) led five Cavaliers in double figures.

JANUARY 19, 2026 // 4:59 ET

Clippers-Wizards tight in the fourth

85-all with just over 9 minutes to go in the fourth quarter in Washington.

Kyshawn George (15 pts, 6 reb, 5 ast, 3 stl) is doing a bit of everything for the Wizards, who have a 25-8 lead in fast break points.

JANUARY 19, 2026 // 4:36 ET

Thunder up as the fourth begins

92-79 Thunder with 11:41 to go in the fourth quarter. Catch the finish on NBC and Peacock!

JANUARY 19, 2026 // 4:21 ET

Clippers up 54-53 at the half

James Harden has 18 points and six assists at the half, including a 12-of-12 streak at the free throw line, continuing his recent streak of hot play. He’s averaging 24.5 ppg and 8.1 ast over his last 10 games.

Alex Sarr has 17 to pace the Wizards.

JANUARY 19, 2026 // 4:15 ET

Thunder up, but Cavaliers battling back

76-63 Thunder, but the Cavs just went on a 7-0 run.

JANUARY 19, 2026 // 4:00 ET

Thunder up 66-51 at the break

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has 16 points to pace Oklahoma City, which is shooting 55% to 35% for Cleveland. The Thunder have 11 points off turnovers so far.

JANUARY 19, 2026 // 3:44 ET

Respect from across the world

JANUARY 19, 2026 // 3:34 ET

Bucks hold on

Milwaukee wins 112-110, as CJ McCollum’s desperation shot attempt glances off the rim.

Jalen Johnson (28 pts, 16 reb, 6 ast) was huge for Atlanta, but Giannis Antetokounmpo (21 pts, 17 reb, 6 ast) offset him for the Bucks.

The Hawks won the second half by 14 points, but fell just short in their comeback attempt.

JANUARY 19, 2026 // 3:19 ET

Hawks closing the gap on Peacock

96-90 Bucks with just over four minutes to go. Catch the finish on Peacock!

JANUARY 19, 2026 // 3:03 ET

Incisive, Isaiah

A slick pass from Isaiah Joe here. Thunder are up 26-16 with 3:51 to go in the first quarter.

JANUARY 19, 2026 // 3:00 ET

Clippers-Wizards underway on League Pass

 

JANUARY 19, 2026 // 2:45 ET

Thunder-Cavs underway on NBC and Peacock

Two of the more talented teams in the Association are getting it rolling.

Donovan Mitchell and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are superstars; Evan Mobley and Chet Holmgren are do-it-all-bigs with defensive chops; Aaron Wiggins and Jaylon Tyson are wings with game on the rise. Get into it! We’re live coast to coast.

JANUARY 19, 2026 // 2:26 ET

Your NBA All-Star 2026 starters!

The 2026 All-Star Game will feature a new format in which two teams of U.S. players and one team of international players (known as the World team) will compete in a round-robin tournament featuring four 12-minute games.

The All-Star players are being selected regardless of position, with the seven reserves being chosen by NBA coaches.

JANUARY 19, 2026 // 2:14 ET

Bucks up 54-38 at the half

Giannis Antetokounmpo has 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting, with Bobby Portis adding 10. Milwaukee led by as many as 20 in the first half.

Jalen Johnson has 11 to lead Atlanta, which is 1-of-22 from 3-point range so far.

“Just trying to find the open man and let it fly,” Portis of the Bucks’ approach. “Stay with a sense of urgency. Hit them first, then go from there.”

JANUARY 19, 2026 // 2:02 ET

Graceful, Giannis

Prototypical Antetokounmpo. 45-33 Bucks with 2:42 to go in the second quarter.

The Hawks are hanging around despite being 0-20 from 3-point range so far.

JANUARY 19, 2026 // 1:50 ET

Bucks open up lead with 20-2 run

36-21 Milwaukee, as AJ Green (9 pts, 3 3PM), knocks down another 3-pointer.

JANUARY 19, 2026 // 1:42 ET

Bucks up as second quarter begins

23-21 Bucks with 10:55 to go in the second quarter.

Milwaukee’s held Atlanta to 30% shooting so far, including 0-of-13 shooting from 3-point range. But the Hawks have a plus-3 turnover advantage and a 19-14 lead on the boards, helping them stay in it.

Ryan Rollins leads all scorers with 7 points.

JANUARY 19, 2026 // 1:25 ET

Bucks and Hawks dueling early

16-15 Milwaukee with 4:00 to go in the first quarter.

Nice alternate uniform matchup — the Bucks’ “Cream City” look versus the Hawks’ “Peachtree” joints.

Lock in on Peacock and settle in for some holiday basketball.

JANUARY 19, 2026 // 1:00 ET

Honor Dr. King’s legacy and get involved

Partnering with the Realize the Dream foundation, NBA Cares is committed to helping achieve 100 million hours of service by 2029 in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 100th birthday. Get involved today!

Learn more about Dr. King’s legacy

JANUARY 19, 2026 // 12:45 ET

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day!

We have a day’s worth of NBA action for you, highlighted by a quadruple-header on NBC and Peacock. Spend a joyous holiday and honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with the National Basketball Association.

“He fought for justice, he fought for equality,” said Aaron Wiggins. “There’s a sense of that that’s human nature. Everyone wants something equal.”

“No one was born to hate another another,” said Bismack Biyombo. “We were born to love.”

Here’s the complete slate:

Related

Latest