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Luka Dončić leads Lakers over Nuggets as Rivals Week tips off

Enjoy live updates from the NBA's 7-game slate of action on Tuesday night as AWS Rivals Week 2026 begins.

Ben Lambert, for NBA.com

Luka Dončić led the Lakers over the Nuggets in the second half of our NBC and Peacock doubleheader.

What we know about Tuesday’s games:

  • Welcome to AWS NBA Rivals Week 2026, featuring 11 nationally-televised games airing on ABC, ESPN, NBC, Peacock, and Prime over five action-packed days.
  • The Rockets came back from 16 down to defeat the Spurs 111-106, led by Reed Sheppard (21 pts, 12 in the fourth quarter) and Alperen Sengun (20 pts, 13 reb, 9 ast).
  • Luka Dončić (38 pts, 13 reb, 10 ast, 2 stl) led the Lakers over the Nuggets 115-107 in the nightcap of our NBC and Peacock doubleheader.
  • Keyonte George put up a career-high 43 points as the Jazz defeated the Timberwolves 127-122.
  • Immanuel Quickley (40 pts, 11-of-13 shooting) went off as the Raptors knocked off the Warriors 145-127 on the road.

JANUARY 21, 2026 // 12:55 ET

Tonight’s results

Luka Dončić (38 pts, 13 reb, 10 ast, 2 stl) is your top performer of the night.

Shout out to Jusuf Nurkić (16 pts, 18 reb, 10 ast) as well.

JANUARY 21, 2026 // 12:38 ET

Lakers come back to defeat Nuggets

115-107, using a 25-7 advantage in fast break points to come back from a 16-point deficit.

The Nuggets led at the half, but the Lakers won the second half 58-38 to take control of the game.

“They have a lot of great players… We stayed together man. We fought this out,” said Luka Dončić (38 pts, 13 reb, 10 ast, 2 stl).

LeBron James posted 19 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists to help pace Los Angeles, while Marcus Smart added 15.

Jamal Murray had 28 points to lead Denver.

JANUARY 21, 2026 // 12:34 ET

Raptors roll over Warriors

145-127, behind 40 points from Immanuel Quickley (11-of-13 shooting, 7 3PM) and an all-around effort from Scottie Barnes (26 pts, 7 reb, 11 ast).

Buddy Hield had 25 points to lead the Warriors, while Jonathan Kuminga added 20.

JANUARY 21, 2026 // 12:16 ET

Lakers on a run

104-96, as Los Angeles goes on a 12-0 run. Marcus Smart (11 pts) just stuck a corner 3-pointer to give the Lakers their largest lead of the contest.

JANUARY 20, 2026 // 11:59 ET

Lakers-Nuggets close in the fourth

92-all with just under 10 minutes to go in the final period.

The Lakers have never led, but they’ve rallied behind Luka (32 pts, 10 reb, 7 ast, 2 stl) and LeBron (16 pts, 8 reb, 8 ast).

Catch the finish on NBC and Peacock!

JANUARY 20, 2026 // 11:39 ET

The Jazz swing to victory

127-122 over the Timberwolves, led by Keyonte George, who dropped a career-high 43 points, outdoing Anthony Edwards, who had 38 points of his own.

Ace Bailey (20 pts) delivered our top Dunk Score slam of the night at 92.9 in the win.

A great night for a special trip to see the Jazz play.

JANUARY 20, 2026 // 11:13 ET

Nuggets up at the half

71-57, with Jamal Murray (26 pts, 4 3PM) out-dueling Luka Dončić (23 pts, 6 reb).

Denver’s 12-of-20 (60%) from 3-point range so far.

JANUARY 20, 2026 // 10:59 ET

Rockets win!

111-106.

Reed Sheppard (21 pts, 4 3PM) came up big in the fourth quarter, while Alperen Sengun (20 pts, 13 reb, 9 ast) carried the weight for Houston.

“When we cut the lead a little bit in the fourth, it was just ‘keep fighting, keep staying together, we’re close,'” said Sheppard. “It was a great team win.”

Julian Champaigne (27 pts, 8 3PM) led the way for the Spurs.

JANUARY 20, 2026 // 10:48 ET

Spurs-Rockets going down to the wire

104-all with 2:35 to go. Reed Sheppard’s caught fire with 12 fourth-quarter points. The finish’s available for you on NBC and Peacock!

JANUARY 20, 2026 // 10:31 ET

Spurs-Rockets close in the fourth

92-91 San Antonio with just under 10 minutes to go, as the Rockets close the gap with an 13-0 run. Check out the finish on NBC and Peacock!

“You blink and it’s a one-point game!” Noah Eagle just exclaimed. “Houston has a chance to lead for the first time since the first quarter!”

Stephon Castle showed off the hops a little while ago.

JANUARY 20, 2026 // 10:15 ET

Bulls on parade

Chicago defeated LA 138-110, making 25-of-47 (53.2%) of their 3-pointers to earn the victory.

Coby White had 27 points, while Matas Buzelis added 21, leading seven Bulls in double figures. Chicago amassed 40 assists on 52 field goals in the win.

James Harden (25 pts, 5 reb, 6 ast) led the way for the Clippers.

JANUARY 20, 2026 // 9:47 ET

Suns rally for road win

Defeating the Sixers 116-110 at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Devin Booker (27 pts) led six Suns in double figures, as Phoenix received 58 points from its bench. Jalen Green dropped 12 points in his return from injury.

VJ Edgecombe (25 pts, 7 reb) led the way for Philadelphia, while Andre Drummond (9 pts, 15 reb) is now 10 boards shy of Pau Gasol for 30th on the all-time list.

JANUARY 20, 2026 // 9:37 ET

Spurs up 10 at the half

70-60 San Antonio at the break, led by Julian Champaigne (21 pts, 6 3PM), who has been a marksman from deep.

“I think I’m just taking what the defense is giving me. My teammates keep finding me, so my job is to shoot,” said Champaigne. “We’re playing pretty well on defense, which is giving us an opportunity to run in transition, which is leading to threes.”

Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun and Kevin Durant all have 12 points for Houston.

JANUARY 20, 2026 // 9:10 ET

Bulls with an illustrious offensive half

Chicago’s up 70-49 over the Clippers after the first half. Matas Buzelis (14 pts) leads all scorers.

Can the Bulls snap their recent slide?

JANUARY 20, 2026 // 8:55 ET

A toast

Julian Champagnie is hot to open our NBC / Peacock national TV game, dropping 15 first-quarter points.

JANUARY 20, 2026 // 8:48 ET

Eyes in the back of his head

Alperen Sengun makes this look easy. Look one way, drop the rock off the other.

JANUARY 20, 2026 // 8:25 ET

VJ can fly

The Sixers’ rookie, No. 3 on the latest Kia Rookie Ladder, has special hops.

JANUARY 20, 2026 // 8:18 ET

Harden at it again

After putting up 36 points on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, James Harden (25.3 pts over his last 10 games) is back getting buckets.

JANUARY 20, 2026 // 7:52 ET

Wemby’s getting ready

JANUARY 20, 2026 // 7:40 ET

Philly leads after one

30-27. Kelly Oubre leads the Sixers with 11 points, while Tyrese Maxey has 10.

Devin Booker has 9 to top the scoring for Phoenix.

JANUARY 20, 2026 // 7:15 ET

Sixers up early

17-15 Philadelphia with just over three minutes to go in the first quarter.

Andre Drummond entered tonight 25 rebounds behind Pau Gasol (11,305) for 30th on the all-time rebounding list. The Big Penguin, in his 14th season, keeps climbing the charts.

JANUARY 20, 2026 // 6:00 ET

Bald Wemby is a powerful force

Victor Wembanyama's highlights over the last three games.

Like One Punch Man or Avatar Aang, Victor Wembanyama has leveled up after shaving his head.

Since he and Keldon Johnson got a fresh cut three games ago, Wemby’s averaging 31.3 ppg, 9.7 reb, 2.0 blk and making 5.3 3-pointers per game.

“More bald players,” said Wembanyama, who also went with the bald fade this summer as he studied with Shaolin monks. “I think it’s a show of dedication, at least from my point of view.”

The 1998 Pacers would agree with you, Victor, as would the legendary Michael Jordan.

JANUARY 20, 2026 // 5:30 ET

Welcome to Rivals Week!

It’s a seven-game night in the NBA, including the start of 2026 AWS NBA Rivals Week, featuring the San Antonio Spurs taking on the Houston Rockets (8 ET) and the Los Angeles Lakers renewing acquaintances with the Denver Nuggets (10 ET) on NBC and Peacock.

The Spurs and Rockets have played 220 regular season games in NBA history as they battle for supremacy in the Southwest Division — San Antonio’s won 120 to 100 for Houston. Since the start of the 2020-21 season, they’ve split 20 games, with each team winning 10.

The Lakers and Nuggets have been vying for control at the top of the Western Conference since 2020, when Los Angeles eliminated Denver on the way to the 2020 NBA championship. Denver’s had the upper hand recently, going 8-1 in the playoffs against the Lakers since starting its march to the title in 2023.

Here’s tonight’s complete schedule:

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