A relentless late-game duel of skill and will.
Twenty-six of Ant’s career-high 55 pts came in the 4th, but 12 final-frame pts & a game-sealing board from Wemby helped the Spurs hang on in a classic.
5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀
Jan. 18, 2026
NBA London Game: All the info on the Magic & Grizz rematch tipping in just hours
Superstar Saturday: Wemby & Ant go all-out late, Heat best Thunder with balance
Top-3 Teams: Jaylen Brown & Jamal Murray go for 40+, Pistons’ points premium
West Bubble: Red-hot Suns, Warriors & Blazers keeping pace in tightest race
Midseason Awards: Catch Steve Aschburner’s contenders in action today
BUT FIRST … ⏰
Saturday’s late-game legends, Sunday’s early English encore…
Make pub plans for the NBA London Game 2026, coming up at Noon ET (Prime | Tap To Watch). Orlando and Memphis close out this season’s international schedule with a rematch of Thursday’s Berlin thriller.
Five more games head your way later today on League Pass, featuring the Pelicans visiting the Rockets (7 ET | Tap To Watch), and the Lakers hosting the Raptors (9:30 ET | Tap To Watch).
1. NBA LONDON GAME 2026: GET SET FOR MAGIC/GRIZZ GLOBAL REMATCH
Hoops abroad earned plenty of oohs and aahs in Berlin. There was a staggering comeback and a highlight-reel dunk, to name a few highlights.
Three days have passed. Both teams have traveled another 570-plus miles. The 2025-26 world tour has reached its final stage.
Today (Noon ET, Prime), the Grizzlies and the Magic hit the hardwood for the NBA London Game presented by Tissot at The O2 Arena.
- Riveting Rematch: When these familiar foes lined up just days ago in Berlin, Orlando trailed by 20 points early in the 2nd quarter, but roared back for a 118-111 triumph
- Paolo Banchero posted a 26-point, 13-rebound double-double, while Franz Wagner returned from a 16-game absence (ankle) to pitch in 18 points and nine rebounds
- The Magic have a 109.0 defensive rating this season when that duo shares the floor — good for 2nd-best in the league. Behind them, Orlando limited Memphis to 12 points in the 3rd quarter, spurring its comeback
Hitting Their Stride: With consecutive wins for the first time since Dec. 1, the Magic now hunt their fourth victory in their last five outings as the East’s 5th-place team.
- Banchero has averaged 23.7 points and 9.7 rebounds per game in January. The fourth-year forward also boasts 13 double-doubles, with four coming this month.
Get-Back? It’s on the table for Memphis. The Grizz have lost 7 of 9, but may get Ja Morant back today. Meanwhile, Jaren Jackson Jr. is fresh off 30 points on 12-for-22 shooting.
- Steady production has come elsewhere, too. Rookie guard Cedric Coward is responsible for 16.6 points per game across his last six while shooting 43.3% from beyond the arc in that time.
Joe Murphy NBAE via Getty Images
On The Ground: Both the Magic and the Grizzlies have taken their preparation seriously, but they haven’t always taken themselves seriously.
The Grizzlies got creative with local youth in London for an NBA Cares event, allowing Ja to showcase his off-court artistry.
- Zach Zooms In: During practice, Zach Edey stepped away from the action to capture his teammates behind the camera lens
- Abracadabra: Franz and Paolo couldn’t believe their eyes when they watched a magician create ice from fire
- Picturesque Pug: The Magic’s team photo was interrupted by a furry friend, complete with an orange jacket
2. STAR-FILLED FINISHES: A WEMBY-ANT DUEL FOR THE AGES, HEAT ICE OKC
A double-digit lead erased as Anthony Edwards was going off in the 4th.
San Antonio had seen this before (7 days ago).
Victor Wembanyama had seen enough.
Spurs 126, TWolves 123: Wemby (39 pts, 9 reb, 2 blk) logged 12 4th-quarter points and a game-sealing rebound with two seconds left to deliver San Antonio its first win over Minnesota this season (1-2) despite a relentless 55-point career high from Edwards. | Recap
- Early Escape: San Antonio built a 25-point lead with a 48-point 2nd quarter, its highest-scoring quarter of the play-by-play era
- Wemby’s Work: Victor fueled the explosion with 20 of his 39 points coming in that quarter
- Healed At Halftime: Minnesota stormed back with a 40-point 3rd quarter and a 9-2 opening run in the 4th
- That set up a 26-point 4th-quarter takeover from Ant, who hit five of his nine 3s in the frame, as the lead changed hands four times in the final 3:30
A week prior, on Jan. 11, these two teams were in a similar scenario with Ant leading a late 19-point charge to stun the Spurs in Minnesota.
- “They’ve got Wemby,” Edwards said of his recent heroics against the Spurs. “I gotta get up for that one.”
Ronald Cortes/NBAE via Getty Images
This time, Wemby grabbed the W before it was too late, in the form of an offensive rebound off a missed free throw in a one-possession game.
- “Gotta get a win no matter what,” Wemby said. “We’re not thinking about [Minnesota’s comebacks] in the moment.”
- Meeting The Moment: Victor was a point away from matching his Opening Night season-high of 40 points
- Points & Progress: De’Aaron Fox (25 pts, 12 ast) and Keldon Johnson (20 pts) backed Wemby to help gain a game on 1st-place OKC
Edwards earned his third-career 50+ point game, tying former teammate Karl-Anthony Towns for most 50-pieces in TWolves history.
- Rare Air: Ant joins Kobe and Kyrie Irving as the only players in NBA history to total 55+ pts and 9+ 3PM in a game before turning 25
- Rare Finish: Edwards’ 26 4th-quarter points are the most by any player in the 4th since Giannis in 2023
- A Game’s Worth: Only 12 players (including himself) scored more points on Saturday than Ant scored in the 4th quarter alone (26)
Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images
Known for its league-leading pace and top-five scoring, Miami showed a different side to its game to top the champs.
Heat 122, Thunder 120: After Andrew Wiggins (15 pts, 5 reb, 5 ast) drilled a 3 with under a minute left to take the lead, Bam Adebayo (30 pts, 12 reb, 6 3s) led Miami’s 7th-ranked defense (112.5 DefRtg) to stop OKC’s attempt to win it at the horn, snapping the Thunder’s five-game W streak. | Recap
- The Stop: Adebayo closed out and defended Alex Caruso’s triple attempt off an inbounds play with two seconds left, as Miami’s D held on to win
- The Pop: Bam stretched out for a career-high six 3s as Miami hit 20+ triples for the fourth time this season (4-0)
- Shai’s Roll: SGA led the Thunder with 39 points — his league-leading 29th 30+ point game this season, and 113th consecutive 20+ point game
“Thats a staple Miami Heat culture win right there,” Norman Powell (19 pts, 5 3s) said. “Everybody was locked in from jump ball. It was a team win.”
3. TOP-3 TEAMS FLEX STRENGTHS IN STATEMENT WINS
Jaylen Brown is having a career year driving the Celtics’ second-ranked offense, averaging 29.4 points per game.
Saturday night, he reached that mark by halftime.
Celtics 132, Hawks 106: Boston pulled away with a 52-point 2nd quarter for 82 points at halftime, with Jaylen Brown (29 pts) and Sam Hauser (21 pts) combining for a 50-point half, as the Cs cruised past Onyeka Okongwu (21 pts, 7 reb) and the Hawks. | Recap
- Elevated Scoring: JB (41 pts, 6 reb) finished with his fifth 40+ point game of the season, 3rd-most behind Luka and Ant (7 each). He also matched the most 30+ point games he’s had in a season (22)
- Green Light: Hauser (30 pts, 6 reb, 10 3s) matched his career best with 10+ 3-pointers, becoming the only Celtics player with multiple 10+ triple games
- Historic Half: Boston’s 82 1st-half points matched the franchise’s best for any half in the play-by-play era
Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images
While the Celtics throttled up their scoring, Detroit put the brakes on the Pacers.
Pistons 121, Pacers 78: Detroit motored out to a 24-2 start and matched their best defensive half of the play-by-play era, holding Indy to 25 1st-half points and a league-wide season-low 78 overall. All 13 active Pistons players scored, taking advantage of a Pacers rotation missing five regulars. | Recap
- Scoring Share: Cade Cunningham, Javonte Green and Duncan Robinson formed a trio of 16-point Pistons scorers, while Jarace Walker paced Indy with 13
- Stingy Half: Detroit is the first team to hold an opponent to 25 points or less in the 1st half since 2016. It hadn’t been done in any half since 2019
- Win No. 30: With their fifth win in six games, the Pistons join OKC at the 30-win threshold — their second-best 40-game start in team history
Jamal Murray went off for Saturday’s second-biggest scoring outburst.
Nuggets 121, Wizards 115: Denver grabbed the lead and the win in a 4th quarter where Murray scored 16 of his 42 points while Tim Hardaway Jr. added 15 of his season-high 30, as the Nuggets outlasted Kyshawn George (29 pts 5 reb, 7 ast) and the Wizards. | Recap
- Jamal’s Flurry: Murray (6 ast, 5 3s) went for 40+ points for the third time this season, the most in any season of his career
- Stat Stuffers: Peyton Watson added 21 points and Aaron Gordon (8 pts, 10 reb, 11 ast) was a bucket shy of a triple-double
Denver has won four straight and six of seven, keeping pace with San Antonio at 5.5 games behind OKC in the West.
4. WEST BUBBLE: SUNS, DUBS, BLAZERS STAY HOT IN TIGHT RACE
Nathaniel S. Butler + Noah Graham + Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images
Suns 106, Knicks 99: In a physical, back-and-forth game, Phoenix’s top-five defense limited New York to 36.6% shooting in the 2nd half, as Devin Booker (27 pts) drove the offense to victory in the 4th for the Suns’ fourth win in six games. | Recap
- Garden Party: Karl-Anthony Towns and Miles McBride led New York with 23 points apiece, and OG Anunoby added 21, with Jalen Brunson (ankle) out and Knicks legends looking on
Warriors 136, Hornets 116: De’Anthony Melton (24 pts, 6 reb) led eight Warriors in double figures to a third straight win as the team hit 23 triples from 10 different shooters to overpower Brandon Miller (28 pts, 6 reb, 5 ast), Kon Knueppel (24 pts, 11 reb) and the Hornets. | Recap
- Long-Distance Array: Ten or more Dubs players have hit a 3 for three straight games now — the longest streak since the 3-point arc was introduced in 1979
Mavericks 138, Jazz 120: Dallas channeled Thursday’s win in Utah for a repeat performance, complete with another Klay Thompson (23 pts, 6 3s) milestone, as the Mavs matched their highest score at home this season to sweep the home-and-home series from the Jazz. | Recap
- Klay Gets 17K: Thompson reached 17,000 career points in a 23-point 1st-half in which he matched Thursday’s season-high from behind the arc (6 3s)
- Dominant Dallas: Brandon Williams and Max Christie backed Klay with 22 points apiece as the Mavs, without top scorers Cooper Flagg and AD, never trailed
- Brice, Thrice: Brice Sensabaugh (25 pts, 6 reb) achieved the NBA’s first three-game streak of 25+ points off the bench since Tyler Herro in 2022
- Key Quarter: Without leading scorer Lauri Markkanen (illness), Keyonte George led the Jazz with 29 points, rattling off a 19-point 3rd quarter
Blazers 132, Lakers 116: Shaedon Sharpe (25 pts) led the Blazers in scoring for a third straight game while Jerami Grant and Caleb Love chipped in 22 points each for a seventh win in the last nine games, denying LeBron’s (20 pts, 9 reb, 8 ast) Lakers without Luka (groin). | Recap
5. MIDSEASON AWARDS: WHICH CONTENDERS CAN YOU WATCH TODAY?
At the midway point of the 2025-26 NBA season, NBA.com’s Steve Aschburner is examining the notable candidates who could take home regular season awards come April and May.
Aschburner turns his focus to Kia Defensive Player of the Year, Sixth Man, Most Improved, Clutch Player and Coach of the Year:
Kia Defensive Player of the Year
Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images
Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs: Nobody plants himself in shooters’ minds more than the Spurs’ franchise pterodactyl, even when he’s catching a breather over on the side. They’re shooting almost 10% worse this season when he’s in their vicinity, and that doesn’t account for the category of “shots not taken.”
Kia Sixth Man of the Year
Catherine Steenkeste/NBAE via Getty Images
Anthony Black, Orlando Magic: Black might be in danger of slipping off this list, having started 17 straight lately for the Magic. A Sixth Man winner must come off the bench in at least half of his appearances… But that dunk in Germany on Tuesday over four Grizzlies might linger when ballots get cast.
- What midair magic could Black have in store for today’s NBA London Game? Catch him and Orlando in action against the Grizzlies (Noon ET, Prime)
Read more from Aschburner and his case for the Pistons to sweep the remaining awards…
More midseason awards contenders are in action today, as Amen Thompson (DPOY candidate) and the Rockets host the Pelicans (7 ET).
- Nets at Bulls (7 ET)
- Hornets at Nuggets (8 ET)
- Raptors at Lakers (9:30 ET)
