Eight games were played on January 6 in the NBA regular season, highlighted by a dominant performance from the Detroit Pistons against the New York Knicks and a surprising 27-point blowout win by the Charlotte Hornets over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Several tight finishes and an overtime game rounded out a busy night across the league.
Detroit Dominates New York in East Leaders Clash
The Detroit Pistons delivered one of their most convincing wins of the season, crushing the New York Knicks 121–90 at Little Caesars Arena in a matchup between two Eastern Conference contenders.
Cade Cunningham led the way with 29 points and 13 assists, controlling the game offensively while consistently finding teammates in scoring positions. Detroit built separation after halftime, outscoring New York in each of the final two quarters and limiting the Knicks to just 36 points in the second half.
New York struggled to find rhythm on offense despite 25 points from Jalen Brunson, while multiple turnovers from key players stalled any comeback attempts. Detroit’s depth also made a difference, with strong contributions from the bench complementing the starting lineup.
Boston Takes Care of Chicago at TD Garden
The Boston Celtics defended home court with a 115–101 victory over the Chicago Bulls. Boston set the tone early, opening the game with a dominant first quarter and maintaining control despite a stronger second-half push from Chicago.
Chicago was led by Matas Buzelis, who scored 26 points, while Nikola Vučević recorded a double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds. Boston countered with balanced scoring, including strong bench production that helped maintain a comfortable margin.
Toronto Handles Atlanta Behind Balanced Attack
Toronto defeated Atlanta 118–100 at Scotiabank Arena, using a steady offensive effort and consistent defensive pressure across all four quarters.
Several Raptors reached double figures, with strong all-around performances helping Toronto maintain control throughout the night. Atlanta received solid contributions from Onyeka Okongwu and Jalen Johnson, but struggled to close the gap after halftime.
Houston Edges Phoenix in Tight Finish
The Houston Rockets secured a narrow 100–97 home win over the Phoenix Suns in one of the closest games of the night. Houston’s defense tightened in the second half, allowing just 37 points after the break.
Kevin Durant recorded a double-double with 26 points and 10 rebounds, while Houston’s balanced lineup limited Phoenix’s late-game options despite 27 points from Devin Booker.
Charlotte Stuns Oklahoma City with 27-Point Blowout
The biggest surprise of the night came in Oklahoma City, where the Charlotte Hornets overwhelmed the Thunder 124–97. After a tied first quarter, Charlotte took control with dominant performances in the second and third periods.
Brandon Miller led all scorers with 28 points, while multiple Hornets players contributed on both ends of the floor. Oklahoma City struggled defensively and was unable to recover after falling behind by double digits early in the second half.
Denver Outlasts Philadelphia in Overtime Thriller
In Philadelphia, the Denver Nuggets edged the 76ers 125–124 in overtime in one of the most competitive games of the night. The teams traded leads throughout regulation before Denver narrowly prevailed in the extra period.
Philadelphia was led by Joel Embiid, who posted 32 points and 10 rebounds, while Tyrese Maxey added 28 points. Denver countered with a strong collective effort, including key contributions from both starters and bench players to secure the road win.
Clippers Win Thriller Against Golden State
The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Golden State Warriors 103–102 at Intuit Dome in a tightly contested matchup that came down to the final minutes.
Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 24 points and 12 rebounds, while Golden State kept pace behind 27 points from Stephen Curry. Defensive stops late in the fourth quarter proved decisive for Los Angeles.
Portland Rolls Past Utah at Home
The Portland Trail Blazers closed the night with a convincing 137–117 win over the Utah Jazz at Moda Center. Portland’s offense was in rhythm throughout, scoring at least 36 points in three of four quarters.
Deni Avdija delivered an outstanding all-around performance with 33 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists, while Portland’s depth ensured the Jazz were never able to mount a serious comeback.
For a full overview of upcoming games and detailed box scores from across the league, check the complete NBA schedule and results section, where all regular-season matchups and final scores are updated daily.
