The dog days of the NBA season have officially arrived. Honestly, if you aren't paying attention to the nba schedule for today, you’re missing the moment where the "pretenders" start falling off the map and the real contenders find their second wind. It’s Saturday, January 17, 2026. We are deep enough into the 2025-26 campaign that the standings actually mean something.
No more "it's just early season rust" excuses.
Today's slate is massive. We've got nine games total, scattered from an early afternoon tip-off in Dallas to a late-night West Coast battle in Portland. If you're looking for where to put your eyes—or your energy—the schedule today is a literal minefield of trap games and potential playoff previews.
The Afternoon Kickoff: Utah at Dallas
The action starts early. At 5:00 PM ET (which is 4:00 PM local time in Texas), the Dallas Mavericks host the Utah Jazz at the American Airlines Center.
Dallas is currently sitting at 16-26. That is... not great. They’re 12th in the West and desperately need a win to keep their play-in hopes from evaporating before February. Luka Doncic is still doing Luka things—averaging a league-leading 33.6 PPG—but the supporting cast has been inconsistent. On the other side, the Jazz are 14-27. They’re struggling, especially with Lauri Markkanen ruled out for today with an illness. Walker Kessler is also out (shoulder), meaning the Jazz frontcourt is basically a revolving door right now.
Dallas is favored by 4.5 points. If they don't win this one, the vibes in Big D are going to get real ugly, real fast.
Primetime Heavyweights and Garden Magic
Once we hit 7:30 PM ET, the league goes into overdrive. The game everyone is circling is the Phoenix Suns visiting the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
There is nothing like the Garden on a Saturday night. The Knicks (25-16) are currently 3rd in the East and looking like a legitimate threat. Phoenix (24-17) is 7th in a brutal Western Conference. This isn't just a cross-conference matchup; it's a battle of styles. The Knicks' gritty, defensive identity versus the Suns' high-octane perimeter scoring. New York is a 3.5-point favorite, but honestly, this feels like a coin flip.
Also at 7:30 PM:
- Boston Celtics at Atlanta Hawks: The Celtics (25-15) are trying to hunt down the Pistons for the top spot in the East. They’ll have to do it without Jayson Tatum, who is still sidelined recovering from that Achilles repair. Atlanta (20-23) is a 3.5-point underdog at home.
- Indiana Pacers at Detroit Pistons: Detroit is the surprise story of the year. They are 29-10. Let that sink in. They sit at the top of the Eastern Conference. Indiana (9-32) is at the bottom. This should be a blowout—Detroit is a massive 12.5-point favorite.
The 8:00 PM ET Window: Thunder vs. Heat
If you want to see the future of the league, tune into the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Miami Heat. The Thunder are currently the best team in the West (35-7). They are young, they are fast, and they are terrifying. Miami (21-20) is the ultimate gatekeeper team. They’re 8th in the East, floating around .500, but they always play the top seeds tough.
OKC is favored by 8.5 points on the road. That’s a lot of respect for a visiting team in Miami, but the Thunder's +12.55 SRS (Simple Rating System) suggests they might actually be that much better than everyone else.
Meanwhile, in San Antonio, the Spurs host the Minnesota Timberwolves. This is a battle of the giants: Victor Wembanyama vs. the Wolves' stifling defense. Minnesota is 27-14, while the Spurs are 28-13. This is a massive game for seeding in the West. San Antonio is a 6.5-point favorite at the Frost Bank Center.
Closing Out the Night
The nba schedule for today wraps up with three late games that could get weird:
- Charlotte Hornets at Golden State Warriors (8:30 PM ET): Steph Curry is still hunting for that fifth ring. Golden State is 23-19, sitting 8th in the West. They’re 6.5-point favorites against a Hornets team that’s 15-26 and mostly looking toward the draft lottery.
- Washington Wizards at Denver Nuggets (9:00 PM ET): Denver (28-13) is a 12.5-point favorite. Nikola Jokic is likely going to treat this like a light cardio session. Washington is 10-29.
- Los Angeles Lakers at Portland Trail Blazers (10:00 PM ET): The nightcap. The Lakers (24-15) are 5th in the West. Portland is 20-22 and actually 2.5-point favorites at home. Why? Because the Lakers have some health question marks, and Deni Avdija has been on an absolute tear for the Blazers, averaging over 26 points a night.
Why This Schedule Matters for Your Bracket
We’re less than a month away from the February 5 trade deadline. GMs are watching these games with their phones in their hands. If a team like the Mavericks or Lakers loses tonight to a "lesser" opponent, expect the trade rumors to go nuclear tomorrow morning.
The injury report is also a mess. Jayson Tatum is out. Anthony Davis is a question mark. Lauri Markkanen is out. In 2026, depth is the only thing that saves you during this January stretch.
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Actionable Insights for Tonight
- Keep an eye on the Detroit vs. Indiana line: 12.5 points is huge, but Detroit has been covering at a ridiculous rate at home.
- Watch the Garden game for the atmosphere: Knicks-Suns is the "purest" basketball matchup of the night.
- Don't sleep on Portland: They play much better at the Moda Center, and the Lakers often struggle on the second half of road trips.
Check your local listings or League Pass. The first tip-off is at 5:00 PM ET. Make sure your couch is ready.
To get the most out of tonight's games, monitor the late injury scratches for the Lakers and Blazers about 30 minutes before their 10:00 PM ET tip-off, as those shifts will likely move the final betting lines significantly.