So, you're looking for who won nba final last night, right? Honestly, there is a lot of confusion floating around today. If you woke up expecting to see a trophy presentation or a Gatorade bath, I have some news.
There was no NBA Final last night.
The last time a championship was actually handed out was back in June 2025. Right now, it’s mid-January 2026. We are deep in the "dog days" of the regular season. Last night, January 14, was a busy one with seven games across the league, but it wasn't the Finals. The real "Finals" won't happen until June 2026.
The Confusion Around Who Won NBA Final Last Night
People often search for this when a major game ends or when they see a big highlight on social media. Maybe you saw the Orlando Magic taking down the Memphis Grizzlies 118-111 in Berlin? That was a massive game for the Global Games series. It felt like a playoff atmosphere.
Or maybe you caught the Chicago Bulls edging out the Utah Jazz 128-126. That was a total nail-biter. Nikola Vučević was playing like it was Game 7, dropping 35 points. But it was just a Wednesday night in January.
If you are looking for the "reigning" champion, that would be the Oklahoma City Thunder. They are the ones who actually won the last NBA Finals.
What Happened in the Last Real NBA Finals?
To give you the actual answer to the spirit of your question, the Oklahoma City Thunder won the 2025 NBA Finals. They beat the Indiana Pacers in a legendary seven-game series that wrapped up on June 22, 2025.
It was wild. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander basically ascended to godhood in Oklahoma. He didn't just win the title; he pulled off a "triple crown" that we haven't seen in decades:
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- Regular Season MVP
- League Scoring Title
- Finals MVP
He joined the ranks of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Think about that for a second. The Thunder won Game 7 with a score of 103-91. It was the first time OKC had seen a title since the franchise moved from Seattle.
Why Everyone is Talking About the NBA Right Now
Even though the Finals weren't last night, the league is currently in a state of absolute chaos. The 2025-2026 season has been unpredictable.
The New York Knicks actually won a "Final" recently—the NBA Cup (the In-Season Tournament). They beat the San Antonio Spurs in the championship game back in December 2025. That might be where the "who won the final" confusion is coming from.
The Knicks are finally good again. Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns have that team looking like legitimate contenders.
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The Current Standings (As of Mid-January 2026)
If the playoffs started today, the bracket would look like a fever dream. The Detroit Pistons are currently leading the Eastern Conference. Yes, the Pistons. They’ve gone from the basement to 28-10.
Meanwhile, in the West, the Thunder are still the kingpins. They’re sitting at 34-7. It’s SGA’s world and we’re all just living in it.
Key Takeaways from Last Night's Actual Games
While no one raised a Larry O'Brien trophy last night, there were some massive shifts in the playoff race.
- The Magic in Germany: Franz Wagner had a homecoming to remember in Berlin. He put up 13 points in the fourth quarter alone to seal the win against Memphis.
- Denver's Dominance: The Nuggets beat the Mavs 118-109. Nikola Jokić is still doing Jokić things, even if the spotlight has shifted slightly to the younger stars in OKC.
- The Bulls' Survival: Chicago is fighting for a Play-In spot. That win over Utah was a "must-have," and they barely scraped by.
When are the 2026 NBA Finals?
If you're marking your calendar for the next real "Final," it starts on June 4, 2026.
We still have a long way to go. The trade deadline is coming up in February, and the All-Star game is set for the Intuit Dome in Inglewood.
Actionable Next Steps for NBA Fans:
- Check the current NBA Power Rankings to see if your team is actually a contender or just having a lucky week.
- Watch the highlights of the NBA Berlin Game if you missed the Magic vs. Grizzlies—the atmosphere was better than most playoff games.
- Keep an eye on the NBA Cup winners (Knicks) to see if that momentum actually carries into the post-season this spring.