It was a night of milestones, close calls, and the unexpected in the NBA on Thursday, January 8, 2026. From Anthony Edwards joining the 10,000-point club to Rick Carlisle earning his 1,000th career win, and even a game postponed under bizarre circumstances, the league delivered drama on every level. Here’s a roundup of all the action.
Timberwolves 131, Cavaliers 122
Anthony Edwards Joins 10,000-Point Club at a Lightning Pace
Julius Randle poured in 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists, while Anthony Edwards added 25 points, 9 assists, and 7 rebounds, as the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 131-122 on Thursday night.
Edwards became the third-youngest player in NBA history to reach 10,000 career points, joining LeBron James and Kevin Durant, hitting the milestone with a 13-foot fadeaway in the fourth quarter.
Randle’s 13-point third quarter helped Minnesota build a 20-point lead, outscoring Cleveland 43-22 in the period. Jaden McDaniels scored 26 points on 11-for-14 shooting, and Donte DiVincenzo added 22 points, including six 3-pointers, as the Timberwolves set season highs in field goal (57%) and 3-point (53%) shooting.
Sam Merrill scored 11 of his 22 points in the fourth for Cleveland, with Donovan Mitchell adding 30 points and 8 assists. Minnesota improves to 25-13, posting a 15-5 record since Thanksgiving—the best in the NBA over that span.
Jazz 116, Mavericks 114
Markkanen’s 33 Points Lift Utah to Victory
Lauri Markkanen scored 33 points and grabbed 7 rebounds to lead the Utah Jazz to a 116-114 win over the Dallas Mavericks, snapping a five-game losing streak on Thursday night.
Markkanen fueled a late 12-0 run, giving Utah a 112-107 lead with just over a minute remaining. Keyonte George added 19 points and 7 assists, while Brice Sensabaugh and Kevin Love contributed 14 and 10 points, respectively, with Love also posting 10 rebounds.
The Jazz dominated in the paint, scoring 64 points inside, including 24 in the first quarter, and capitalized on 21 Dallas turnovers. Despite Cooper Flagg’s 29 points and 10 rebounds and strong support from Klay Thompson (23 points) and Anthony Davis (21 points, 11 rebounds), the Mavericks fell short in the closing minutes.
Utah improves its record and ends the skid with a gritty home victory, while Dallas suffers a narrow setback despite a late surge.
Pacers 114, Hornets 112
Siakam Lifts Indiana, Carlisle Earns 1,000th Win
Pascal Siakam scored 30 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, and hit a driving layup with 11.5 seconds left to give the Indiana Pacers a 114-112 win over the Charlotte Hornets, snapping a 13-game losing streak and giving coach Rick Carlisle his 1,000th career victory.
T.J. McConnell added 23 points and 8 assists, while Aaron Nesmith contributed 16 points. For Charlotte, LaMelo Ball came off the bench for the first time since 2021, scoring 33 points and hitting seven 3-pointers, but the Hornets fell short in a heartbreaker.
The Pacers secured the win after a late defensive stop and a missed Collin Sexton jump shot in the final seconds, ending Charlotte’s two-night home losing streak.
Heat at Bulls – Postponed
Condensation Forces Delay at United Center
Thursday night’s matchup between the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls was postponed due to condensation on the court at the United Center.
Officials delayed the game for nearly two hours while arena staff attempted to dry the floor, which had moisture leftover from Wednesday’s Blackhawks game. Ultimately, the court was deemed unsafe for play, and the game was officially postponed at 8:53 p.m. A rescheduled date has not yet been announced, though Thursday tickets will be honored.
The Bulls (17-20) were seeking to snap a three-game losing streak, while the Heat (20-17) were on the second game of a four-game road trip.
Source: NBA
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