Live Updates: Cavs-Timberwolves and Thursday's action around the NBA
Coby White and the Chicago Bulls host Davion Mitchell and the Miami Heat tonight on NBA TV (8 ET).
Enjoy the best of Thursday’s 4-game slate (https://www.nba.com/schedule) with the NBA.com live blog, featuring all of the meaningful moments, performances, observations, news, notes and highlights.
- Starting 5: Clutch buckets abound (https://www.nba.com/news/starting-5-jan-8-2026)
- Kia Rookie Ladder: Top 10 mostly intact as 2026 begins (https://www.nba.com/news/kia-rookie-ladder-jan-7-2026)
- Last night’s live blog: Shai’s 46 points highlight a 12-game night (https://www.nba.com/news/live-updates-luka-doncics-lakers-take-on-victor-wembanyamas-spurs-on-a-12-game-night)
- Download the NBA App (https://link.nba.com/NBAapp_)
JANUARY 8, 2026 // 8:59 PM
McConnell keeps Pacers in front
Indiana lead 90-87 after three quarters, but Charlotte ties it at 90 with 10:38 remaining in the contest.
big-time three from T.J. McConnell 🏹
he finished the third with 11 STRAIGHT points & has a new season-high 19 points.
JANUARY 8, 2026 // 8:49 PM
Siakam doing it all for Indy
Pascal Siakam has a team-high 22 points (9-18 FG) and 12 rebounds to help Indiana hold an 83-77 advantage over Charlotte with 3:13 left in the third quarter.
Pascal Siakam on cleanup duty 💯
He's got a double-double as the Pacers are on a 15-5 run!
LaMelo Ball is up to a game-high 30 points and six made 3s off the Hornets’ bench.
.@MELOD1P from the top of the key 🔑
VOTE MELO ⭐️ https://t.co/oQJmNeBT3Z | @Lowes
JANUARY 8, 2026 // 8:47 PM
Cavs storm back to end 1Q
Cleveland closes the opening quarter strong to trim what was a 12-point deficit down to one, 32-21. Sam Merrill fuels the Cavs’ run with 11 points (3-4 FG) and two made 3s in 7 minutes.
🤧 Nah this was cold. #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/WkNL7kxDwG
The vision ➡️ the finish. @spidadmitchell & @jaylontyson | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/ME9Nza2NBz
Anthony Edwards (11 points) and Julius Randle (10 points, 4 assists) lead the way for Minnesota, who now trail Cleveland 39-34 with two minutes gone in the second quarter.
throw it down, Ju. 😤😤 pic.twitter.com/HeWtSilAjG
JANUARY 8, 2026 // 8:36 PM
Heat-Bulls delayed on NBA TV
The start of tonight’s game in Chicago is currently delayed due to a court issue. We’ll provide an update on the start time as soon as we receive one.
JANUARY 8, 2026 // 8:31 PM
Wolves off and running at home
The Timberwolves start the contest on fire led by Anthony Edwards’ 8 points.
Donte DiVincenzo caps a 17-5 run for Minnesota!
Wolves off to a GREAT START at home 🫡 pic.twitter.com/SrKlKlGAMJ
Cleveland has responded to cut the deficit to 25-20 with 3:58 left in the opening frame on League Pass!
Throw it down, Rudy 💪
A sweet reverse alley-oop jam for MIN's big man!
Tap to watch on NBA League Pass: https://t.co/th4SROWMRl pic.twitter.com/U2G4oKRdqX
JANUARY 8, 2026 // 8:21 PM
Pacers lead Hornets at the break
It’s been that kind of night for LaMelo Ball, but Charlotte trails Indiana 60-58 after two quarters.
LaMelo Ball (22 PTS) beats the buzzer AGAIN.
2-point game at the break in Charlotte.
Tap to watch the second half: https://t.co/FmK9qVoACz https://t.co/4cZGoHXjEr pic.twitter.com/TfmUAZhKqK
Pascal Siakam is right behind him, though, dropping a team-high 18 points (7-12 FG) and 7 rebounds in 18 minutes.
Pascal Siakam finds T.J. McConnell for the finish before the end of Q2 🤝 pic.twitter.com/WDQztS5uX7
JANUARY 8, 2026 // 8:07 PM
20-piece for LaMelo before half
Ball is on a heater tonight in Charlotte, dropping 20 points on 7-for-10 shooting in just 10 minutes off the bench.
20 points and counting for LaMelo Ball!
7-10 FGM I 4-6 3PM I 2-2 FTM pic.twitter.com/MGBIvwzdzS
The Hornets and Pacers are tied at 53 with 2:56 remaining before halftime.
JANUARY 8, 2026 // 7:48 PM
LaMelo beats the 1Q buzzer
LaMelo Ball picks up the loose ball to get the Hornets to within 3 at the end of the first quarter. He’s up to 11 points, 2 assists and 2 steals in 7 minutes as a reserve.
OH MY LAMELO BALL!
Beats the 1Q buzzer with a wild one-legged triple 😱 pic.twitter.com/TzvMGnC2Aj
Pascal Siakam has 15 points in 9 first-half minutes, and the Pacers hold a 41-33 lead over the Hornets with 8:50 remaining before halftime.
Pascal Siakam gets it to go high off the glass.
15 points and counting in Q1 🤩 https://t.co/T6jmxAXvtp pic.twitter.com/vkgVfDI9Er
JANUARY 8, 2026 // 7:36 PM
Siakam starts hot
Pascal Siakam is up to 15 points on 6-for-8 shooting with 4 rebounds and one assist, helping Indiana take an early 31-25 lead in the first quarter.
Jay Huff swats it, Ben Sheppard drills it to cap a 14-2 run for Indiana!
Pacers with the early lead in Charlotte 😤 pic.twitter.com/DzTEwBR2uh
LaMelo Ball has 5 points (2-2 FG), 2 assists and a steal off the Hornets’ bench.
JANUARY 8, 2026 // 7:16 PM
Hornets make lineup change
The Pacers own a 9-4 edge with 8:02 to play in the opening quarter!
LaMelo Ball will come off the bench Thursday night for the Hornets.
It is his first time not starting since January 30, 2021. pic.twitter.com/8Yb9J69HTY
JANUARY 8, 2026 // 6:48 PM
Wizards to honor Wall
A celebration for a Washington legend...
Wizards will honor John Wall on Jan. 29th! https://t.co/0t3QmUmqJJ
JANUARY 8, 2026 // 6:30 PM
Welcome to a 4-game night in the NBA!
Rudy Gobert has enjoyed a stellar start to his season for the Timberwolves, and he’s the backbone of Minnesota’s 111.9 defensive rating (6th in NBA) through 37 games.
Indiana is at Charlotte to kick off the light four-game evening (7 ET, League Pass), as the Pacers are looking to get coach Rick Carlisle’s 1,000th career win and snap a 13-game losing streak.
The Bulls play host to the Heat while aiming to stop a three-game skid of their own (8 ET, NBA TV). Miami is coming off of a 122-94 loss to Minnesota on Tuesday, but they’re expected to be fully healthy with Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo ready to suit up.
Those same Timberwolves welcome the 21-17 Cleveland Cavaliers to town at Target Center (8 ET, League Pass), with Anthony Edwards, Julius Randle and Co. going for a fourth consecutive victory.
Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks look to make it three straight wins when they visit Keyonte George and the Jazz (9 ET, League Pass), while Utah looks to get back in the win column after dropping five in a row.
