Luka Doncic Scores 33 As Lakers Rally Past Mavericks In Dallas

A packed NBA schedule delivered late drama, with the Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks all closing out tight wins built on big fourth quarters, clutch 3-point shooting and standout scoring performances from stars including Luka Doncic, Kevin Huerter, Jalen Brunson and Joel Embiid.

Across those three games, each winning side either overturned a large deficit or survived a furious rally. Fans saw decisive moments from role players as well as headline names, while Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers and Dallas Mavericks all let strong stretches slip away in the final minutes.

The night’s scoreboard showed how slim the margins were. The Lakers beat the Mavericks 116-110, the Bulls edged the Celtics 114-111, and the Knicks held off

the 76ers 112-109. Multiple players passed 30 points, while several teams built double-digit leads yet still faced tense closing possessions.

Jalen Brunson led New York with 31 points, while OG Anunoby added 23, as the Knicks followed their 120-66 demolition of the Brooklyn Nets by grinding out a 112-109 road win over the Philadelphia 76ers in their first success against them this season.

Joel Embiid produced 38 points and 11 rebounds for Philadelphia yet finished the game with a decisive turnover. On the final play, the Knicks appeared ready to commit an intentional foul, but Embiid lost the ball instead, ending the 76ers’ chance to steal victory at home.

Tyrese Maxey contributed 22 points for the 76ers but misread a key situation late. Expecting an intentional foul from distance, Maxey launched a deep 3-pointer from near halfcourt and missed everything, handing possession back as Philadelphia’s rally from a double-digit hole stalled.

The 76ers had trimmed the deficit to two before New York steadied. Consecutive 3-pointers from Anunoby and Landry Shamet pushed the lead back out, helping the Knicks avoid a collapse after they had already controlled the third quarter with a 21-7 burst led by Brunson’s shot-making.

That surge flipped the atmosphere inside the arena. The building began to sound more like Madison Square Garden as travelling and local Knicks supporters grew louder. The "Let’s go Knicks!" chants, which had been muted earlier by home boos, filled the venue after every key basket.

DPOG MITCH pic.twitter.com/eZCA60rSqA NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) January 24, 2026

NBA results: Lakers comeback hurts Mavericks

Luka Doncic again tormented his former franchise, finishing with 33 points and 11 assists as the Los Angeles Lakers erased a 15-point deficit in the final seven minutes to beat the Dallas Mavericks 116-110 in Doncic’s second appearance in Dallas since last year’s trade.

LeBron James ended with 17 points but did most of the late damage, scoring 11 in the fourth quarter. Rui Hachimura sparked the decisive swing, converting a four-point play and then drilling another 3-pointer on the next possession to push the Lakers ahead for good.

Hachimura’s second 3-pointer created a 108-106 advantage and started an 11-2 closing run. Doncic finished that stretch with a driving layup that built an eight-point cushion, then turned toward the Mavericks bench and signalled that the contest was effectively decided as his record moved to 4-0 against Dallas.

Trade addition Max Christie, who arrived in Dallas along with injured 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis as part of the deal that sent Doncic to Los Angeles, scored 24 points for the Lakers. Naji Marshall responded with 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Mavericks, whose four-game winning run ended.

Dallas had seemed in full control earlier. From the start of the third quarter into the early fourth, the Mavericks outscored the Lakers 41-14, swinging a 13-point deficit into a 14-point lead. Brandon Williams added 20 points, including eight during a 10-2 closing spurt to end the third period.

That late-third surge came on the back of a 20-4 Dallas burst, with the Lakers briefly overwhelmed at both ends before their closing response. Once the comeback started, Los Angeles tightened defence on the perimeter and forced rushed Mavericks possessions, setting up transition chances for James and Doncic.

Luka put on a show pic.twitter.com/1wjS95he3F Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 25, 2026

NBA results: Bulls buzzer-beater stuns Celtics

Kevin Huerter delivered the night’s most dramatic finish, hitting a corner 3-pointer just before the buzzer to give the Chicago Bulls a 114-111 win over the Boston Celtics, moments before the franchise retired Derrick Rose’s jersey number at United Center.

Coby White provided 22 points and made five of Chicago’s 21 3-pointers, helping the Bulls claim a fourth straight victory. The performance set an energetic stage for Rose’s ceremony, where his No. 1 was lifted beside Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Jerry Sloan and Bob Love.

The Bulls’ tribute placed Rose among elite company as one of the few Chicago players with a retired number. The former MVP and South Side native watched as the team squeezed past the Eastern Conference’s second-place side, despite Jaylen Brown pouring in 33 points for Boston.

The closing sequence swung several times. Chicago led 111-109 when White missed a driving layup and Smith failed on the follow with 20 seconds left. Brown grabbed the rebound, drove the length of the floor and scored to tie the game with 14 seconds remaining.

After a timeout, the Bulls drew up a final play for Huerter. The ball found him in the corner, and the guard calmly knocked down the decisive 3 with less than a second left on the clock. Huerter had arrived at the arena wearing a No. 1 jersey to honour Rose.

What a finish. What a game https://t.co/xgEMASvJuX pic.twitter.com/udc4EM5DGZ Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 25, 2026

The results left the Lakers extending their dominance over Dallas since the Doncic trade, the Bulls celebrating both a buzzer-beater and Derrick Rose’s legacy, and the Knicks finally overcoming Philadelphia, with late-game execution again separating winners from teams that controlled long stretches but could not finish.