NBA Standings shake-up: LeBron’s Lakers climb as Tatum’s Celtics hold the top, Curry erupts in thriller
29.01.2026 - 10:55:47
The NBA standings got a real jolt over the last 24 hours. Between a vintage Steph Curry scoring binge, another all-around clinic from Jayson Tatum, and LeBron James dragging the Lakers through a late-game storm, the playoff picture tightened and the tone around the league shifted. Every possession now feels like April, even if the calendar says otherwise.
[Check live stats & scores here]
Curry turns back the clock, Warriors steal a statement win
Steph Curry reminded everyone why he is still must-see TV. In a high-octane shootout at home, Curry poured in well over 30 points, splashing threes from way downtown and igniting a Warriors run that flipped the game in the fourth quarter. Every time the defense tried to blitz him, he slipped out, relocated to the corner, and buried another dagger.
The box score told the story: elite efficiency, a barrage from three, and just enough playmaking to keep the defense honest. Teammates fed off the energy. The building had that playoff buzz, with fans on their feet for almost the entire final three minutes. One opposing assistant was heard saying postgame, in essence, that when Curry gets going like that, your best scheme becomes damage control, not prevention.
This result matters in the NBA standings. Golden State had been flirting with the Play-In line; this win nudged them closer to the pack of mid-tier Western contenders and kept pressure on the teams ahead of them. In a conference where a three-game swing can vault you from 10th to 6th, nights like this can define a season.
LeBron and the Lakers grind out a clutch road win
LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers did not win pretty, but they won with grown-man basketball. In a bruising road matchup where possessions slowed and whistles tightened, LeBron orchestrated the offense in classic point-forward mode. He attacked mismatches in the post, punished switches, and repeatedly found shooters in the corners when the defense collapsed.
The Lakers pulled away late thanks to a sequence that felt like pure playoff crunchtime: a LeBron drive for an and-one, a strong defensive stand from Anthony Davis at the rim, and a transition three that silenced the home crowd. Davis stacked another Double-Double with heavy work on the glass and timely weak-side blocks, while the role players finally knocked down just enough open looks to keep the defense honest.
After the game, the tone from the Lakers locker room was clear: they know the margin for error in the West is tiny. The coaching staff emphasized defense and physicality, stressing that this kind of grind-it-out win is the blueprint if they want to climb out of Play-In danger and into firm playoff territory.
Tatum keeps Boston steady atop the East
While chaos swirls behind them, Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics continue to project calm. Boston took care of business in their latest outing, leaning on disciplined halfcourt offense and a swarming, switchable defense. Tatum flirted with a Triple-Double, stacking efficient scoring with strong rebounding and smart playmaking out of double-teams.
Boston’s win did not come with the same highlight-reel drama as Curry’s explosions or LeBron’s late-game heroics, but it may prove just as important in the long run. By taking care of a game they absolutely had to win, the Celtics preserved breathing room atop the Eastern Conference. Their point differential, their depth, and their consistency have them sitting as the league’s barometer right now: if you want to be considered a true contender, you have to look comfortable against the same teams Boston is beating by double digits.
Inside the locker room, players spoke about maintaining sharpness and not getting bored with winning. The message from the coaching staff: keep stacking habits, not headlines. So far, the approach is working.
How the NBA standings look after the dust settled
With the latest results locked in, both conferences tightened up around the middle and the NBA standings took on even more urgency. Here is a snapshot of the top of each conference, along with the thick of the Play-In mix:
| East Rank | Team | Record* | Streak |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Celtics | Leading East | W streak |
| 2 | Bucks | Top tier | W/L mix |
| 3 | 76ers | Upper pack | Form fluctuating |
| 4 | Knicks | Firm playoff | Trending up |
| 5 | Cavaliers | Firm playoff | Steady |
| West Rank | Team | Record* | Streak |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nuggets | Leading West | Rolling |
| 2 | Thunder | Top tier | Surging |
| 3 | Timberwolves | Top tier | Lockdown D |
| 4 | Clippers | Homecourt range | Rebounding |
| 5 | Mavericks | Firm playoff | Offense humming |
*Records and streak notes reflect the current official NBA.com standings zone rather than every exact win-loss digit.
The top seeds in both conferences feel relatively safe, but the real drama is just below. In the East, teams like the Heat, Pacers, and Magic are packed tightly enough that a two-game skid can push you from sixth into Play-In danger. In the West, the story is even louder: Warriors, Lakers, Suns, and a couple of upstart squads are bumping shoulders near the bottom of the automatic playoff bracket and the top of the Play-In zone.
Coaches around the league have started openly talking about scoreboard watching. Players insist they are focused only on the next game, but everyone knows what is at stake. Homecourt advantage, seeding for a favorable matchup, even avoiding a specific opponent in the first round are all now in play as subtle chess moves in the last third of the schedule.
Player stats: Curry’s heater, LeBron’s floor game, Tatum’s MVP case
On the MVP radar, Tatum, Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo still dominate the conversation, but nights like this keep the debate fresh. Tatum’s latest outing featured efficient scoring in the high 20s, double-digit boards, and strong assist numbers, underscoring how complete his game has become. Boston’s record and point differential keep strengthening his narrative as the best player on the best regular-season team.
Curry’s performance will not suddenly vault him to the top of the MVP race, but it absolutely impacts the Warriors’ playoff viability. His Player Stats line from the latest win jumps off the page: high-volume scoring on strong shooting splits, including multiple threes from several feet behind the line, plus enough assists to keep the offense humming. When that is paired with solid minutes from the Warriors supporting cast, Golden State looks far more like the postseason pest nobody wants to see.
LeBron, meanwhile, keeps rewriting what an aging superstar can look like. His box score did not need 40 points to matter. Instead, it was the balance: mid-20s scoring, near double-digit assists, and strong rebounding. Add in a couple of key defensive moments in crunchtime and the intangible calm he brings, and you see why the Lakers still believe they can be dangerous if they land in the right spot on the bracket.
One of the more fascinating undercurrents in the numbers: usage and efficiency. Tatum is taking on a heavier offensive load while still keeping his shooting percentages in elite territory. Curry’s usage spikes on nights like this, but his gravity bends the floor even when he is not shooting. LeBron has shifted into more of a read-and-react role, picking his spots while trusting Davis and the role players to carry more of the scoring burden.
Injuries, absences, and what they mean for the playoff picture
The health report continues to loom as large as any box score. Several contenders are managing star players through nagging injuries and rest days, trying to keep their core fresh without sacrificing too much ground in the standings. Around the league, at least one top-tier guard and a couple of key wings sat out or played limited minutes in the last 24 to 48 hours, with teams labeling the issues as precautionary.
Coaches have been candid about the tension: push too hard now and you risk losing a star for the games that really matter; ease up too much and you might slip into a bracket slot that makes your playoff path brutal. The safest teams in the top two or three spots of each conference can afford to be cautious. The Lakers, Warriors, and other bubble teams in the West? Not so much. Every game they miss a starter puts more pressure on the next one.
Front offices are also quietly eyeing the next transaction window and buyout market. Role players who can switch defensively, knock down open threes, or provide trustworthy backup point guard minutes will be gold for contenders trying to smooth out rough rotations exposed in these high-leverage games.
What’s next: must-watch games and shifting narratives
The next few days on the NBA schedule are loaded with matchups that will either validate last night’s swings or erase them. The Warriors face another test that will show whether Curry’s explosion was a one-night heater or the start of a longer run. The Lakers see another physical opponent on the road, a game that will test their new-found defensive identity and whether their late-game execution can hold up under pressure.
Boston, meanwhile, gets a measuring-stick game against another Eastern playoff squad. If Tatum and company keep handling business, the gap atop the conference could widen further, giving them even more flexibility to manage minutes and fine-tune rotations down the stretch.
From a pure fan perspective, this is the sweet spot of the regular season. The NBA standings are tight enough that every result feels massive, the MVP race is still open to narrative swings, and almost every night delivers at least one Game of the Night candidate with real Playoff Picture implications.
If the past 24 hours are any indication, expect more fireworks: more Curry heat-checks, more LeBron orchestrating late-game drama, more Tatum two-way brilliance, and more surprise performances from role players who will quietly decide seeding. Stay locked in, keep an eye on live scores and Player Stats, and do not blink. The race is only getting hotter from here.
