NBA Fast Break Classic | Run 6 | Day 9
Wolves Run Past Cavs, Jazz Edge Mavs, Pacers Hold Off Charlotte
NBA Recap: January 8, 2026
With the Miami vs. Chicago game postponed due to condensation on the court, there were only three scheduled games yesterday, but it wasn’t without drama as each of the games were decided by single digits and two by a single bucket.
Indiana opened the night with a 114–112 win in Charlotte, a game that swung back and forth until the final possession. The Pacers controlled long stretches with tempo and ball movement, but Charlotte kept counterpunching, trimming the margin repeatedly in the fourth. In the end, Indiana’s late‑clock execution held just long enough, surviving a Hornets push that came within a single possession of flipping the game.
Cleveland and Minnesota delivered the night’s most explosive matchup, with the Wolves winning 131–122 in a game defined by pace and shot‑making. Minnesota played downhill from the opening tip, pushing the tempo and forcing Cleveland into a track meet the Cavs never fully controlled. The Wolves’ offense kept stacking efficient possessions, and every time Cleveland made a run, Minnesota answered with another burst. It was the kind of midseason win that reinforces identity — fast, physical, and relentless.
Utah closed the slate with a 116–114 win over Dallas, a tight, possession‑by‑possession game that never drifted more than a few points in either direction. The Jazz leaned on composure late, stringing together stops and just enough scoring to hold off a Mavericks team that kept threatening to steal it. Dallas had a chance in the final minute, but Utah’s defense held firm, sealing one of the night’s cleanest finishes.
Fast Break Recap: Day 8
With the Chicago/Miami game being delayed and subsequently postponed, any utilization of Chicago or Miami players likely spelled doom for your lineup. As such, the low win rate was reflected in both the Classic and Pro modes.
In total, only 5% of Classic lineups earned a win and only 7% earned a win in Pro mode. On the other hand, 92% of Historic lineups earned a win since the CHI/MIA game didn’t affect the simulation. In Classic, three of the top five most utilized players did not play - Vucevic (CHI), Adebayo (MIA), and Nurkic (DNP). Between Davis & Gobert, they both had double digit rebounds but Gobert had slightly more. With his performance, he earned the Fast Break Stud of the Day award.
Today’s Fast Break Objective(s): Day 9 of 11
Objective(s): 20 Three Pointers Made & 30 Three Point Attempts (4.0 3PM & 6.0 3PA)
You’ll need five (5) players who will make 20.0 or more and take 30.0 or more three pointers, which means each player will need to average 4.0 3PM & 6.0 3PA. The former will determine whether you win today and the latter dictates where you rank. This will be another challenging day as a single player could sink your day, but your captain could make up the difference.
Top Player Options:.
Outside Snipers:
S Tier: N/A
A Tier: Stephen Curry, Tyrese Maxey, Michael Porter
B Tier: Jamal Murray, Trey Murphy, Miles McBride, Jalen Brunson
Top Five (5) Players in Classic Lineups: S. Curry (62%) | J. Murray (50%) | M. Porter Jr. (44%) | N. Alexander-Walker (40%) | L. Doncic (39%)
Upcoming Fast Break Objectives:
Tomorrow’s Objective(s): 40 Assists (8.0 AST)
Objectives Remaining (after today): AST, PTS
Considerations:
No teams are playing the tail end of a back-to-back today
Eight teams have the least number of games remaining (1)
The remaining twenty-two teams have the most games remaining (2)
Day 9 (today) & 11 have 20 or more teams in action
Every day from here only has one primary objective
Statistical Approach:
Top players in three pointers made & three point attempts according to Rotowire & NBA.com, which is available in the table(s) below. Overall rank is based on daily projections, last 10 average, and season averages, which is stack ranked amongst peers for each objective. When there is a single objective, the three data points are still used to stack rank the players vs. ranking solely on projections. For tome+ members, all active player stats are available in the provided data file. Omission of certain players would be based on injuries at the time of data pull.
NBA Fast Break Classic Rewards:
Daily: Top 100 | Milestone: 3, 6, & 9 Wins | Run: Top 250
If you find these articles useful, but don’t want to subscribe, consider buying me a coffee.
Top Player Options for Fast Break:
The top players for today’s Fast Break objective(s). Source: nbatopshot.com, nba.com, & tomecollective.com, 2025.
Projected 3PM & 3PA
For access to the full data beyond the top 10, join tome+ or send any legendary moment to TS: TomeCollective for a lifetime membership. Signing up also grants you access to the Pro mode articles.
NBA Fast Break Grid
Enjoying these articles, but don’t want to subscribe? Consider buying me a coffee.
Support us by:
Subscribing to our Newsletter to receive emails with Fast Break analysis
Following us on Twitter/X: @TomeCollective and @WittyCollector
Joining Tome+ for an enhanced versions of the Fast Break articles, All Day Playbook articles, additional resources, discounts, and future benefits
January 2026 Promotions:
Send any rare NBA or WNBA Top Shot moments to TS: TomeCollective for three (3) months of access to tome+.
Send any legendary NBA or WNBA Top Shot moment to TS: TomeCollective for lifetime access to tome+.