With the Thunder’s overwhelming victory over the Clippers, the Spurs’ big win, the Rockets’ upset, and the Lakers’ triumph, the NBA Western Conference rankings have been released.

On December 20th Beijing time, the NBA regular season went on with multiple fierce matchups ending yesterday. The Clippers were soundly beaten 101-122 by the defending champion Thunder, the weak Wizards lost 94-119 to the Spurs, the Rockets were upset 128-133 by the Pelicans, the Pistons narrowly lost 114-116 to the Mavericks, the Magic fell 115-126 to the strong Nuggets, and the Warriors suffered a heartbreaking 98-99 defeat to the Suns. In an offensive showdown, the Lakers edged the Jazz 143-135, while the Kings were narrowly defeated 133-134 by the Trail Blazers. As a result, the latest Western Conference standings are out: Thunder first, Nuggets with a six-game winning streak second, Lakers third, Spurs fourth, Rockets fifth, and Timberwolves sixth!

Clippers vs. Thunder. The Clippers, currently enduring a four-game losing streak, faced the defending champion Thunder, whose 16-game winning streak was recently snapped by the Spurs but still hold first place. With Harden absent, the Clippers’ chances of winning were slim. As expected, the Clippers started aggressively and took the lead early, suppressing the Thunder by 6 points in the first quarter. In the second quarter, the Thunder’s offense exploded, scoring 37-22 to take a 9-point lead at halftime. In the second half, the Clippers made numerous turnovers, allowing the Thunder to extend their lead with a 39-28 quarter, pushing the gap to 20 points. The Thunder controlled the final quarter, while the Clippers collapsed and suffered their fifth consecutive loss!

Rockets vs. Pelicans. The Rockets lost their previous game against the Nuggets in a tough matchup. This round they faced the last-place Pelicans, who surprisingly secured a rare two-game winning streak, breaking out of their slump. The Rockets played well as a team in the first half, combining inside and outside attacks to blow out the Pelicans and build a lead. However, the second half saw a shift as the Rockets’ turnovers increased and efficiency dropped, allowing the Pelicans to fight back and close the gap. In the final quarter, the Pelicans surged with a 36-20 run to erase the deficit and force overtime. In overtime, a costly turnover by Sengun gifted the Pelicans the chance to seal the game. Ultimately, the Rockets suffered a stunning 25-point comeback loss to the Pelicans, shocking everyone!

Warriors vs. Suns. In this game, the Warriors spread their offense effectively in the first half, maintaining pressure on the Suns and holding a 7-point lead at halftime. After the break, the Warriors’ offense stalled, while Booker led a Suns’ rally that erased the deficit. The fourth quarter was a tightly contested battle with many twists and turns, ending with Goodwin’s clutch free throws delivering the Suns a last-second victory. Curry scored very low points in this game, and with his return, the Warriors have now suffered three consecutive losses!

Lakers vs. Jazz. This game was a high-scoring offensive duel with both teams showing great efficiency. The home Jazz took an early lead, gaining a 9-point advantage in the first quarter. However, from the second quarter onward, led by LeBron James and Doncic, the Lakers applied pressure and chipped away at the Jazz’s lead. By the end of the third quarter, the Lakers had reduced the deficit to 4 points. In the final quarter, the Lakers’ powerful offense overwhelmed the Jazz, outscoring them 41-29, and ultimately secured their second consecutive win!

Kings vs. Trail Blazers. The Kings started strong on the road, taking the early advantage, but the Trail Blazers outscored them by 7 points in one quarter to take the lead. In the second half, the Trail Blazers’ offense cooled off, allowing the Kings to catch up. In the final quarter, both teams unleashed intense offensive efforts in a fiercely competitive battle. In a flash of brilliance, Avdija’s free throws secured a last-second win for the Trail Blazers. Notably, Chinese player Yang Hansheng was absent from this game!

Written by / Sports Novels