With the Thunder falling to the Timberwolves and the Spurs dominating the Hawks, the NBA Western Conference rankings have been updated: the Lakers drop to fourth.

On December 20th Beijing time, the NBA regular season carried on. In two finished matchups, the Spurs showed great dominance with multiple scorers en route to a 126-98 rout of the Hawks, while the Thunder, after a strong start, suffered a 107-112 upset by the Timberwolves. Consequently, the updated Western Conference rankings show the Thunder leading first, the Spurs climbing to third with five straight wins overtaking the Lakers, who dropped to fourth, and the Timberwolves sitting sixth!

Spurs vs. Hawks. The Spurs have been consistent lately, riding a four-game winning streak. Facing the Eastern powerhouse Hawks this round, with Vembanyama coming off the bench again, the Spurs maintained their hot shooting, quickly gaining a commanding lead and relentlessly pressuring the Hawks. The margin kept widening steadily like a blossoming flower. The game flowed smoothly throughout, and ultimately the Spurs outperformed with only four players scoring in double digits to secure a big victory, extending their winning streak to five and climbing back to third place. Note: NBA Cup finals do not count towards regular season records!

Thunder vs. Timberwolves. The Thunder lead the league, and the Timberwolves hold a solid top-six spot. This round featured a clash of strong teams. From the start, the Thunder kept up their explosive offense, attacking inside and out to bombard the Timberwolves, posting a 33-23 first quarter and leading by 10. In the second quarter, the Timberwolves showed tough defense, causing the Thunder’s offensive efficiency to plummet and cutting the halftime deficit to three points. After the break, both teams engaged in an offensive battle, with the score difference shrinking to two by the end of the third quarter. The final quarter was tense, with the Thunder holding on tightly. At a critical moment, Edwards stepped up with a perfect sequence of one offensive play and two defensive stops—first hitting a heartbreaking three-pointer, then blocking and stealing from Alexander on defense—effectively sealing the game. The Timberwolves handed the Thunder their third loss of the season!

In the latest Western Conference standings, the Thunder have already suffered their third loss, making their pursuit of the Warriors’ 73-win record increasingly difficult, yet they remain first in both the league and the West. The Nuggets hold steady in second place, the Spurs have overtaken the Lakers to claim third, while the Lakers dropped to fourth. The Clippers are struggling badly, enduring a five-game losing streak and sitting second to last, with a risk of falling to the bottom of the standings!

Written by / Sports Fiction