With the Rockets narrowly defeating the Pacers, the Timberwolves suffering an upset, and the Clippers enduring a heavy loss, the NBA Western Conference rankings have been shaken up.

On February 4th Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued with four games completed yesterday. The Pelicans, second from last, were defeated 95-102 by the Hornets, who have now won seven straight. The Rockets narrowly beat the Eastern Conference's bottom-ranked Pacers 118-114. The Timberwolves lost 128-137 to the Grizzlies. The 76ers dominated the Harden-absent Clippers 128-113. Consequently, the Western Conference rankings are in chaos: the Rockets hold a three-game winning streak in fourth place, the Timberwolves are fifth, and the Clippers have dropped to ninth!!

Rockets vs. Pacers. Since the Pacers are near the bottom of the Eastern Conference, Durant was absent from this game, which didn’t affect the outcome much. Early on, the Pacers launched a strong offensive assault, delivering waves of attacks that pressured the Rockets and secured a 4-point lead in the first quarter. In the second quarter, Sengun caught fire, helping the Rockets spread their offense and ignite a scoring spree, putting up 39 points and outscoring the Pacers by 11, overturning the deficit to lead by 7 at halftime. In the second half, the Rockets’ offensive momentum stalled, and the Pacers responded with a strong output, outscoring the Rockets by 7 in the third quarter to even the score. In the final quarter, the Rockets aggressively pushed to extend the lead, but the Pacers capitalized on the Rockets’ careless mistakes to close the gap. Sengun turned into a scorer for the opponents late in the game, first grabbing a rebound only to be stripped, then missing two crucial free throws. Fortunately, he grabbed another rebound in the final moments, helping the Rockets secure a narrow and hard-fought victory!

Timberwolves vs. Grizzlies. This game was a high-scoring, open battle with fierce back-and-forth offense and frequent three-point barrages. However, the Grizzlies’ offense was even more explosive, with multiple scorers stepping up to overwhelm the Timberwolves and steadily pull away. On the Timberwolves’ side, Edwards’ efforts were not enough to match the Grizzlies’ firepower, as seven Grizzlies players scored in double digits, leading the team to a comprehensive victory over the Timberwolves!

76ers vs. Clippers. The Clippers have been performing well recently and have gradually secured their playoff position. However, with rumors of Harden’s departure and his absence from this game, the Clippers were dominated by the 76ers. They were shut down in the first quarter, falling behind 38-19. Kawhi Leonard struggled to carry the team alone, and Zubac’s poor performance didn’t help. Although they managed to reduce the deficit somewhat, once it became clear they couldn’t win, the Clippers lost motivation. Ultimately, the 76ers easily claimed the victory!

Written by / Sports Novels