With the Warriors suffering a heavy defeat, the Lakers securing a big win, the Clippers achieving a 4-game winning streak, and the Trail Blazers narrowly prevailing, the NBA Western Conference standings have been released.

On December 30th Beijing time, the NBA regular season carried on with multiple matches finishing yesterday. The Warriors were defeated in overtime 127-141 by the Raptors, the 76ers suffered a 104-129 loss to the reigning champions Thunder, the Grizzlies narrowly lost 112-116 to the Wizards, the Celtics fell 108-114 to the Trail Blazers, the Pistons were dominated 99-112 by the Clippers on both offense and defense, and the Kings were soundly beaten 101-125 by the Lakers. As a result, the latest standings have been updated: the Thunder are first, the Lakers fourth, the Warriors eighth, and the Clippers have surged to 13th place with a 4-game winning streak!

Warriors vs. Raptors. This game was fiercely contested with a very close score throughout. The difference remained small, but Curry’s critical mistakes at key moments proved costly, ultimately allowing the Raptors to pull away and win in overtime.

76ers vs. Thunder. The first half saw both teams evenly matched with no clear lead. However, in the second half, the Thunder exploded offensively with sharp attacks and solid defense, overwhelming the 76ers and pulling away decisively. In the end, the Thunder were unstoppable and routed the 76ers by a wide margin!

Celtics vs. Trail Blazers. Facing a Celtics team on a 4-game winning streak, the Trail Blazers fought neck and neck in the first quarter with both sides exchanging blows. The second and third quarters saw fluctuating momentum as each team played a strong quarter, with the Trail Blazers gradually overtaking and extending their lead. The final quarter turned into an intense battle full of suspense, with Klingenberg grabbing a crucial rebound and completing a 2+1 play at a decisive moment. Ultimately, the Trail Blazers narrowly won the game after a tough fight, and Yang Hansheng performed very well when given the opportunity!

Pistons vs. Clippers. The Clippers have been on a strong run lately with consecutive wins. Facing the Eastern Conference leaders Pistons, the pressure was high. Kawhi Leonard exploded with an all-around performance, scoring 55 points offensively, along with 5 steals and 3 blocks on defense. Harden also kept up his scoring, helping the Clippers dominate the Pistons. The lead steadily grew, killing the game early, and the Clippers cruised to a big win, effortlessly securing their 4th consecutive victory!

Kings vs. Lakers. The Lakers had suffered a 3-game losing streak and dropped in the rankings. Against the struggling Kings, they found a chance to bounce back. The Lakers held overwhelming control from the start, applying constant pressure and steadily increasing the lead. Doncic was dominant, LeBron played efficiently, and in the end, six Lakers players scored in double digits to crush the Kings and end their losing skid!

Written by / Sports Novel