With the Thunder defeating the Heat, the Timberwolves overturning the Spurs, and the Trail Blazers losing, the NBA Western Conference standings have been updated.

On January 13th Beijing time, the NBA regular season proceeded with several matches finishing yesterday. The Pelicans were upset by the Magic 128-118, the Nets were dramatically overtaken by the Grizzlies 103-98, the Knicks easily handled the Trail Blazers 123-114, the Spurs were narrowly reversed by the Timberwolves 104-103, and the Heat were soundly defeated by the Thunder 124-112. Consequently, the updated rankings show the Thunder first, Spurs second, Timberwolves third, and Trail Blazers ninth!

Pelicans vs. Magic. Facing the Pelicans, who are near the bottom of the Western Conference standings, the two teams were evenly matched and tied at halftime. The Magic fell behind in the third quarter under Pelicans’ pressure, but in the final quarter, the Pelicans showed little fighting spirit, seemingly unwilling to win. The Magic then launched a huge comeback, outscoring 37-20 in the last quarter to complete a direct upset over the Pelicans!

Nets vs. Grizzlies. The Nets played on the road and took control early with a 34-23 lead in the first quarter. The second quarter saw a back-and-forth battle around a 10-point margin, ending tied at 27. In the second half, the Nets’ offensive efficiency dropped, allowing the Grizzlies to mount a comeback and chip away at the lead. With three minutes left in the final quarter, the Nets held an 8-point advantage, but the coach inexplicably called a timeout and benched Thomas. The Grizzlies then woke up and launched a 13-0 run, completing a stunning comeback victory!

Knicks vs. Trail Blazers. The Trail Blazers had been on a hot streak with five straight wins, and Yang Hansen had been given many opportunities, but he did not play in this game. Facing the Eastern powerhouse Knicks, the first quarter ended tied at 34-34. In the second quarter, the Knicks unleashed strong offense, suppressing the Trail Blazers and gaining a 5-point lead at halftime. Both teams’ shooting percentages dropped in the second half, resulting in another tight battle tied at 25 in the third quarter. In the final quarter, the Trail Blazers briefly took the lead but failed to maintain their momentum. The Knicks quickly combined inside and outside scoring to regain control, and the Trail Blazers couldn’t catch up. Ultimately, the Knicks secured the win over the Trail Blazers!

Spurs vs. Timberwolves. A matchup between two Western Conference powerhouses offered many highlights. The Spurs, playing away, started fast with balanced scoring and extended their lead to 14 points by the end of the third quarter. However, the Spurs’ offense collapsed in the final quarter as the Timberwolves exploded for a 33-18 run, decisively ending the game. Edwards’ basket gave the Timberwolves the lead. The Spurs lost a strong position after leading most of the game. The three guards made numerous mistakes, with Castle performing the worst. It seems that Wembanyama is better suited as a bench starter since the team can’t win with him as a full-time starter!

Heat vs. Thunder. The first quarter saw both teams engage in a high-scoring shootout. In the second quarter, the Heat intensified their defense to limit the Thunder’s shooting, causing their accuracy to drop. At halftime, the Heat led by 5 points. In the second half, the Thunder found their offensive weapon Alexander, who led a multi-pronged attack that quickly built a large lead. In the final quarter, the Thunder pressed the advantage and extended their lead further, effectively breaking the game open. The Thunder comfortably defeated the Heat, claiming their third consecutive win and firmly holding first place in the Western Conference!

Written by / Sports Novel