On January 1, 2025, Beijing time, there were 6 NBA games today, involving the Lakers, Clippers, Suns, Thunder, Grizzlies, Spurs, and Timberwolves. After the games, changes occurred in the Western Conference standings.
The Spurs hosted the Clippers at home. On paper, the Clippers had an advantage in terms of record, but they were playing back-to-back games and were not as physically fit as the Spurs. This was the second meeting between the two teams this season. In their first encounter, the Spurs, who once led by 26 points, were reversed by the Clippers. Today, they were eager to wash away this disgrace. After the game started, Wembanyama entered scoring mode, scoring 17 points in the first quarter, leading the Spurs to win the quarter by 14 points. In the second quarter, the Spurs expanded their lead, leading by 20 points at halftime. In the third quarter, the Spurs continued to widen the gap, leading by 28 points after three quarters. In the fourth quarter, the main players of both sides did not play again, and the Spurs eventually won a big victory over the Clippers by 36 points. Wembanyama made 10 of 18 shots for 27 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks, while Harden made 5 of 11 shots for 17 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist.
The Clippers have been outstanding in defense this season, and it is not easy to win big against them. Unexpectedly, the Spurs defeated the Clippers by 36 points today, creating a new record for the most points lost by the Clippers this season, and the Spurs created an NBA miracle. After winning, the Spurs maintained their ninth place in the West with a record of 17 wins and 16 losses, while the Clippers dropped from fifth to sixth after the loss.
The Thunder hosted the Timberwolves at home. The Thunder were missing Chet, while the Timberwolves had all their main players present. On paper, the Timberwolves had an advantage. In the first half of the game, the Timberwolves took the upper hand, leading by as many as 12 points, and were ahead by 6 points at halftime. In the third quarter, under the leadership of Alexander's 19 points in a single quarter, the Thunder defeated the Timberwolves, winning the quarter by 20 points. At the end of the third quarter, the Thunder had overtaken by 14 points. In the fourth quarter, the Timberwolves recovered 6 points, but the Thunder eventually defeated the Timberwolves by 8 points. Alexander made 15 of 23 shots for 40 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 4 steals, while Edwards made 6 of 12 shots for 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists.
After the victory, the Thunder extended their winning streak to 12 games, maintaining their top spot in the West with a record of 27 wins and 5 losses. The Timberwolves remained eighth in the West with a record of 17 wins and 15 losses after the loss.
The Lakers hosted the Cavaliers at home. The Cavaliers were also playing back-to-back games and were not as physically fit as the Lakers. The Cavaliers once led by 15 points in the first quarter, but the Lakers quickly narrowed the gap, ending the quarter with a difference of 4 points. In the second quarter, the Lakers once overtook the score, but the Cavaliers quickly regained the lead, leading by 5 points at halftime. In the third quarter, the Lakers once again overtook the score, but the Cavaliers quickly regained the lead again, leading by 9 points at the end of the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, the Cavaliers opened up the gap to 16 points, the Lakers chased the gap to 5 points, the Cavaliers exerted force again to expand the gap to more than 10 points, and finally the Cavaliers defeated the Lakers by 12 points. Mitchell made 8 of 20 shots for 26 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists, Allen made 12 of 14 shots for 27 points, 14 rebounds, and 3 blocks, Reeves made 11 of 20 shots for 35 points, 9 rebounds, and 10 assists, Davis made 12 of 23 shots for 28 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 assists, James made 9 of 17 shots for 23 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists.
After the loss, the Lakers remained seventh in the West with a record of 18 wins and 14 losses. Both the Clippers and the Lakers lost today, giving the Nuggets a big gift. The Nuggets, who had no games today, rose to fifth in the West.
The Suns hosted the Grizzlies at home. The Grizzlies were missing multiple players including Morant, Zach Eddy, Aldama, Clarke, and Smart, greatly reducing their combat effectiveness. The Suns were without Nukic, and it was thought that the Suns could win this battle. Unexpectedly, the Grizzlies' Jackson and Bane exploded together, while the Suns' Booker was in a slump, and Beal had to retire due to injury after playing only one quarter. As a result, the Grizzlies kept suppressing the Suns, and although the Suns tried hard to catch up, it was too late, and the Grizzlies eventually defeated the Suns by 5 points. Jackson made 12 of 24 shots for 38 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists, Bane made 13 of 25 shots for 31 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists, Durant made 11 of 19 shots for 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists, and Booker made 5 of 20 shots for 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 9 assists.
After the victory, the Grizzlies stabilized their second place in the West, leading the third-place Rockets by one win. The Suns remained 11th in the West after the loss, one win behind the tenth-place Warriors. The Suns have recently had a poor record, coupled with multiple players suffering injuries, their prospects are very bleak.
After today's games, due to the losses of the Clippers, Lakers, and Timberwolves, and the victory of the Spurs, while the Warriors had no games, the gap between the 6th to 10th places in the West has narrowed. Below is the Western Conference standings after today's games.