As the Lakers lose to the Cavaliers and the Suns narrowly defeat the Grizzlies! The Western Conference is in a mess, and the latest rankings are as follows
Beijing time January 1, 2025, the NBA regular season continues to be exciting. The Lakers lost at home to the Cavaliers with a score of 110-122, ending their winning streak. And the Suns lost at home to the Grizzlies with a score of 112-117, suffering three consecutive defeats, and their playoff spot is precarious. After these two key games, the Western Conference has undergone significant changes again.
The Suns narrowly lost to the Grizzlies at home, and three consecutive defeats fell into crisis
In the first half, the Grizzlies showed strong offensive firepower. In the first quarter, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Bane worked together to lead the Grizzlies to a 36-26 victory in a single quarter, quickly establishing a double-digit lead. In the second quarter, the Grizzlies' fiery state continued, with Jaren Jackson Jr. scoring 25 points on 9-of-12 shooting in the first half, completely suppressing the Suns' interior, and Bane also contributed 17 points, leading the Grizzlies to a 14-point lead over the Suns at halftime.
On the Suns side, Durant carried the team alone, scoring 16 points in the first half, while Booker scored 11 points. However, the team's defense was riddled with problems, making it difficult to contain the Grizzlies' multi-flower attack. Even worse, Bradley Beal left the game early due to a hip injury, scoring only 3 points, casting a shadow over the Suns' comeback.
In the second half, the Suns launched a counterattack in the third quarter, relying on Durant and Booker's outstanding performance, once launching an 18-8 offensive, reducing the gap to 4 points. Beal's absence seemed to make the team's offense smoother, with a 31-22 performance in a single quarter giving the Suns hope for a reversal. However, in the final quarter, the Grizzlies stabilized the situation, relying on stable defense and key offense, eventually winning the game 117-112, sending the Suns to their third consecutive defeat.
The Lakers lost at home to the Cavaliers and missed the three-game winning streak
Facing the Cavaliers, who ranked first in the league this season, the Lakers showed tenacious fighting spirit. In the first quarter, the 40-year-old James hit three-pointers in a row, helping the team keep up with the score. Although the Cavaliers attacked like a tide under Mitchell's leadership, the Lakers ended the first quarter with only a four-point deficit of 30-34. In the second quarter, the Lakers once launched an 8-0 small climax, overtaking the score, but the Cavaliers quickly stabilized their position and led 58-53 at halftime.
Entering the second half, the Cavaliers demonstrated the stability of a top team in the league. In the second half of the third quarter, they widened the score through tough defense and quick counterattacks, leading 87-78 into the final quarter. Although the Lakers fought hard to catch up, Davis hit a key three-pointer, and James also scored continuously, but the Cavaliers could always respond quickly. At the critical moment in the final quarter, Garland and Allen scored consecutively, helping the Cavaliers end the game with a score of 122-110.
The latest ranking in the West: the chaos continues
With the loss of both the Lakers and the Suns, the Western Conference rankings have changed again, with all teams except the Thunder competing fiercely.
Thunder: 27 wins and 5 losses, continuing to firmly occupy the top of the Western Conference, and the regular season championship is almost certain.
Grizzlies: 23 wins and 11 losses, consolidating their second place with a victory over the Suns.
Rockets: 21 wins and 11 losses, following closely behind, showing their potential as a dark horse.
Mavericks: 20 wins and 13 losses, performing steadily.
Nuggets: 18 wins and 13 losses, gradually warming up.
Clippers: 19 wins and 14 losses, ranking sixth.
Lakers: 18 wins and 14 losses, falling to seventh and re-entering the playoff zone.
Timberwolves: 17 wins and 15 losses, ranking eighth.
Spurs: 16 wins and 16 losses.
Warriors: 15 wins and 17 losses.
Suns: 15 wins and 17 losses, ranking 11th after three consecutive defeats, and their playoff spot is precarious.
Conclusion: The Western Conference pattern is changing rapidly
Currently, only the Thunder is far ahead in the West, and the competition among other teams is extremely fierce. The performances of the Lakers and the Suns are unpredictable, and the playoff situation is not optimistic. Every game from now on is crucial, and each team must go all out to lay the foundation for the playoff spots. As the season progresses, the rankings in the West are likely to continue to change, and we look forward to seeing who will finally stand out.