As the Lakers lose to the Rockets and the Warriors suffer a crushing defeat to the Kings, the competition for the top 4 spots in the West is heating up, with the rankings as follows!
James missed a crucial timeout, Davis scored 30 points in vain, and the Warriors lost to the Kings by 30 points!
What happened to the sudden change in the Western rankings overnight?
This seemingly calm regular season is actually seething with undercurrents, with each team fighting hard for their playoff spots.
▶1. Lakers vs Rockets, a close call
The Lakers challenged the Rockets away from home, expecting an easy victory, but it turned into a thrilling tug-of-war.
The Rockets opened the game with full firepower, leading the Lakers by 18 points at one point.
However, are the Lakers a team that gives up easily?
In the third quarter, Davis wreaked havoc inside, and James also played a pivotal role, with the Lakers scoring 40 points in a single quarter, reducing the gap to just 2 points.
In the final quarter, both sides went back and forth, with the scores alternating.
In the final moments, the Lakers were only 3 points behind, and James tried to call a timeout to set up a tactic, but was ignored by the referee. VanVleet seized the opportunity to make a key steal, helping the Rockets secure the victory.
After the game, James expressed strong dissatisfaction with the referee's decision, believing he should have been granted the timeout.
In this game, Davis scored 30 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 blocks, while James contributed 21 points, 13 rebounds, and 9 assists. Unfortunately, Jalen Green and Amen Thompson of the Rockets performed outstandingly, combining for 56 points, and the Lakers eventually lost regrettably.
The key to the Lakers' loss lies in their rebounding disadvantage, being grabbed by the Rockets for 49 rebounds throughout the game, including 18 offensive rebounds, with second-chance points costing the Lakers dearly.
▶2. Warriors vs Kings, a rout
The defending champion Warriors faced the Kings at home, but suffered a crushing defeat, to everyone's surprise.
The Kings showed their powerful offensive firepower in the first quarter, leading the Warriors by 15 points at 36-21.
The Warriors' defense was virtually non-existent, and they couldn't find their rhythm on offense either.
At halftime, the Warriors were already trailing by 24 points, and the game quickly lost its suspense.
In the third quarter, the Kings continued to expand their lead, with the gap reaching 30 points.
In the final quarter, Kerr had no choice but to replace the starting lineup with substitutes, surrendering early.
Ultimately, the Warriors suffered a crushing 99-129 defeat at home to the Kings, swallowing the bitter fruit.
Although Curry scored 26 points, his efficiency was not high, and other players were also in poor form.
This defeat once again exposed many problems with the Warriors this season, with obvious loopholes on both offense and defense.
▶3. The Western scramble, confusing and unpredictable
The Lakers lost to the Rockets, and the Warriors suffered a crushing defeat to the Kings, causing the Western rankings to be reshuffled again.
The Thunder, Rockets, and Grizzlies are in the top three, with the Grizzlies leading the fourth-place Nuggets by two wins.
Meanwhile, the Nuggets, Lakers, Mavericks, and Clippers are embroiled in a fierce battle for the fourth spot in the West, with the win difference between the four teams being no more than 0.5 games.
The Lakers, Mavericks, and Clippers have identical records, all at 20 wins and 15 losses.
The Warriors, with a record of 18 wins and 17 losses, are ranked ninth in the West, making it very difficult for them to directly advance to the playoffs, and they may even have to participate in the play-in tournament.
▶4. Looking ahead to the future, the situation is changing rapidly
The competition in the West is so fierce that every game is crucial.
The Lakers need to solve their rebounding issues and improve their defensive intensity.
The Warriors need to quickly regain their form and adjust their tactics, or the glory of the defending champions will fade.
Other teams are also actively strengthening themselves, striving to make a difference in the playoffs.
The upcoming games will be even more exciting. Let's wait and see who will ultimately stand out and dominate the West.
Reference: NBA Official Website
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