The latest rankings in the Western Conference have seen the Golden State Warriors overtake the San Antonio Spurs, while the Phoenix Suns have fallen behind. The Memphis Grizzlies suffered a loss, allowing the Houston Rockets to move up in the standings without even playing, and the Denver Nuggets have returned to the fourth spot.
In the NBA regular season games that concluded on January 5th, Beijing time, the Warriors defeated the Grizzlies 121-113. Despite injuries to Stephen Curry and Jonathan Kuminga, the Warriors managed to secure a two-game winning streak with six players scoring in double figures. Andrew Wiggins led the way with 24 points, Dennis Schroder added 17, and Buddy Hield contributed 14.
The Suns lost to the Indiana Pacers 108-126, despite their "Big Three" lineup. This defeat marked their fourth consecutive loss, with the team being swept by the Pacers. The Suns' chemistry and rhythm have been disrupted by the ongoing injuries to their key players, compounded by Bradley Beal's poor form and trade rumors, which have further weakened the team.
In a back-to-back rematch, the Spurs lost to the Nuggets 111-122. Michael Porter Jr.'s second-half performance of 21 points helped the Nuggets force overtime, where Nikola Jokic's dominant play secured the victory and revenge against the Spurs. Jokic finished with an impressive 46 points, 9 rebounds, and 10 assists, while Victor Wembanyama also had a strong game with 20 points and 23 rebounds, although he failed to score in overtime. Porter scored 28 points.
The Minnesota Timberwolves continued their losing streak with a 105-119 loss to the Detroit Pistons. Anthony Edwards set a new career-high with 53 points, but it was not enough to prevent the Timberwolves from their third consecutive loss. Since their home defeat to the New York Knicks, the Timberwolves have been struggling, with only three wins in their last nine games.
Other notable results include the Utah Jazz defeating the Miami Heat 136-100, and the Portland Trail Blazers narrowly beating the Milwaukee Bucks 105-102.
In the current Western Conference standings, the Grizzlies' two consecutive losses have allowed the Rockets to rise to second place without playing. The Nuggets' record has matched the Los Angeles Lakers', returning them to the fourth spot. The Warriors have surpassed the Spurs, moving up one position to eighth. The Timberwolves are on a three-game losing streak and are now tenth, while the Suns' four-game losing streak has dropped them to twelfth with only 15 wins and 18 losses.