On January 7, 2025, the NBA regular season continued, with the competition in the Western Conference becoming increasingly fierce. Today, both the Clippers and the Mavericks suffered major reversals while leading, making the situation even more complicated. The Clippers once led by 19 points on the road but were eventually overturned by the Timberwolves; while the Mavericks, who led by double digits in the first quarter, ultimately suffered a crushing defeat of 104-119 against the Grizzlies.
The Mavericks faced significant challenges in today's game. With Irving and Doncic absent, the team's core strength was greatly weakened. In the first quarter, the Mavericks once took a 36-26 lead thanks to the performances of Clay and Washington, seemingly controlling the game. However, in the second quarter, the Mavericks' difficulties intensified. Gafford, an interior player, sprained his ankle while grabbing a rebound, and the continuous injuries made the Mavericks' lineup even more stretched thin.
Despite this, the Grizzlies relied on their deep roster and the outstanding performance of Jaren Jackson Jr. to gradually turn the tide. Jackson scored 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists in the first half, dominating the interior battle. At halftime, the Mavericks trailed the Grizzlies by only one point at 55-56. In the third quarter, the Grizzlies launched a 12-5 offensive, quickly expanding their lead to double digits. Although the Maverick players gave it their all, they were still unable to stop the Grizzlies' offensive onslaught, ultimately suffering a crushing defeat of 104-119.
Similarly to the Mavericks, the Clippers' performance was also regrettable. Facing the Timberwolves away from home, the Clippers once achieved a 19-point lead. However, as the game progressed, the Timberwolves gradually found their offensive rhythm, began to close the gap, and eventually overtook them. In the final crucial moments, the Clippers failed to seize the opportunity and were ultimately staged a great reversal by the Timberwolves.
The results of these two games have once again changed the ranking landscape in the West. Especially among the teams currently ranked 4th to 7th, the win difference has been narrowed to just one win, meaning that the outcome of each game could have a significant impact on the playoff spots in the West.
The losses of the Clippers and Mavericks have made the competition in the West even more intense, and have also made fans and analysts pay more attention to the upcoming schedule. As the season progresses, whether the Western Conference teams can stabilize their performance, avoid injury troubles, and seize favorable positions for the playoffs has become the most important issue at present.
