On January 10th, Beijing time, the NBA regular season welcomed several key battles. The Warriors, Rockets, and Mavericks each achieved victories in their respective games, with the Rockets particularly widening the gap with the Grizzlies in the battle for second place in the West, while the Warriors and Mavericks' games were filled with drama. Today's matches once again intensified the competition in the West, with changes in the standings sparking extensive discussions among fans.
The Warriors narrowly defeated the Pistons 107-104: Curry's slump was still crucial.
The Warriors won a close victory over the Detroit Pistons on the road, 107-104. Despite the lead being reduced to just two points at one point, Curry's two free throws in the final moments stabilized the situation, ultimately helping the Warriors secure the win. In this game, Curry's shooting efficiency was worrying, as he made only 5 of 21 shots, including just 2 of 14 from beyond the arc. However, he still contributed a comprehensive stat line of 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists, becoming the core of the Warriors' victory.
On the Pistons' side, Cunningham put on an impressive performance, scoring 32 points with 6 rebounds and 8 assists, but unfortunately failed to lead the team to a comeback. Although the Pistons launched a fierce attack at one point, they ultimately failed to complete the comeback, and the Warriors luckily ended the Pistons' five-game winning streak.
The Mavericks made a comeback against the Trail Blazers, winning 117-111: Kidd used team basketball to make up for the absence of the core.
Despite the absences of Doncic and Irving, the Mavericks were still able to make a comeback against the Trail Blazers, eventually winning the game 117-111 and securing their second consecutive victory. In the fourth quarter of the game, the Mavericks once trailed the Trail Blazers by double digits, but they managed to pull off an incredible comeback with a 36-22 score in the final quarter through strong offensive and defensive transitions.
In the game, Washington contributed 23 points and 14 rebounds, Lively scored 21 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, and Hardy came off the bench to explode for 25 points, helping the team complete the comeback without any superstars. On the Trail Blazers' side, both Simmons and Sharpe scored 22 points, but the team's overall performance was unstable, failing to withstand the Mavericks' counterattack.
The Rockets narrowly defeated the Grizzlies 119-115: Morant missed the mark at a critical moment.
The Rockets narrowly defeated the Grizzlies 119-115 on the road, extending their winning streak. In this game, the Rockets started very strongly, leading 45-36 in the first quarter. Although the Grizzlies gradually caught up, the Rockets maintained a slight lead throughout. In the third quarter, the Rockets widened the gap again, entering the fourth quarter with a 9-point lead.
With just two minutes left in the game, the Grizzlies narrowed the gap to one point. In a situation where they were only one point behind, Morant missed a crucial open three-pointer, and VanVleet followed up with a key two-pointer to help the Rockets stabilize the situation. Although Bane made a three-pointer, it was ruled invalid due to the coach's timeout, and the Rockets ultimately won the game by a four-point advantage.
The latest Western Conference standings: The Rockets lead the Grizzlies by 1.5 games, and the competition is intensifying.
With the conclusion of these key games, the Western Conference standings have also changed. The Thunder remains firmly in first place, while the Rockets, thanks to this victory, have solidified their second-place position and now lead the Grizzlies by 1.5 games, giving them a clear advantage in the battle for second place in the West. The Grizzlies, Nuggets, Mavericks, and Lakers are ranked 3rd to 6th respectively, with the Lakers only one game behind the Nuggets and continuing to fight hard to catch up.
In addition, teams such as the Timberwolves, Clippers, Warriors, Spurs, Kings, and Suns are all in contention for playoff spots, making the Western Conference competition increasingly complex, with the gaps between teams constantly narrowing. The next few weeks will be a time of intense competition.
These games not only highlighted the key individual performances of the players but also demonstrated the teams' adaptability in tense moments. Although the Warriors struggled to win despite Curry's poor performance, they showed their strong foundation as the "big brother," able to stabilize the situation in critical moments. The Mavericks relied on collective strength to complete the comeback, with Kidd's scheduling playing a significant role, proving the value of team basketball.
The Rockets' narrow victory was more dramatic, as they managed to maintain their lead despite the Grizzlies nearly completing a comeback at a critical moment. The Rockets currently have a significant advantage in the battle for second place in the West, and whether they can maintain this competitiveness in the future will have a significant impact on how far they can go in the playoffs.
The competition in the West is becoming increasingly fierce, with frequent changes in the standings. The upcoming games will determine the fate of more playoff spots. Whether the teams can find stable performances in the coming season will be the key factor in determining their playoff prospects.
