On December 29th, Beijing time, a total of 9 NBA games were played, involving teams such as the Thunder, Lakers, Warriors, Suns, Mavericks, Kings, and Nuggets. As a result, the Western Conference standings have become chaotic once again. The current situation can be summarized as follows: the Lakers have created an NBA miracle, the top spot has achieved 10 consecutive victories, and the Warriors have overtaken the Suns.
The Thunder defeated the Hornets 106-94, with little suspense in the game process. The Thunder pulled away in the second quarter, and the Hornets failed to launch an effective offensive in the second half, ultimately resulting in an easy victory for the Thunder. In terms of statistics, Alexander scored 22 points with 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 6 turnovers, Jalen Williams had 20 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists, while Harten contributed 12 points and 15 rebounds. After this win, the Thunder has now achieved 10 consecutive victories, the longest winning streak in the league at present. Once Holmgren returns, the Thunder may find themselves without opponents in the West.
The Warriors narrowly beat the Suns 109-105, with an intense game process. Both sides took turns leading in the first half, and the gap remained close in the third quarter. In the final quarter, Schroder hit a three-pointer at a crucial moment and followed it up with two successful free throws, securing the victory for the Warriors. This win ended the Warriors' three-game losing streak, while the Suns suffered their second consecutive loss. The rankings between the two teams were swapped, with the Warriors improving to 16 wins and 15 losses, rising to 10th in the West, while the Suns fell to 11th with 15 wins and 16 losses. According to the latest reports, the Suns are seeking trades in the free market.
The Nuggets defeated the Pistons 134-121. The first half was evenly matched, but in the third quarter, the Nuggets won by a significant margin of 47-28. In the final quarter, the Pistons attempted a comeback, but Jokic, Murray, and Porter took turns scoring, ultimately securing the victory for the Nuggets. After this game, the Nuggets maintained their 7th place in the West with a record of 17 wins and 13 losses. Jokic's stats were 37 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists, while Murray bounced back with 34 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks. Porter contributed 26 points and 3 rebounds, and Westbrook added 8 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 steals, albeit with 6 turnovers.
The Mavericks surprisingly lost to the Trail Blazers 122-126. The game process was unexpected, with the Mavericks trailing by 11 points in the first quarter. They tried to close the gap in the second quarter, but the Trail Blazers regained the advantage in the third. In the final quarter, Irving exploded with 20 points, but it was not enough to turn the tide. With Doncic absent, Irving scored an empty 46 points with 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 4 turnovers, while Curry had 12 points, and Dinwiddie contributed 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists. The good news is that despite the loss, the Mavericks still ranked 4th in the West with a record of 20 wins and 12 losses.
The Lakers defeated the Kings 132-122, with James absent. The game was full of ups and downs, with the Lakers leading in the first quarter, the Kings overtaking in the second, and the Lakers exerting themselves to win the third quarter by 18 points. Although the Kings launched a counterattack in the fourth quarter, the Lakers did not give them a chance. In terms of statistics, Davis scored 36 points with 15 rebounds and 8 assists, Reeves had 26 points and 16 assists, and Hachimura contributed 21 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks. The Lakers have created an NBA miracle, becoming the first team in the season to defeat the same opponent four times. Currently, the Lakers have risen to 5th in the West with a record of 18 wins and 13 losses.
The last four teams are the Kings, Trail Blazers, Jazz, and Pelicans. The Kings brought in DeRozan during the offseason and formed a trio, but their performance has been worse than last season, and their head coach was recently fired. What disappoints us the most is the Pelicans. Despite having a decent lineup, they have been struggling to win, currently on a nine-game losing streak, ranking not only last in the West but also last in the entire league.