On January 16th, Beijing time, the NBA regular season is still in full swing. On this day, the Rockets traveled to play away, eventually defeating the Nuggets with a score of 128 to 108. The Warriors also performed well, defeating the Timberwolves with a score of 116 to 115, their winning rate once again rose to fifty percent, successfully entering the top 10 in the Western Conference.
Rockets - Nuggets
In the first quarter, the Rockets took the lead as guests, starting with a small climax of 13-8. Then, the Rockets continued to suppress the Nuggets, with a maximum lead of 8 points. By the end of the quarter, the Rockets led the Nuggets by 5 points with a score of 28-23. In the second quarter, the Nuggets had problems on both offense and defense, and the Rockets took the opportunity to widen the gap to double digits. Jokic's absence had a significant impact on the Nuggets, and the gap was heading towards 20 points. Fortunately, Jalen Green hit a three-pointer to catch up, at which point the Rockets led the Nuggets 66-44 by 22 points, and their state was simply on fire. In this quarter, the Rockets scored 41-25, ending the half with the Rockets leading the Nuggets 69-48 by 21 points. In this game, Jalen Green of the Rockets made 5 out of 8 shots in two quarters, scoring 18 points, while Murray of the Nuggets scored 13 points in the first half, and Westbrook got 12 points.
In the third quarter, the Nuggets once narrowed the gap to less than 20 points, but Jalen Green was really good, his three-pointers were amazingly accurate. After he hit the corner three-pointer, the gap widened again, and the Rockets led the Nuggets 87-65. Without Jokic, the Nuggets' overall defense was also poor, and it was too difficult to reverse the talented Rockets. At the end of the third quarter, the gap was still 21 points. In the fourth quarter, the Nuggets found it difficult to get close to the score, and the game gradually lost suspense. In the end, the Rockets defeated the Nuggets 128-108 away, winning five consecutive victories and ending the Nuggets' four-game winning streak. Jalen Green of the Rockets made 10 out of 16 shots, scoring 34 points and 5 assists.
Warriors - Timberwolves
In the first quarter of the game, the Warriors attacked fiercely, scoring 26-5 in more than half a quarter, at that time the Timberwolves only scored 5 points, and the gap exceeded 20 points. In this quarter, the Warriors completely defeated the Timberwolves, scoring 34-12 and leading by 22 points. Curry felt hot in the first quarter, making 4 three-pointers and scoring 12 points, while the Timberwolves' core players such as Edwards and Randle performed poorly. In the second quarter, the Timberwolves regained their form, scoring 6-0 in less than 2 minutes, reducing the gap to 16 points. As the game progressed, the Timberwolves continued to reduce the Warriors' lead advantage. After Edwards' layup, the score was 37-47, and the Warriors only led by 10 points. However, the Warriors quickly stabilized the situation and widened the gap again. In this quarter, the Timberwolves made up 9 points. At halftime, the Warriors led the Timberwolves 55-42 by 13 points.
In the third quarter, the Timberwolves scored 22-18 in half a quarter, successfully reducing the gap to single digits, as if they saw the hope of winning. This quarter, the Timberwolves adjusted quickly and were in excellent form, scoring 36-32 in a single quarter. However, at the end of the third quarter, the Warriors still led by 9 points with a score of 87-78. In the fourth quarter, the Timberwolves reduced the gap to just 3 points, and the game entered a critical decisive moment. Reed made two free throws for a foul, bringing the score to 108-108. Then Curry hit a three-pointer, McDaniels dunked, and Curry made two more free throws, giving the Warriors another 3-point lead. Later, Edwards missed a three-pointer, and although the Warriors grabbed the rebound, they made a mistake. In the end, the Timberwolves still narrowly lost. In the end, the Warriors narrowly defeated the Timberwolves 116-115, gaining a precious victory.
The latest ranking in the West
After the Rockets' big win over the Nuggets and the Warriors' victory over the Timberwolves, there are new changes in the Western Conference rankings. Thunder and Rockets firmly occupy the top two positions, which is very stable, and it is difficult for other teams to surpass them in the short term. The Warriors have achieved a record of 20 wins and 20 losses, allowing them to return to the top 10 in the West. They are likely to play in the playoffs this season. Curry's state is unpredictable, and without strengthening, it is hopeless to compete for the championship.