The Rockets and the Warriors narrowly win their games, while the Mavericks make a comeback! Here are the latest rankings in the Western Conference, with an expanded gap between the 2nd and 3rd place teams.
The Warriors' close victory over the Pistons: Curry struggles but still wins the key game
The Warriors embarked on an away game challenge against the Pistons, which was undoubtedly a tough match. From the beginning of the game, both sides were locked in fierce competition, with the atmosphere on the court as tense as a fully drawn bowstring. The Warriors' players were determined, knowing the difficulties of playing away from home, giving their all in every attack and defense.
As the core of the Warriors, Curry attracted countless eyes from the start. He kept running and weaving through the court, trying to create excellent scoring opportunities for his teammates while also looking for his own shooting rhythm. However, this night, the basket seemed particularly "stingy" to him beyond the three-point line. He repeatedly jumped to shoot, with that standard shooting posture drawing beautiful arcs in the air, but the ball repeatedly missed the basket. Throughout the game, Curry made only 5 out of 21 shots, including just 2 out of 14 three-pointers. Such statistics would usually be enough to plunge him into a whirlpool of public opinion.
But basketball has never been a one-man game, and the other players of the Warriors showed tenacious fighting spirit in this game. In the first three quarters, they steadily built up an advantage through tacit cooperation and active defense. By the fourth quarter, the Warriors once expanded their lead to 18 points, and the Warriors fans at the scene thought they had a sure victory, with cheers rising and falling.
But how could the Pistons give up easily? With the deafening cheers of the home fans, they launched a crazy counterattack. The players were like flames ignited, attacking aggressively and defending like a wall of copper and iron. Cunningham took the lead with his outstanding individual ability, breaking through, passing, and shooting proficiently, scoring a comprehensive 32 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block, leading the team to quickly narrow the score. In the blink of an eye, the score reached 102-104, with the Pistons trailing by only 2 points. The atmosphere at the scene was pushed to the climax, and the fans' shouts almost lifted off the roof of the arena.
At the critical moment, Curry showed the psychological quality of a superstar. He broke through with the ball, drew a foul from the opponent, and then walked steadily to the free-throw line. The entire arena suddenly fell silent, with everyone's attention focused on him. Curry took a deep breath, and the basketball in his hand drew a perfect parabola in the air, swishing through the net for two successful free throws! These crucial 2 points were like a calming pill for the Warriors, completely extinguishing the Pistons' counterattack. Ultimately, the Warriors narrowly won 107-104, not only securing this valuable away victory but also ending the Pistons' five-game winning streak.
The Mavericks' comeback against the Trail Blazers: the power of teamwork shines on the court
On the other side, the Mavericks' game was also full of ups and downs. With the absence of the two core players Doncic and Irving, it undoubtedly cast a shadow over the team, and many people were worried before the game that they would struggle against the strong opponent, the Trail Blazers.
From the start of the game, the situation seemed to be developing unfavorably for the Mavericks. The Trail Blazers' players were in hot form, with默契配合 in the offensive end, with players like Simons, Sharpe, and Henderson scoring frequently, quickly establishing a double-digit lead. The Mavericks were briefly in trouble, with their offense somewhat hindered and turnovers gradually increasing.
But Coach Kidd did not panic. He stood on the sidelines, loudly directing the players and constantly adjusting tactics. The Mavericks' players did not lose heart; they knew that in times of difficulty, they must unite even more. Washington fought hard in the paint, using his strong body to battle for rebounds and grab key offensive rebounds, contributing 23 points and 14 rebounds for the team. Lively also performed outstandingly, building a solid defense under the basket, blocking multiple opponent shots, and being unrelenting on the offensive end, scoring 21 points and 16 rebounds.
And Hardy, who came off the bench, became the trump card in this game. After coming on the court, he was like a shot in the arm for the team, full of vitality. He dared to shoot and, with his excellent individual ability, repeatedly broke through the opponent's defense and hit key shots. In the fourth quarter, when the team was still trailing by double digits, Hardy led his teammates in a desperate counterattack. He worked closely with Washington, Lively, and others, with the team making a 36-22 run to reverse the score in a single quarter.
On the other hand, Klay Thompson of the Trail Blazers had a poor game. He looked somewhat lost on the court, missing several open shots. He made only 1 out of 6 shots, including 0 out of 4 three-pointers, hardly providing much help to the team. Ultimately, the Mavericks defeated the Trail Blazers 117-111, securing a key victory with the power of the team and temporarily stabilizing their record, without worrying about slipping into the play-in tournament area.
The Rockets narrowly defeat the Grizzlies: seizing the initiative in a key game
The matchup between the Rockets and the Grizzlies was also a focus, especially in the battle for second place in the West, where the outcome of this game was crucial.
At the start of the game, the Rockets came out like a tiger descending from the mountain, showcasing their superior offensive firepower. In the first quarter, their shooting percentage was astonishingly high, with 16 out of 29 shots, and the players' hands were hot. Shen Jing was particularly dominant in the paint, using his agile footwork and excellent skills under the basket, fearlessly facing the Grizzlies' defenders. He repeatedly received the ball, turned, and shot, with actions flowing seamlessly, making 6 out of 7 shots and scoring 16 points in a single quarter, making the Grizzlies' interior suffer and laying the foundation for the Rockets' 45-36 lead in the first quarter.
However, the Grizzlies are no slouches, and they quickly adjusted their state, launching a fierce scoring assault in the subsequent games. The team's core Morant continuously attacked the Rockets' defense, using his outstanding speed and explosiveness to score under the basket or create open shots for his teammates. The other Grizzlies players also frequently fired from outside, attempting to narrow the scoring gap.
On the Rockets' side, VanVleet stepped up, taking on the responsibility of scoring while organizing the offense. Using his stable ball-handling skills, he led the team to maintain their rhythm, always hitting key shots whenever the Grizzlies closed the gap, stabilizing the situation for the team. In the third quarter, the Rockets further consolidated their lead with excellent team cooperation, winning another 4 points.
But the suspense of the game remained until the last moment. With 2 minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Grizzlies frantically chased points, closing the score to 114-115, trailing by only 1 point. At this point, the atmosphere in the entire stadium was extremely tense, with every pass and shot tugging at the hearts of the fans. At the critical moment, Morant got an open shot opportunity, leaping high to shoot, but the basketball bounced off the rim, missing the golden opportunity to level the score.
Immediately after, VanVleet seized the opportunity, using his keen insight to break through to the basket and score a crucial 2 points against the defender, expanding the lead to 3 points. The Grizzlies were anxious, with Bane hurriedly shooting a three-pointer from outside, but at this moment, a dramatic scene unfolded. The head coach called a timeout prematurely, and according to the rules, the goal was invalid. This unexpected situation greatly affected the mentality of the Grizzlies' players, and ultimately, the Rockets narrowly defeated the Grizzlies 119-115, achieving a three-game winning streak and taking absolute control in the battle for second place in the West, with 1 victory worth 2, leading the Grizzlies by 1.5 games.
The latest Western Conference rankings: the situation is initially set, but there are still variables
With the end of this round of games, the latest rankings in the West have also changed somewhat. The Thunder, with their outstanding season performance, continue to firmly occupy first place, having accumulated enough victories in previous games to maintain their leading position with stable play.
After winning this key game, the Rockets consolidated their second place, with a 1.5-game advantage giving them relative safety in the short term. However, the teams behind are also eyeing their positions, with the Grizzlies, Nuggets, Mavericks, Lakers, and others following closely. Although the Grizzlies lost this game, their overall strength is strong, and they remain in third place. The Nuggets, with their deep roster and excellent team cooperation, are ranked fourth. After experiencing this comeback victory, the Mavericks have temporarily stabilized their footing, ranking fifth. The Lakers have been working hard to catch up; although it is difficult for them to surpass the Grizzlies, they are only one game behind the fourth-ranked Nuggets, with the possibility of a reversal at any time.
Further down, the Timberwolves, Clippers, Warriors, Spurs, Kings, Suns, and others are not to be underestimated. In the remaining schedule, each game may change the ranking situation