Western Conference Latest Rankings: Rockets Lose to Heat with 7 Ejections, Grizzlies Suffer Defeat to Thunder
On December 30th, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued. The Rockets lost at home to the Heat 100-104, suffering a big comeback and an intense conflict that escalated into a brawl. Meanwhile, the Thunder defeated the Grizzlies 130-106, securing their 11th consecutive victory and maintaining their top spot in the Western Conference.
Heat-Rockets
In the first half of the game, the Rockets trailed by 3 points at home. Shen Jing continued his impressive performance, scoring 14 points on 7-for-7 shooting in two quarters. However, Jalen Green struggled, making only 1 of 8 shots in the first half. If the Rockets really initiate a major trade, it is more likely that Jalen Green will be traded, as Shen Jing has become the team's first core player. In the third quarter, the Rockets collapsed the Heat, unleashing a 23-8 run in less than 7 minutes, extending the lead to double digits. However, the Heat quickly adjusted and caught up, ending the quarter with a 32-28 score, leaving the Rockets with only a 1-point lead over the Heat at the end of three quarters. In the fourth quarter, at a critical moment, Jovic of the Heat hit a three-pointer, helping the Heat expand the lead to 4 points. However, the Rockets also made a low-level mistake with a 5-second violation on the inbound pass. VanVleet was ejected for arguing with the referee.
The final stages were truly eventful. Besides VanVleet's ejection, Amen and Herro engaged in a wrestling match, and Rockets coach Udoka rushed over and was also ejected. Due to too many people getting involved in the altercation, the referees took some time before finally making their rulings. Udoka, Jalen Green, and Amen from the Rockets, along with assistant coaches, were ejected from the court. From the Heat, Herro and Rozier were also ejected. A total of 7 people were ejected in this game, including players, head coaches, and assistant coaches, making it the most intense conflict of the 2024-25 season so far.
Ultimately, the Rockets lost to the Heat 100-104, a defeat they should not have suffered and one that will likely result in fines. The Rockets had the opportunity to reclaim second place in the West but remain behind the Grizzlies.
Grizzlies-Thunder
In the first half of the game, the Grizzlies completely collapsed. They only trailed by 3 points in the first quarter, but by the second quarter, the Thunder, led by Alexander, went on a rampage, outscoring the Grizzlies 42-19 in a single quarter. By halftime, the Grizzlies were already down by 26 points. In the third quarter, the gap continued to widen. Alexander was unstoppable on both ends of the court, even hitting a buzzer-beating layup, finishing the third quarter with over 35 points. He is the MVP of the season so far. In the fourth quarter, the game quickly lost its suspense, and both teams brought in their bench players early. Ultimately, the Thunder defeated the Grizzlies 130-106, a one-sided battle between the first and second-ranked teams in the West.
Interestingly, back in December 2021, the Grizzlies had a massive 73-point victory over the Thunder, winning 152-79. Now, the Thunder's thrashing of the Grizzlies seems like a grudge match. Alexander of the Thunder scored 35 points with 19 shots made out of 14 attempts, along with 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, and 4 blocks, reminiscent of Kobe Bryant in his prime. Jalen Williams contributed 14 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block, while Hartenstein added 12 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists. For the Grizzlies, Bane scored 22 points with 9 rebounds and 4 assists, and Jaren Jackson Jr. had 13 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block. It must be said that Morant's absence had a significant impact on the Grizzlies' offense, but Pippen Jr.'s outstanding performance this season makes him a qualified backup point guard.
Latest Western Conference Rankings
After the Grizzlies' defeat to the Thunder and the Rockets' loss to the Heat, the Western Conference standings have been updated. The Thunder, with their 11 consecutive victories, remain firmly in first place in the West. The Grizzlies, with a record of 22 wins and 11 losses, are still ranked second, while the Rockets, with 21 wins and 11 losses, are third and have now suffered two consecutive defeats.
