NBA Western Conference Latest Rankings: Kings Create NBA Miracle, Nuggets Aim for 3rd, Warriors Drop to 11th On January 13, 2025, Beijing time, there were 9 NBA games today, involving the Nuggets, Mavericks, Suns, Thunder, Kings, Pelicans, and Jazz. After the games, the Western Conference standings have changed. The Thunder played away against the Wizards. Although they were missing Chet and Caruso, they had a huge advantage and did not give the Wizards any chance. They won by 12 points in the first quarter, 12 points in the second quarter, and 11 points in the third quarter. The suspense was lost after three quarters, and the Thunder eventually won by 41 points. Alexander scored 27 points with 5 of 17 shots, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists, while Wiggins scored 23 points with 7 of 12 shots, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists. On the Wizards' side, Kispert scored 17 points with 6 of 9 shots. After the win, the Thunder remained at the top of the Western Conference with a record of 32 wins and 6 losses, leading the Rockets by 6.5 games. The Kings played away against the Bulls, and this game was very close. Both sides took the lead several times, with the largest gap being only 8 points. With 2 minutes left in the game, the gap was only 1 point. In the last 2 minutes, the Kings performed better and eventually defeated the Bulls by 5 points, securing their seventh consecutive victory. Xiaosa scored 22 points with 8 of 10 shots, 15 rebounds, and 8 assists, while…

The Houston Rockets have made a significant move that has left fans buzzing: they've offered a package of Dillon Brooks, Whitmore, and two draft picks to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for All-Star center Domantas Sabonis. Is this deal worth it? Will the Rockets' gamble pay off, or could they end up losing everything? Regardless, the message from this trade is clear: the Rockets are no longer content with being in rebuilding mode; their sights are set on the playoffs and even the championship. The reason for so much discussion around this trade lies in the Rockets' offer. Dillon Brooks is a tough defensive player, Whitmore is a first-round pick this year, and there are two draft picks included—this is already a substantial offer. With over ten first-round picks at their disposal, the Rockets have a "rich" foundation that gives them more weight in the trade market. Looking at the Kings' situation, it may be the key opportunity that the Rockets have seized upon. The Kings' core point guard, De'Aaron Fox, has recently missed several games due to injury, causing the team's performance to plummet. While Sabonis is an excellent player as the Kings' interior anchor, he is also one of the team's tradeable assets. For the Kings, who are considering their future direction, trading Sabonis for young potential and draft picks might just be a chance for a fresh start. In this context, the trade seems not to be a castle in the air but entirely possible. If the trade goes through, Sabonis will join forces with the Rockets'…

Can you imagine? This season's Celtics, hailed as the "most stable championship favorites," were unexpectedly crushed at home by the Kings, who were missing their core player! Did they underestimate their opponent? Or did the Kings suddenly transform into a super team overnight? This match, dubbed the "biggest upset of the season," not only shocked everyone but also sparked a deep reflection on the entire league's landscape: have we overestimated the Celtics? Honestly, the moment the result of this game came out, many people were probably stunned. The Celtics, with star players like Tatum, Brown, Porzingis, and Holiday, should have locked in the suspense of the game. But this team, which usually emphasizes "multiple scoring points," suddenly experienced a collective "power outage." Throughout the game, only three players scored in double digits, and their offensive performance was so lackluster that it made the home fans suffer like running a marathon. To put it bluntly, the Celtics' loss was not due to being overwhelmed by the opposition but because they ruined a good hand themselves. On the other hand, the Kings have left an impression of "not quite enough to be considered top-tier, yet better than many" throughout the season. However, in this game, they had a party-level explosion. The Kings' "four giants" - DeRozan, Sabonis, Monk, and Murray - combined for 86 points, 38 rebounds, and 21 assists. Not only did they directly defeat the Celtics head-on, but they also delivered the most perfect game of the season for the Kings. Especially Sabonis, with 28 rebounds in a single game,…

Recently, there's been a poignant scene in the NBA: The Kings, without their top star De'Aaron Fox due to injury, have managed to win five games in a row! You might call it a coincidence, but this streak coincides with the turmoil surrounding Fox's contract renewal issues with the team. This raises a big question: When the team collectively celebrates victories, is that once "core" player still as important? It turns out that Fox has gotten himself into quite a predicament. He turned down the Kings' offer of a three-year, 165millionmaxcontractextension,insistingonafive−year,165 million max contract extension, insisting on a five-year, 165millionmaxcontractextension,insistingonafive−year,346 million supermax deal. That's a hefty sum, indeed. However, the question remains: Does his performance justify such a contract? The team seems to be doing better without him, which is quite unsettling. Let's delve into this matter and see what's really going on. Every player has the right to pursue higher pay, after all, it's the nature of professional sports. But this time, Fox and his agent, Rich Paul, seem to have taken too big a step. In the eyes of his agent, Fox should be among the league's top-tier players, on par with superstars like Luka Doncic and Jayson Tatum. In reality, though, Fox's resume includes only one playoff appearance. We're not talking about explosive stats here; his leadership abilities alone are questionable. American media can't help but speak with data: Fox's effective field goal percentage and defensive impact rank only in the upper-middle range among point guards in the league, far from being at the "ceiling" level. Experts…

The Grizzlies faced off against the Kings on the road and ultimately suffered a disappointing defeat with a score of 133 - 138. The game was fiercely contested, but in the crucial moments, the Kings managed to pull away. It's worth noting that the Grizzlies were without several key players, including Morant, which left them at a clear disadvantage defensively. Despite a resurgence in their offensive performance, they were unable to change the outcome of the game. In particular, the Kings displayed an impressive offensive firepower, launching a full-scale offensive assault. In this match, a total of six players from both teams scored over 20 points, making it a thrilling offensive showcase with continuous scoring highlights that left viewers somewhat overwhelmed and dazzled. The Grizzlies made efforts to catch up on the scoreboard, but their performance in the opening stages was subpar, especially in the first quarter when the Kings quickly took the lead with a single-quarter score of 46 - 32. This put significant pressure on the Grizzlies, making it difficult for them to respond. However, the Grizzlies showed resilience, gradually finding their footing in the second quarter and even reducing the gap to just six points at one point. At halftime, the Kings maintained a narrow lead of 78 - 72. However, in the third quarter, the Kings launched another 9-0 offensive surge, instantly widening the gap that had been gradually closing. The previous efforts of the Grizzlies seemed to have been wasted as they returned to a more passive position. Despite being known for their tenacity, the…

On January 11, 2025, the NBA court was filled with excitement as a total of 7 intense matches were scheduled. Let's take a look at the highlights of these games and the latest rankings in the Western Conference. Firstly, in the match between the Golden State Warriors and the Indiana Pacers, the Warriors suffered a defeat with a score of 96:108. This loss caused the Warriors to drop to tenth place in the Western Conference standings. The New Orleans Pelicans also had an impressive victory over the Philadelphia 76ers, winning 123:115. Meanwhile, the Orlando Magic's core player, Banchero, returned from injury, but the team still lost to the Milwaukee Bucks with a score of 106:109. The Oklahoma City Thunder displayed their strength on the road, defeating the New York Knicks 126:101. The Sacramento Kings made a remarkable performance against the Boston Celtics, winning 114:97 and achieving a six-game winning streak, becoming a dark horse in the Western Conference. The Chicago Bulls also won against the Washington Wizards with a score of 138:105. Additionally, the Denver Nuggets defeated the Brooklyn Nets. In the highly anticipated game where the Warriors faced the Pacers, the Warriors lost on the road with a score of 96:108. Notably, the Warriors' three key players, Curry, Green, and Wiggins, were unable to participate due to various reasons, significantly weakening the team's overall strength. The Pacers, taking advantage of this opportunity with a complete lineup, easily overcame the Warriors and achieved a five-game winning streak. After this game, the Warriors' situation is not optimistic, with a record of…

In the current NBA league, teams often prefer to build multi-core superstar lineups in pursuit of championships. This trend became particularly evident after the Celtics successfully won the title last season, showcasing the advantages of a multi-core lineup: strong bottom-line capabilities, reduced impact from injuries, and an easier path to winning the championship. The Celtics have maintained a high win rate this season, consistently ranking second in the Eastern Conference, just behind the Cavaliers. As defending champions, all contending teams in the league view them as their primary rival, believing that to win the championship, they must possess the ability to defeat the Celtics. This season, teams such as the Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Pelicans, and Kings are emulating the Celtics by forming multi-core superstar lineups. The Knicks' lineup of Brunson, Towns, Bridges, and Anunoby has been very successful, achieving the third-best record in the East and closely following the Cavaliers and Celtics in their quest for the championship. The 76ers have assembled a trio of Embiid, George, and Maxey, currently ranked 11th in the East and still striving to "march north." The Pelicans have formed a four-core lineup of Zion Williamson, Ingram, Dejounte Murray, and McCollum, but with the worst record in the West, they are preparing to tank for the number one draft pick. The Kings acquired DeRozan during the offseason and built a four-core superstar lineup featuring Fox, DeRozan, Sabonis, and Keegan Murray. However, the Kings started the season poorly, ranking only 13th in the West, third from the bottom, which was quite uncomfortable. To change their downward…

On January 11th, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued. Let's take a look at the latest completed games and changes in the standings. The main information is as follows: The Thunder defeated the Knicks 126-101, the Warriors lost to the Pacers 96-108, the Pelicans beat the 76ers 123-115, the Bucks narrowly won against the Magic 109-106, and the Kings defeated the Celtics 114-97! The latest Western Conference standings: The first-place Thunder maintained their hot shooting on the road against the Knicks, scoring 70 points in the first half and quickly opening up a lead of more than 20 points. They held off the Knicks' counterattack in the third quarter and eventually defeated them easily with a score of 126-101, achieving a double-kill. With a record of 31 wins and 6 losses, they remain firmly atop the Western Conference, leading the second-place Rockets by 6 games. Alexander shot 21 for 15 and made all 8 free throws to easily score 39 points, while Joe shot 16 for 11, including 8 for 10 from three-point range, to score 31 points. The Knicks failed to challenge for the top two spots in the East and continue to rank third in the East with a record of 25 wins and 14 losses. Brunson scored 27 points and 5 assists on 15 shots, and Towns had 23 points and 10 rebounds. The Thunder maintain their lead in the West: The Knicks' loss meant that the second-place Celtics in the East were unable to extend their win difference. They also lost today, suffering a 97-114…

On January 11th, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued, with the reigning champion Celtics facing off against the Kings at home. The Kings carried on their recent excellent form, taking control of the game and even widening the gap at one point. However, after the Celtics launched a counterattack, both teams became embroiled in a seesaw battle. In the final quarter, the Kings scored continuously to pull away, ultimately defeating the defending champions 114-97 and securing their sixth consecutive victory. In the first quarter, Brown hit a one-on-one shot, Monk sank a three-pointer, and Porzingis immediately responded in kind. Both teams started well offensively, with Murray hitting two consecutive threes. The scoring went back and forth, with the lead changing hands. Sabonis and Ellis hit threes, giving the Kings the upper hand. Porzingis hit a three to stop the bleeding, but Sabonis hit another three, causing the Celtics' offense to dip. Monk hit another three, giving the Kings a 27-20 lead. Tatum hit a three to keep up, DeRozan scored on a drive, Carter hit a three, and Pritchard responded, leaving the Celtics trailing 27-34 at the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter, the Celtics launched a counterattack, while the Kings' shooting dropped sharply, with only one successful attempt out of their first ten shots. Porzingis hit a three, White completed a 2+1 play, and a 16-3 run helped the Celtics take the lead. Lyles made free throws to stem the tide, Ellis completed a 2+1 play to stabilize the situation, and Tatum hit a three.…

In the recently concluded NBA games, the competition in the West has intensified, especially with the rise of the Kings and the disappointing performance of the Warriors, which has drawn widespread attention. On January 11th, Beijing time, the results of three Western matchups not only captured the fans' attention but also brought significant changes to the Western rankings. The Warriors' performance was disappointing as they struggled without their star players Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. In this matchup, despite attempting to compensate for the absence of their two main players by adjusting their starting lineup, the Warriors were unable to find their rhythm against the fully-staffed Pacers. After the first quarter, the Warriors made a brief comeback, but the outstanding performances of the Pacers' Haliburton and Siakam quickly removed any doubt about the outcome of the game. Especially Haliburton, who contributed 14 points and multiple assists in the first half, becoming a key figure in the Pacers' offensive efforts. Ultimately, the Warriors suffered a 108-96 defeat, causing their ranking to slip from 9th to 10th, facing intense competitive pressure. Meanwhile, the Kings' performance was like a breath of fresh air, stunning everyone. In their game against the Celtics, although they trailed at one point in the first half, their second-half surge allowed them to turn the tide. Monk's excellent play became a crucial factor in the Kings' reversal, while Sabonis' dominance in the paint left the Celtics helpless. The Kings ultimately won 114-97, securing their sixth consecutive victory. During this winning streak, the Kings not only improved their ranking but…