With the Thunder's 14-game winning streak, the Lakers and Spurs suffered heavy defeats, while the Nuggets staged a comeback to beat the Rockets; the NBA Western Conference rankings have been released!

On December 6th, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued with multiple fierce matchups ending today. The Lakers, without their main players, suffered a 105-126 loss to the Celtics. The Nuggets pulled off a stunning 134-133 comeback victory against the Hawks. The Spurs were beaten badly by the Cavaliers 117-130, the Trail Blazers narrowly lost to the Pistons 116-122, the Jazz were overwhelmed by the Knicks 112-146, the Suns fell to the Rockets 98-117, the Clippers were edged out 98-107 by the Grizzlies, and the Mavericks were routed 111-132 by the defending champion Thunder. As a result, the latest Western Conference standings are out: the Thunder lead with 14 straight wins, the Rockets are second, the Lakers third, and the Nuggets fourth!

Lakers vs. Celtics. The Lakers played with a depleted lineup missing several key players. The Celtics exploded offensively, dominating the game and hitting 24 three-pointers to crush the Lakers soundly and secure their fourth straight win!

Nuggets vs. Hawks. The Hawks, playing at home, started aggressively with a strong offense, scoring 41-23 in the first quarter. They extended their lead to as much as 23 points in the second quarter. However, the Nuggets halted their slump in time and engaged in a back-and-forth battle with the Hawks. Led by Jokic, they outscored the Hawks 40-30 over the second half and completed an incredible comeback!

Spurs vs. Cavaliers. The Spurs took the lead during the first half on the road. But in the third quarter, their interior defense collapsed as the Cavaliers unleashed a 44-19 scoring run, creating a huge gap. The Cavaliers maintained their substantial lead in the final quarter and ultimately reversed the game to defeat the Spurs!

Trail Blazers vs. Pistons. Facing the Eastern Conference leaders, the Pistons, the Trail Blazers trailed at halftime but erased the deficit in the second half, closing to within one point. In the decisive final quarter, both teams exchanged baskets in a fierce battle. However, the Pistons had more scoring options and eventually outlasted the Trail Blazers. It seems the Trail Blazers can compete with anyone, but they fall short in clutch moments due to weak finishing ability.

Suns vs. Rockets. Without Sengun, the Rockets started off cold, but Dillon caught fire early, scoring repeatedly to help the Suns take control. Then the game shifted dramatically as Durant sparked a scoring surge, leading the Rockets to outscore the Suns 44-27 and 29-14 in the second and third quarters. By the third quarter, the Rockets had built a large lead, and they controlled the pace in the final period to complete a comeback victory over the Suns!

Clippers vs. Grizzlies. The Clippers had just ended their losing streak by beating a depleted Hawks team in the previous round. Against the Grizzlies, the first half was a back-and-forth battle with neither side gaining a clear advantage; the Clippers led by 4 at halftime. In the second half, the Clippers suddenly went cold offensively, with Harden missing many shots. The Grizzlies combined inside and outside play to outscore the Clippers 30-23 in the third quarter, expanding their lead to double digits. The Clippers remained ineffective in the final quarter with no one stepping up to score, allowing the Grizzlies to secure a steady victory!

Mavericks vs. Thunder. The first quarter was evenly matched, ending tied at 27. However, in the second and third quarters, led by Alexander, the Thunder pulled away significantly, scoring 36-21 and 41-26 respectively, building a commanding 30-point lead. The Thunder maintained control in the final quarter despite a strong Mavericks comeback attempt. The Thunder’s 14-game winning streak is truly impressive, with Alexander playing a stellar three-quarter performance to easily secure the win!

Written by / Sports Novel