With the Thunder's shocking upset loss to the Spurs, the NBA Western Conference standings have been updated: the Spurs leapfrog the Lakers to claim fourth place!

On December 14th Beijing time, the NBA Cup semifinals kicked off with the Thunder playing the Spurs in the West. After a fierce four-quarter battle, the Spurs had four players scoring 20+ points and edged out the Thunder 111-109. This win snapped the Thunder’s 16-game winning streak and propelled the Spurs into the finals. As a result, the updated Western Conference standings show the Thunder leading first, Nuggets and Rockets sharing third place, Spurs rising to fourth with a three-game winning streak, and the Lakers falling to fifth!

The Thunder versus the Spurs matchup featured last season’s defending champions, the Thunder, who retained their core roster this season and have been unstoppable. Apart from one loss to the Trail Blazers, they have won every game, currently riding a 16-game winning streak with top-tier offense and defense. They made it to the NBA Cup semifinals, where they faced the Spurs. The Spurs have also been consistent this season, showing signs of returning to elite status. This game was especially notable with the mid-season return of Wembanyama, adding much excitement!

At the start of the game, the Thunder, playing at home, immediately turned up the intensity, scoring from multiple players and catching the Spurs off guard. They dominated the first quarter 31-20, securing a double-digit lead. In the second quarter, the Spurs tightened their defense to contain the Thunder’s offense. Wembanyama’s return was impressive, helping the Spurs outscore the Thunder 26-18 that quarter, cutting the halftime deficit to just 3 points. The second half saw a fierce back-and-forth battle, with neither team able to pull away, maintaining a deadlock through to the final moments of the fourth quarter. In the decisive moments, both teams committed fouls leading to a free-throw showdown, where the Spurs edged the Thunder by 2 points, decisively ending the Thunder’s 16-game winning streak!

From this game, the Spurs performed exceptionally well, with four players scoring over 20 points, demonstrating a well-rounded offense. Wembanyama’s return immediately elevated the Spurs’ competitiveness, shutting down the Thunder’s offense. It’s clear the Spurs with Wembanyama are incredibly strong, playing with precision and depth. The Thunder couldn’t dominate alone and suffered their second loss of the season, ending their 16-game winning streak. Nevertheless, the Thunder remain firmly in first place in the West, while the Spurs have secured their third consecutive win and overtaken the Lakers to move into fourth place!

Written by / Sports Novel