With the Spurs completing a sweep over the Thunder, the Rockets dominating the Lakers, and the Nuggets defeating the Wolves, the NBA Western Conference standings have been updated.

On December 26th Beijing time, the NBA regular season went on with four recent games: the Spurs defeated the Thunder 117-102 for a third victory, the Mavericks lost 116-126 to the Warriors, the Rockets thoroughly beat the Lakers 119-96, and the Timberwolves fell 138-142 to the Nuggets in overtime. Consequently, the updated standings show the Thunder with their fourth defeat yet still in first place, the Spurs holding second with eight straight wins, the Nuggets third, the Lakers fourth after three consecutive losses, the Timberwolves fifth, and the Rockets sixth!

Spurs vs. Thunder. The Spurs have been very strong this season, boasting a 7-game winning streak and sitting comfortably in second place. They have already beaten the defending champion Thunder twice, and today marked their third meeting—truly a fierce rivalry. The Thunder sought revenge but were unsuccessful. The Spurs, relying on their powerful interior defense, effectively suppressed the Thunder’s offensive threats, completely dominating and preventing them from penetrating or hitting mid-range shots. The Spurs maintained the lead throughout and easily completed a sweep over the Thunder, proving to be their nemesis with overwhelming control!

Mavericks vs. Warriors. The Warriors came out aggressively at home, firing on all cylinders in the first quarter to score 40-28 and quickly build a double-digit lead. The rest of the game turned into a tug-of-war, with the Warriors consistently maintaining a comfortable double-digit advantage. The Mavericks struggled to organize their offense and close the gap, ultimately being overwhelmed as the Warriors secured an easy victory!

Rockets vs. Lakers. Both teams have recently been trapped in losing streaks, with the Rockets even at the bottom of the standings. This game was a high-stakes battle where one team was bound to end their skid. From the start, the Rockets took the initiative, playing aggressively on the road with multiple scoring threats to extend the lead. The Lakers couldn’t resist the pressure and quickly collapsed, with the gap widening steadily until the Lakers suffered a humiliating third straight loss to the Rockets!

Timberwolves vs. Nuggets. Both teams are in the top six, making this matchup a key clash. In the first half, they fought fiercely with no team able to pull away, the score difference remaining just 2 points. However, after halftime, the Nuggets dominated the third quarter with a 35-23 run to take a significant lead. In the final quarter, the Timberwolves launched a strong comeback with a 37-23 run, with Edwards hitting a clutch three-pointer to tie the game. In overtime, the Timberwolves initially took the lead by 9 points, but the Nuggets quickly responded with multiple scorers leveling the score. At a critical moment, Edwards made consecutive mistakes, and with Jokic’s 50+ point triple-double performance, the Nuggets overcame the Timberwolves!

Written by / Sports Novel