With the Rockets' upset, the Nuggets defeating the Bucks, the Suns winning big and the Warriors losing, the NBA Western Conference rankings have been revealed.

On January 13th Beijing time, the NBA regular season battles went on, featuring several heated matches yesterday. The Bucks fell short 103-108 against a shorthanded Nuggets squad, the Wizards collapsed 93-112 to the Suns, the Hawks easily overcame the Warriors 124-111, and the Rockets were upset 98-111 by the low-ranked Kings. Thus, the newest Western Conference rankings are: Nuggets in third place, Suns riding a 3-game win streak at sixth, Rockets suffering a 3-game skid at seventh, and Warriors at eighth!

In the Bucks versus Nuggets game, both Jokic and Murray were still absent, but the Nuggets’ bench stepped up strongly, dominating at home and maintaining control over the Bucks throughout, leading by 11 points after three quarters. In contrast, the Bucks’ key players were outmatched, with little support from teammates, ultimately losing narrowly to the Nuggets by a slim margin!

In the Wizards versus Suns matchup, there was little suspense. Facing the struggling Eastern Conference Wizards, the Suns executed very smooth offense, relentlessly attacking and steadily increasing their lead. By the third quarter, the game was effectively decided. Although the Suns eased up in the final quarter and the Wizards attempted a comeback to close the gap, it was too late. Ultimately, six Suns players scored in double digits, easily crushing the Wizards and securing a 3-game winning streak!

In the Hawks versus Warriors game, the first quarter was evenly matched with both teams trading blows. However, as the game progressed, the Hawks diversified their scoring and gradually achieved high-efficiency offense. The Warriors relied heavily on Curry and Butler, lacking a third scoring option, and were consistently pressured by the Hawks. In the final quarter, the Hawks played steadily and comfortably secured the victory over the Warriors!

In the Rockets versus Kings game, the Rockets played on the road with Sengun returning to boost their strength. However, against the league’s last-place Kings, the Rockets struggled offensively and could not gain momentum. The game was a tug-of-war with no clear lead. DeRozan’s hot shooting kept the Kings ahead, and by halftime, the Rockets trailed by three points. In the final quarter, the Rockets’ offense remained cold, while the Kings executed smooth multi-point attacks and ran away with the game. Monk helped the Kings post a 33-22 quarter score, leading to a shocking upset over the Rockets!

Written by / Sports Novels