Following the Thunder's loss to the Timberwolves, the Rockets' big win, and the Nuggets' narrow victory over the Suns, the NBA Western Conference standings have been updated.

On January 31st Beijing time, the NBA regular season went on with multiple games finished yesterday: the Kings lost 111-113 to the 76ers, the Rockets dominated the Hawks 104-86, the Hornets edged out the Mavericks 123-121, the Nets narrowly fell 103-107 to the Nuggets, the Pistons were defeated 96-114 by the Suns, and the Thunder were soundly beaten 111-123 by the Timberwolves. Consequently, the updated Western Conference standings show the Thunder first, Nuggets third, Rockets fourth, and the Timberwolves riding a three-game winning streak in fifth place!

Rockets vs. Hawks. Facing the Hawks on a four-game winning streak, both teams struggled offensively in the first half, playing evenly with neither side able to pull away. The Rockets led by just one point at halftime. In the second half, the Hawks’ offense remained stagnant, while Durant exploded for the Rockets, leading a balanced attack that produced a 35-24 scoring run, extending the lead into double digits. In the final quarter, the Hawks continued to struggle scoring, and the Rockets capitalized with Shepard’s hot shooting to further widen the gap, ultimately cruising to a commanding victory thanks to their second-half surge!

Nets vs. Nuggets. Porter started strong for the Nets, helping them seize an early lead, but the Nuggets responded with a balanced attack, taking a 4-point lead after the first quarter. In the second quarter, the Nuggets intensified their offense with strong inside and outside play, outscoring the Nets 34-23 and leading by 15 at halftime. However, in the second half, the Nuggets’ offense sharply declined, while Porter led a spirited Nets comeback with aggressive drives and perimeter shooting, cutting the deficit to 3 points after three quarters. The final quarter was tightly contested with suspense until the Nuggets showed their strength, as Murray took over to secure a hard-fought win, preventing a major upset!

Thunder vs. Timberwolves. This game featured the Western Conference’s top-ranked Thunder facing the Timberwolves. The Timberwolves’ three-point shooting was on fire, with all five starters performing efficiently. They dominated the Thunder throughout the game, hitting 22 three-pointers and overwhelming their opponents. Alexander tried to carry the Thunder alone but couldn’t prevent the heavy defeat as the Thunder suffered another tough loss!

According to today’s schedule, nine games will be played, which will likely cause changes in the rankings. Let’s wait and see what unfolds!

Written by / Sports Novel