Western Conference standings shaken up! Rockets rise to third, Clippers reclaim ninth, Spurs dominate while Warriors lose

21/02/2026 08:06:00 pandatv

On February 21st Beijing time, the NBA regular season reignited with five games concluding yesterday. The Rockets edged the Hornets 105-101, the Spurs crushed the Suns 121-94, the Celtics defeated the Warriors 121-110, the Magic routed the Kings 131-94, and the Nuggets narrowly lost to the Clippers 114-115. As a result, the latest Western Conference rankings are out: Spurs with a 7-game winning streak sit second, Rockets climb to third, and Clippers move up to ninth!

Rockets vs. Hornets. Facing the Eastern Conference giant slayers, the Hornets, both teams showed fluctuating form in the first half, each dominating one quarter. The Rockets struggled offensively in the first quarter while the Hornets fired on all cylinders, leading by 9. In the second quarter, the Rockets dominated with a 10-point advantage, taking a 1-point lead at halftime. The second half turned into a fierce tug-of-war with neither side able to pull away. Durant was unstoppable for the Rockets, scoring effortlessly and crucially helping them overcome the surging Hornets!

Suns vs. Spurs. The Spurs, riding a hot streak with 6 consecutive wins, hosted the Suns who are fighting for a play-in spot. The Suns were completely overwhelmed by the Spurs, with Vembanyama excelling on both ends and leading efficient scoring. The Spurs unleashed their full firepower, dominating the first three quarters with all scorers hitting 30+, effectively deciding the game early. The Spurs eased off in the final quarter, and the Suns showed no signs of a comeback. Ultimately, six Spurs players scored in double digits in a team-wide effort securing a big win, extending their streak to 7 and solidifying second place in the West!

Celtics vs. Warriors. The second-place Eastern Conference Celtics visited the Warriors. From the start, both teams traded heavy offense in an exciting back-and-forth, with the Celtics holding a slight 4-point edge. In the second quarter, the Warriors collapsed, struggling with poor shooting from multiple players. The Celtics took advantage, pouring in points and outscoring the Warriors 38-19 to open a lead beyond 20 points. In the second half, the Celtics continued to dominate, increasing the gap further. The game became out of reach. The Warriors awakened in the final quarter with a fierce rally, but the deficit was too large to overcome. Ultimately, the Celtics comfortably defeated the Warriors, who were without Curry!

Nuggets vs. Clippers. This game was closely contested with both teams evenly matched. The first quarter saw low shooting percentages leading to a tight battle. In the second and third quarters, each team had a strong period, and after three quarters the difference was just 1 point. The final quarter featured an intense offensive showdown with high scoring and fast pace. The Clippers’ new addition, Matherlin, delivered an efficient performance with 38 points and 5 assists, helping the Clippers secure a victory over the Nuggets!