As the Rockets defeated the Pistons, the Suns narrowly lost to the Hawks, and the Pelicans overcame the Grizzlies, the latest NBA Western Conference rankings have been released.

On January 24th Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued. In the latest finished matchups, the Rockets defeated the Eastern Conference’s top Pistons 111-104, the Suns were beaten by the Hawks 103-110, the Kings narrowly lost to the strong Eastern squad Cavaliers 118-123, and the Pelicans won an offensive showdown against the Grizzlies 133-127. Consequently, the newest Western Conference rankings have been revealed: Rockets moved up to fourth, Suns hold sixth, Grizzlies sit at twelfth, and Pelicans remain last!

Rockets vs. Pistons. Facing the Eastern Conference leaders Pistons who had won four straight, the Rockets faced a tough battle. Both teams played well in the first half, each winning a quarter by 8 points, ending the half tied at 52. In the second half, Durant was highly efficient for the Pistons, while Shepard’s active play off the bench kept the Rockets’ offense alive. They outscored the Pistons 34-20 in the third quarter, leading by 14 going into the final period. The Pistons kept chipping away at the score in the fourth, but the Rockets maintained composure and consistently scored to extinguish the comeback attempt, ultimately winning the game. Durant was instrumental with 32 points in 40 minutes on back-to-back nights, while Sengun struggled badly, grabbing only 1 rebound!

Suns vs. Hawks. The Suns, riding a three-game winning streak, faced the Hawks on the road. The Suns started hot, scoring from multiple players and building a 4-point lead in the first quarter. In the second, the Hawks launched an offensive surge, with McCollum dominating and helping the team outscore the Suns by 9 points in the quarter, leading to a 5-point deficit at halftime. In the second half, the Hawks’ offense cooled down, but Booker exploded offensively for the Suns, putting up 32 points in the third quarter and helping the Suns take a 7-point lead into the fourth. However, Booker had to leave due to injury. In the final quarter, the Suns suddenly collapsed offensively, missing key shots, while the Hawks mounted a fierce comeback, outscoring them 26-12 in the period and sealing the game with a decisive run. The Hawks ended the Suns’ three-game winning streak!

Kings vs. Cavaliers. Against the second-to-last Western team Kings, the Cavaliers did not have an easy game. The first half was a high-scoring back-and-forth battle, with the Kings leading by 3 points at halftime. In the second half, the Cavaliers stepped up their game, breaking the defense with drives and outside shooting, outscoring the Kings by 12 points in the third quarter. In the final period, the Kings fought hard to close the gap and bring suspense back, but their momentum faded, and missed shots piled up. Ultimately, the Cavaliers secured the victory over the Kings!

Pelicans vs. Grizzlies. This game featured an offensive showcase from both teams, with the first quarter ending tied at 30. In the second and third quarters, both teams traded blows, but the Grizzlies’ offense was stronger, outscoring the Pelicans 35-30 and 36-33, building a 7-point lead. However, in the final quarter, the Grizzlies suddenly lost energy, giving the Pelicans an opportunity. The Pelicans exploded offensively, scoring 40 points in the quarter and dominating the Grizzlies. Ultimately, three Pelicans players scored 20+ points, overwhelming the Grizzlies!

Written by / Tiyu Novel