Following the Lakers' heavy defeat to the Hornets, the Trail Blazers' big win, and the Warriors' victory over the Knicks, the NBA Western Conference standings have been updated.

On January 17th Beijing time, the NBA regular season battles continued. Yesterday’s four games ended with the Jazz getting trounced 122-144 by a depleted Mavericks team, the Knicks losing 113-126 to a Warriors squad firing from three-point range, the Hawks falling 101-117 to the Trail Blazers, and the Hornets storming past the Lakers 135-117. Consequently, the updated Western Conference standings place the Lakers fifth, the Warriors eighth with two straight wins, the Trail Blazers ninth, and the Clippers climbing to eleventh with a four-game winning streak!

Jazz vs. Mavericks. Despite the Mavericks playing without key players like Davis and Flagg, the Jazz’s defense was too weak. The Mavericks went all out, with every player contributing fiercely on offense. Each quarter they scored over 30 points, seven players reached double digits, and the whole team overwhelmed the Jazz, securing a decisive victory!

Knicks vs. Warriors. The Knicks started strong on the road with efficient offense and built a lead. The Warriors fought back relentlessly, and after the first quarter, they trailed by just 5 points. Then the Knicks suddenly went cold, allowing the Warriors to take control. Curry and Butler performed well on both ends, and the Warriors exploded with 20 three-pointers, overwhelming the Knicks and clinching a big win!

Hawks vs. Trail Blazers. Both teams showed fluctuating form in the first half. The Trail Blazers came out strong at home, winning the first quarter by 8 points. The Hawks responded with a powerful second quarter, outscoring by 10 points to take the lead. The second half turned into an offensive shootout with a 31-34 quarter. The Trail Blazers entered the fourth quarter up by one. In the final period, the Hawks’ offense stalled again, while the Trail Blazers spread the scoring around and dominated with a 29-14 run, sealing the game. Yang Hansen did not get playing time in this match!

Hornets vs. Lakers. Facing the weaker Eastern Conference Hornets, the Lakers played at home. The first quarter was an offensive battle, with Doncic going on a scoring spree helping the Lakers build a 9-point lead. In the second quarter, the Lakers’ offense declined sharply, missing many shots, while the Hornets fired on all cylinders, outscoring 34-16 to take the lead. In the final quarter, Doncic and James battled against the Hornets’ multiple scorers, with the quarter ending 40-38, but the Hornets maintained a large lead. The Lakers’ shooting remained poor, and the Hornets kept applying pressure, extending the margin. Despite Doncic and James combining for 68 points, the Lakers ultimately lost badly!

Written by / Sports Novel