Kerr Surrenders with 4:39 Remaining: Curry and Wiggins Struggle as Warriors Suffer Another Humiliating Defeat On December 31st, Beijing time, the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Golden State Warriors to secure their seventh consecutive victory. The Warriors, known for their prowess in the third quarter, were defeated by the Cavaliers using their own strengths—three-point shooting and transition offense. The Cavaliers comfortably maintained a 20-point lead in the final quarter, ultimately securing the win and completing a season double over the Warriors, extending their winning streak across seasons to four games. This game marked the second encounter between the Cavaliers and the Warriors this season, resulting in a third consecutive victory for the Cavaliers against the Warriors. Prior to this season, the Cavaliers had suffered a 16-game losing streak against the Warriors, which ended with Game 5 of the 2017 Finals until the first match of the 2023-24 season. The rivalry between these two teams continues, with the Cavaliers currently leading the league and eager to extend their winning streak. They successfully achieved a four-game winning streak against the Warriors. In the first quarter, Curry struggled with his shooting, going 1 for 4 and 0 for 3 from three-point range, scoring only 2 points and 2 assists. Garland and Mitchell effectively limited Curry, but the Cavaliers' numerous turnovers—eight in the first quarter—gifted points to the Warriors. Schroder and Wiggins each scored 5 points, while the Warriors' nine-man rotation saw only Waters fail to score. The Cavaliers trailed the Warriors by one point at the end of the first quarter. The second quarter…

Trade Completed! Lakers Trade Russell, Smith Might Not Be That Great After All! On December 30th, Beijing time, Shams, a well-known reporter, brought a piece of important news: the Los Angeles Lakers and the Brooklyn Nets have reached a significant trade. The details of the trade are as follows: Lakers receive: Dorian Finney-Smith, Shake Milton; Nets receive: D'Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis, 3 second-round picks (2027, 2030, 2031, all from the Lakers). This is the second time Russell has been traded; he was selected by the Lakers and first traded to the Nets in June 2017. At that time, the Lakers were in a rebuilding phase, but due to Russell's inconsistent performance and poor relationships with his teammates, the Lakers management decided to send him away! On June 22, 2017, the Lakers officially traded with the Brooklyn Nets, exchanging D'Angelo Russell and Moisés Bamba for the Nets' overall draft pick, the 2018 second-round draft pick, and $1.79 million in cash. Now, Dillon has been sent to the Nets again, which is really liberating for him! In these years with the Lakers, as a point guard, he struggled on the court due to conflicts with James' playing style. Even when starting, he found it difficult to perform well without the ball. As a result, this season he was directly demoted to the bench, where his playing time was not guaranteed! Russell played his best game this season when James was absent. On October 9th, the Lakers played against the Trail Blazers at home, and James did not play in this game. Russell…

On December 31st, Beijing time, the NBA regular season saw the Warriors suffer a humiliating defeat at home to the Cavaliers. Stephen Curry had a tough night, shooting 4-of-14 from the field and 3-of-11 from three-point range, finishing with only 11 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists. He conceded defeat with a bitter smile 4 minutes and 39 seconds early. Dennis Schroder shot 4-of-11 for 12 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists, with a negative plus/minus of -24. Draymond Green shot 1-of-10 for 2 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists. The three key players combined for a dismal 9-of-35 shooting, including 5-of-17 from beyond the arc, scoring just 25 points, making them the culprits of the Warriors' crushing defeat. In the first quarter of the home game against the league-leading Cavaliers, all eight of the Warriors' rotation players scored, but they only led the Cavaliers by one point, 27-26. During this period, Curry shot 1-of-4 and missed all three of his three-point attempts, scoring only 2 points and 2 assists. In the second quarter, the Warriors struggled offensively, scoring only 3 points in nearly 7 minutes as the Cavaliers took the lead. The Warriors' offense remained lukewarm, and they trailed 38-46 at halftime. In the quarter, the team shot 4-of-24 overall and 0-of-8 from three-point range, scoring just 11 points. Curry went scoreless in two attempts and recorded no assists. In the first half, the Warriors' shooting percentage was only 30%, with a three-point shooting rate of 16.7% (3-of-18), setting a new low for the season. Despite the Cavaliers committing…

The Western Conference has always been a fiercely competitive division in the league, where the win-loss difference between teams is often minimal by the end of the season, and a single game can determine whether a team makes it to the playoffs. Therefore, every game in the West is crucial. The Clippers have not been overshadowed in terms of attention compared to the Warriors and Lakers in the league. This season, after the departure of George and Westbrook, many people were concerned about the Clippers' prospects. However, under Harden's leadership, the Clippers have presented a surprising record so far. And recently, they received another piece of good news: Leonard, who has been out since the beginning of the season, is expected to return and may choose to come back in the next one or two games. With Leonard's return, Western Conference teams might start feeling nervous as the Clippers will immediately become a top-tier powerhouse. Although they lost George, Powell has performed exceptionally well this season, averaging 24.2 points, which is already at an All-Star level. In fact, his performance this season far exceeds that of Paul George, making him one of the Clippers' giants in a strict sense. After Leonard's return, the Clippers will still have a trio of superstars. Harden, Powell, and Leonard will set sail again for the Clippers. The significance of Leonard's return lies in the fact that the Clippers will have more players capable of deciding games in critical moments. As we all know, Leonard is a player with excellent clutch abilities, averaging 24+6+4 last…

According to Shams Charania, a well-known journalist, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Brooklyn Nets have completed a trade. The Lakers acquired Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton, while the Nets received D'Angelo Russell, Maxey Lewis, and three second-round picks (from the Lakers in 2027, 2030, and 2031). After the trade was announced, it sparked significant discussion among American media outlets. Some experts believe that the addition of Finney-Smith may not live up to expectations, similar to the concerns when Russell Westbrook was traded to the team. However, these worries are unfounded; Finney-Smith is a good fit for the Lakers. Unlike Westbrook, he does not require a high usage rate of the ball, and it should be noted that any quality 3-and-D player has not had compatibility issues playing alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Finney-Smith is averaging 10.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists this season, with a three-point shooting percentage of 43.5%. He possesses excellent perimeter defense and the ability to switch defensively. Finney-Smith played a crucial role in the Dallas Mavericks' Western Conference Finals in 2022. After joining the Nets, he not only became a reliable spot-up shooter but was also used as a small-ball center. In addition to Finney-Smith, new addition Shake Milton is more than just a throw-in in the trade. Milton is averaging 7.4 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists this season, with a three-point shooting percentage of 38.9%. Milton has some ball-handling ability and can play off the ball, enhancing the Lakers' guard rotation with his strong defensive capabilities and efficient scoring off the…

Golden State Warriors' Future Leader: Kuminga The Golden State Warriors recently defeated the Phoenix Suns with a score of 109-105, swapping their records and moving up to ninth place in the West, avoiding consecutive losses. With a current record of 16 wins and 15 losses, it seems unlikely for the Warriors to win the championship this year, as Stephen Curry is aging and Draymond Green was never considered a cornerstone player. This may explain why the Warriors are reluctant to trade away future draft picks; the management may be relying on Curry to sell tickets for a few more years, saving on luxury taxes, and then rebuilding through the draft after Curry's retirement. Kuminga, who was almost traded last season, has now become an indispensable asset for the Warriors. If the team decides to rebuild in the future, Kuminga could lead the team's resurgence. At just 22 years old and already in his fourth year, he is younger than some rookies. Kuminga was selected as the 7th pick in the first round of the 2021 draft. In December, Kuminga scored over 30 points three times, including a game against the Houston Rockets where he scored 33 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists, outperforming fellow top pick Jalen Green and leading the team to victory. He also scored 34 points in recent games against the Los Angeles Clippers and the Suns. In the game against the Suns, Kuminga played like a true assassin, scoring 34 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal in 34 minutes, shooting 12 for 20 from…

The Lakers managed to win against the Kings without James, which has made things difficult for the Clippers as they have now dropped to sixth in the West. The uncertainty surrounding Leonard's injury has left the team in an awkward position. The Lakers' victory was unexpected, especially since they were able to win without James. This has put the Clippers in a difficult situation, as both teams now have the same record of 18 wins and 13 losses. However, the Clippers are ranked sixth due to their inferior record against Western Conference teams. The Lakers have been performing better than expected recently, with other players stepping up in James' absence, particularly Davis, whose consistent performance has helped maintain their competitiveness. The Clippers are currently feeling uncomfortable, as they had hoped that the Lakers would lose to the Kings without James, allowing them to secure the fifth spot in the West. However, reality has dealt them a heavy blow. The outcome of this game has significant implications for the Clippers, as they are about to embark on a three-game road trip against opponents of average strength. However, playing away is physically demanding, and their current lineup is not complete. Leonard is scheduled to return on January 5th against the Hawks, which is good news for the Clippers. However, it also presents new challenges, as the team will need to readjust their lineup and tactics. The Clippers have been doing well without Leonard, with other players taking on more responsibility, especially Paul George and Harden, whose stable performances have kept the team…

On December 31, 2024, Beijing time, the NBA regular season saw the 5-win and 27-loss Pelicans host the 18-win and 13-loss Clippers. On paper, the Pelicans were not considered strong opponents for the Clippers. Could the Clippers secure a stable victory? The Pelicans were without Ingram and Zion, with their starting lineup consisting of Murray, McCollum, Herbert Jones, Murphy, and Missi. The Clippers were missing Leonard and Mann, with their starting lineup featuring Harden, Dunn, Powell, Derrick Jones, and Zubac. In the first quarter, Murray made a mid-range shot, to which Derrick Jones responded with a three-pointer. Murphy and Herbert Jones scored four points in a row, giving the Pelicans a 6-3 lead. Zubac then scored four points, followed by five points from Herbert Jones and a layup from Murphy, extending the Pelicans' lead to 13-7. Harden hit a three-pointer, and Dunn made a steal and dunk, reducing the gap to one point. McCollum responded with a three-pointer, but Harden countered with a 3+1, leveling the score. Herbert Jones made a layup, but Zubac and Derrick Jones responded, allowing the Clippers to take a two-point lead. Murray and Missi scored, while Powell and Harden responded, keeping the difference at two points. Green, McCollum, and Murphy then hit consecutive three-pointers. Although Porter and Coffey responded, the Pelicans managed to regain a five-point lead. Coffey made two free throws, and Hawkins hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer, ending the first quarter with the Pelicans leading 37-31. In the second quarter, Ties made a jump shot, extending the Pelicans' lead to eight points. Powell and…

On December 31, Beijing time, the Denver Nuggets defeated the Utah Jazz 132-121 to secure their second consecutive victory. Jokic's performance remained at an MVP level, but the rationality of the young master was admirable, shooting 5 for 5 in the first three quarters, and finishing the game with 7 for 7, scoring 16+10+10, achieving his 201st career triple-double. Westbrook has a record of 7 wins and 2 losses when starting this season, making his $3.3 million minimum salary an excellent value. Westbrook played freely in this game, taking big steps in his Eurostep shot and posing for the camera after making it. Murray on the bench even imitated Westbrook's move. In the first quarter, the young master played for 9 minutes, shooting 2 for 2 and scoring 4 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists. Jokic scored 9 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists in the first quarter, and the cooperation between Westbrook and Jokic is becoming increasingly默契. The young master rested for 6 and a half minutes before entering the court in the second quarter, by which time the Nuggets were already trailing by 7 points. Upon entering the court, the young master broke through and scored, Westbrook assisted Jokic with a hook shot, and the young master countered with another layup, shooting 2 for 2 in the quarter. In the first half, he shot 4 for 4 without missing, scoring 8 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds, and 1 steal with a 100% shooting percentage. It must be said that Westbrook's performance was outstanding. Westbrook also made his first…

Victory! Hart with 23+15+10, Towns 19 out of 13, a new record is born, the Eastern Conference landscape changes On December 31, 2024, Beijing time, in an NBA regular season game, the Wizards, with a record of 5 wins and 24 losses, faced off against the Knicks, who had 22 wins and 10 losses, at home. Just two days prior, the two teams had met, with the Wizards nearly defeating the Knicks. The game went into overtime before the Knicks managed to secure the victory, with Brunson scoring an impressive 55 points and 9 assists. Today, can the Wizards continue to pose a challenge to the Knicks? The Wizards were without Beal, but Kuzma returned from injury and came off the bench. The Wizards' starting lineup was Brogdon, Karlington, Shampagnie, Culibali, and Sar. The Knicks started with Brunson, Bridges, Hart, OG, and Towns. In the first quarter, Sar hit a three-pointer, followed by a dunk from Bridges. Sar made one of two free throws and Shampagnie added another three-pointer, giving the Wizards a 7-2 lead. Towns and Brunson scored for the Knicks, but Brogdon responded, keeping the Wizards ahead by 2 points. Bridges and Towns then took the lead by 4 points. Culibali and Valan scored for the Wizards, but OG, Brunson, and Towns responded, maintaining a 4-point lead. Kuzma, Culibali, and Kispert helped the Wizards regain the lead by 3 points. Brunson made a free throw, but Valan and Kuzma responded, extending the Wizards' lead to 5 points. Brunson finished the quarter with a layup, leaving the score at…