On January 4th, Beijing time, the Lakers hosted the Hawks. The game started with Davis scoring two points for the Lakers to take the lead, and then both teams were locked in a tug-of-war, with the scores alternating. At the end of the first quarter, the Lakers led by 3 points; in the second quarter, Trae Young was called for a technical foul, and the Lakers took advantage of this to suddenly increase their efforts. Rookie Knick scored 11 points in a single quarter, James continuously attacked the inside to create damage, and the Hawks relied on Capela's two-point shot to stop the bleeding, trailing the Lakers 57-65 at halftime; after changing sides, the Lakers continued to play steadily, Rivers continued his excellent performance from the previous game, scoring 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists in a single quarter through inside and outside shooting, and the point difference remained in double digits; in the final quarter, the Lakers firmly controlled the initiative on the court, and James continuously scored to seal the game, and the Lakers finally won a decisive victory over the Hawks 119-102 without much effort. In this game, the Lakers' new recruit Finney-Smith gradually integrated into the game, scoring 8 points and 5 rebounds in 23 minutes with 3 shots and 2 hits, with a plus-minus value of +12. After the game, Davis talked about his teammate Finney-Smith's performance: "It's obvious that he did very well in shooting tonight, and his defensive performance has always been online. Smith has been learning our system, our defense, our…

The Clippers have been eagerly awaiting Leonard's return since the start of the season, but it now appears that this superstar within the team has completely disappointed everyone. So far, Leonard has not made any moves to participate in the games, despite previously promoting his potential comeback multiple times. This operation has left fans utterly speechless, and the Clippers have now revealed a rather shocking message. They are fed up with Leonard and will take action against him. The Clippers are demanding that Leonard make a quick comeback for the game against the Hawks. They hope Leonard can participate, and the team's accompanying journalist has confirmed this, stating that the team will confirm the nature of Leonard's injury in the morning. It is clear that the Clippers are truly fed up with Leonard's behavior, which is why they have made such an arrangement. They want Leonard to provide a genuine explanation for his injury situation and stop using his injuries as an excuse not to play. It is evident that the Clippers also realize that renewing their contract with Leonard was a mistake, which is why they are taking a stricter stance towards this star player. Ballmer has also expressed a desire to terminate the contract with Leonard, as endlessly waiting for his return is clearly not a wise choice. The Clippers' hopes of relying on the aging Harden to lead the team to the championship are not very promising. The team built around Leonard with significant investment in the past now seems to have become a classic case of…

On January 5th, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued with a total of 9 matchups scheduled. The specific results are as follows: 76ers defeated the Nets 123-94, Suns lost to the Pacers 108-126, Timberwolves lost to the Pistons 105-119, Jazz defeated the Heat 136-100, Trail Blazers narrowly defeated the Bucks 105-102, Knicks lost to the Bulls 126-139, Nuggets defeated the Spurs 122-111, Grizzlies lost to the Warriors 113-121, and Hawks lost to the Clippers 105-131. Stars such as Embiid, Haliburton, Hua Zi, Cunningham, Sensabo, Simmons, Towns, Jokic, Wiggins, Harden, and Zubac all had impressive performances. So, who will win the title of today's best player? Let's take a look together. In the game between the Knicks and the Bulls, three players from the Bulls scored over 20 points, including LaVine with 33 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists, Vucevic with 22 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 assists, and Kobe White with 33 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists. They completed a comeback after trailing by 11 points, leading by as many as 19 points, in honor of Rose Night! The Knicks missed a good opportunity, with Brunson scoring 33 points and 8 assists in vain, and Towns also did his best! He played for 37 minutes, shooting 17 of 29 (3 of 7 from three-point range), making 7 of 10 free throws, and scored an impressive 44 points, 16 rebounds, and 5 assists. Especially in the final quarter, Towns fought until he was injured and retired, scoring 25 points alone, but it was not enough to save the team,…

The battle between the teams in the Eastern and Western Conference playoff zones ended with the Timberwolves losing 105-119 to the Pistons on the road, suffering their third consecutive defeat. Notably, the Pistons' record has reached 17 wins and 18 losses, close to eighth place in the East, as they have emerged from the gloom of being at the bottom of the league last season. It is clear that the Pistons, like the Rockets last season, are starting to soar and rise. The player who has made the Pistons rise is undoubtedly the number one pick, Cade Cunningham. Currently, CC is indeed the undisputed leader of the 21st session. Cunningham has been steadily improving every year since entering the league four years ago. This year, he averages 24.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 9.5 assists, with a shooting percentage of 45% and a three-point percentage of 37.6%. Obviously, these statistics are very Harden-like; he is a younger version of Harden. Then there's Jalen Green, the second overall pick, who has been stagnant for four years. Evan Mobley, the third overall pick, is quite good, but his strength is indeed not as good as Cunningham's. Fourth overall pick Scottie Barnes is gradually becoming mediocre, Jalen Suggs has reached his ceiling, and Franz Wagner is okay, but he doesn't belong to the Five Kings. Comparing and contrasting, you will find that Cunningham is indeed the strongest presence in the 21st session. We can only say that the Rockets regret choosing Jalen Green with the second overall pick instead of going all-in for the…

Leonard's injury news is full of twists and turns. First, Law Murray, the Clippers' reporter, reported that Leonard would not return against the Hawks at home, with the time being further postponed. However, just a few hours after this news came out, Chris Haynes and Shams suddenly reported that Leonard's status had been adjusted to "probable." Interestingly, the latest injury report from the Clippers also showed that Leonard's status had changed from "out" to "questionable." We don't know if Leonard will play or not, as Rivers said on the "Off Guard" program. He suggested that Leonard should stop creating confusion. Harden is tired; he is working hard now. If he wants to play, he should come back directly instead of making people guess repeatedly. Rivers even mocked, saying that Leonard gives people the impression that he has been injured 1500 times. If, hypothetically, Leonard returns in the next game, it would certainly be a help to Harden. We can't give a definitive answer now, for fear that Leonard might change his mind again. Let's assume Leonard returns; then Harden's pressure would be significantly reduced. This season, Harden averages 22 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists. When Harden plays, the Clippers have a record of 19 wins and 13 losses. In the two games he missed, the Clippers lost both. The performances of Powell and Zubac without Harden have well demonstrated Harden's value. As Tyronn Lue analyzed today, if Harden doesn't make the All-Star team this season, he would be disappointed. Tyronn Lue believes that Harden is undoubtedly leading the team…

NBA Regular Season: Warriors Defeat Grizzlies Without Curry, Wiggins Scores 24 Points, Kuminga Injured and Green Commits Level 1 Foul On January 5th, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued. In today's Western Conference focus game, the Warriors hosted the challenge of the Grizzlies at home. Both teams' star players, Curry and Morant, were absent due to injuries. The two teams continuously hit three-pointers in the first quarter, with the Warriors leading the Grizzlies by 1 point. The second quarter was very close, with Kuminga suffering an ankle injury and retiring before halftime. Wiggins scored 18 points in the third quarter to lead the Warriors to a stable situation, leading the Grizzlies by 6 points. In the final quarter, the entire Warriors team performed well, holding off the Grizzlies' counterattack and ultimately defeating them at home with a score of 121-113. The Warriors achieved a two-game winning streak, with a record of 18 wins and 16 losses; the Grizzlies suffered a two-game losing streak, with a record of 23 wins and 13 losses. Both Teams' Data:‌ Grizzlies - Bane 22 points, 4 rebounds, 10 assists; Jackson 21 points, 8 rebounds; Wells 8 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists; Idi 5 points, 6 rebounds; Pippen Jr. 12 points, 5 rebounds; Huff 9 points; Laravia 17 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists; Clarke 10 points; Warriors - Wiggins 24 points; Schroder 17 points, 9 assists; Hield 14 points; Green 9 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists; Davis 11 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists; Kuminga 13 points; Waters 16 points; Li Kairui 7 points. Star of…

The first round of All-Star voting results are finally out. On the Eastern side, the top three frontcourt players are Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum, and Karl-Anthony Towns, while the top three backcourt players are LaMelo Ball, Donovan Mitchell, and Damian Lillard. In the West, the top three frontcourt players are Nikola Jokic, Kevin Durant, and LeBron James, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic, and Stephen Curry in the backcourt. Generally speaking, there are no surprises, as voting is primarily based on the season's performance. However, established superstars like LeBron, Durant, and Curry still have a strong fan base, ensuring their selection regardless of their current form, as long as they remain in the league. Among those who could potentially make their first All-Star appearance are Jaylen Williams, Alperen Sengun, Franz Wagner, Evan Mobley, Derrick White, Tyler Herro, and today's main character, Norman Powell. Currently, he has 110,222 votes, ranking him 10th among Western Conference guards. Objectively, such a vote count offers slim hopes in the competitive guard category, but it is undoubtedly significant for Powell. This is the first time in his 12-year career that he has reached an All-Star level, which is a massive recognition. Looking at his actual performance this season, he indeed deserves an All-Star selection, even outperforming many players ahead of him. At the start of the season, the Clippers were seen as a team outside the play-in tournament, but in the first five games, Powell averaged 25.4 points, 3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists, with shooting percentages of 49.5% and 41.3%. This performance was somewhat shocking, as…

Kevin Durant's announcement has caused a seismic shift in the league, with teams like the Rockets and Warriors responding accordingly. In the absence of Booker, the Suns have only managed to secure one win out of six games. Despite Durant's heroic performances, including scoring 37 points against the Pacers, a season-high 43 points against the Pistons, and another 31 points against his old rivals, the Warriors, the team's losses overshadow these individual achievements. The Suns have only won once since Booker's absence, during the Christmas Day game against the Nuggets, with Durant consistently delivering star-level performances but still unable to secure victories. Durant's frustration with the team's situation is evident, as other players fail to provide support on both ends of the court, leaving him isolated in crucial moments. The team's inability to trade the instigator of their losing streak further exacerbates Durant's dissatisfaction, leading to feelings of hopelessness regarding championship aspirations. Following a close loss to the Warriors, Durant openly expressed his desire for a trade, which could potentially trigger significant changes across the league. Teams such as the Rockets, Thunder, Warriors, Mavericks, and even the Suns themselves have shown interest in facilitating a trade, with many willing to offer substantial assets for the 36-year-old veteran. The Rockets, currently second in the West, lack a superstar presence that could elevate them in critical moments. They are prepared to offer multiple first-round picks and young players to entice the Suns, making the acquisition of Durant seem almost inevitable. The Lakers have also publicly declared their willingness to part with anyone…

The Mavericks, once a dominant force in the West, now find themselves mired in a slump, with four consecutive losses leaving a bitter taste in their mouths and forcing them to swallow the bitter fruit of a declining ranking. And it all stems from a 134-122 defeat at the hands of the Eastern powerhouse, the Cleveland Cavaliers. This match was not just a simple victory or defeat; it was more akin to a minor earthquake in the Western landscape, shaking the fate of every team. Without Doncic and Irving, the Mavericks' offense resembled a sports car that had lost its engine, possessing a flashy exterior but unable to unleash its true speed. Dinwiddie, once a formidable player, now found his touch icy cold, repeatedly missing shots as if lamenting his inner helplessness. The role players fought hard, but lacking the core's coordination, their efforts were like scattered pearls, unable to be strung together into a shining necklace. In contrast, the Cavaliers operated like a precision machine, with each part perfectly fitting and functioning in its role. Mobley, the young rising star in the frontcourt, displayed astonishing dominance in the game, with his scoring, rebounding, and shot-blocking akin to a sharp dagger repeatedly piercing through the Mavericks' defense. The backcourt duo of Mitchell and Garland showed great chemistry, their passing, driving, and shooting like a smooth symphony that kept the Mavericks' defense on the run. Even the bench players LeVert and Niang did not disappoint, with their scoring contributions like timely rain nourishing the Cavaliers' flowers of victory. The Mavericks' loss…

On January 5th, Beijing time, the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Atlanta Hawks to end their two-game losing streak. This game marked the season debut of Kawhi Leonard, with the Clippers seeing a significant improvement on both offense and defense. Mann also returned, making the Clippers' frontcourt extremely strong as they dominated the Hawks throughout the game, with Leonard scoring 12 points in just 19 minutes. Kawhi Leonard has been nursing his knee since being injured in the 2023-2024 season playoffs. From April 27, 2024, to January 5, 2025, a total of 253 days have passed. Clippers fans had high expectations for this game, especially since the team is now at full strength with Harden and Leonard forming a formidable two-core lineup that is both offensive and defensive. In the opening quarter, Harden connected with Leonard for a three-pointer. Leonard played 7 minutes in the first quarter, shooting 1 for 3 and 1 for 1 from beyond the arc, scoring 3 points, grabbing 2 rebounds, and dishing out 1 assist. Leonard's defensive presence was also felt strongly, as the Hawks made many forced turnovers. In the second quarter, Leonard hit a three-pointer from the weak side and then another from the strong side. He also forced Trae Young into a turnover. Leonard played 7 minutes in the second quarter before being rested, with the Clippers leading the Hawks 72-47 at halftime. In the first half, Leonard played 16 minutes, shooting 3 for 8 and 3 for 3 from three-point range, scoring 9 points, grabbing 3 rebounds, and adding 1 assist…