On January 1st, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued with a total of 6 matchups scheduled for the day. The specific results are as follows: The Raptors lost 71-125 to the Celtics, the Bucks narrowly defeated the Pacers 120-112, the Clippers suffered a crushing 86-122 loss to the Spurs, the Timberwolves fell 105-113 to the Thunder, the Cavaliers upset the Lakers 122-110, and the Grizzlies narrowly beat the Suns 117-112. Multiple top teams from both the East and West conferences took the court, with upsets and blowouts aplenty, leading to mixed emotions among the teams involved. Let's take a closer look at the gains and losses of each team in today's games.
The Los Angeles Clippers traveled to face the San Antonio Spurs, with the Clippers having just escaped the play-in tournament zone with a three-game winning streak, while the Spurs have been hovering around the play-in zone for some time. In the game, Wembanyama faced off against Harden, scoring 17 points in the first quarter alone, matching the Clippers' total score, while Harden accounted for 13 of the Clippers' 17 points. The Spurs quickly established a 14-point lead. In the second quarter, the Spurs remained unstoppable, extending their lead to over 20 points. After halftime, Harden and Powell tried to stop the bleeding for the Clippers, but the Spurs had a full squad contributing, with the lead reaching over 30 points, effectively ending the suspense of the game early. Ultimately, the Clippers suffered a crushing 86-122 defeat at the hands of the Spurs.
While it may not be surprising that the Clippers lost to the Spurs, losing by a whopping 36 points is indeed a major upset. The Clippers' downfall can be attributed to their collapse in the paint! Throughout the game, the Clippers were outrebounded 41-58 by the Spurs and outscored 38-62 in the paint. The Spurs capitalized on their rebounding advantage to launch fast breaks, outscoring the Clippers 32-12 in fast break points. Additionally, the Clippers committed as many as 13 turnovers, which the Spurs converted into 21 points; in contrast, the Spurs only turned the ball over 9 times, with the Clippers scoring just 9 points off those turnovers. The Clippers struggled on both ends of the court, with Wembanyama playing like a bug, scoring 27 points + 9 rebounds + 5 assists + 1 steal + 3 blocks in just 25 minutes, exerting his presence on both offense and defense!
The defending champion Boston Celtics hosted the Toronto Raptors, who were in the midst of a 10-game losing streak and low morale; the Celtics had only won one of their last four games and were facing criticism. At the start of the game, both teams played like rookies pecking at each other, but fortunately, the Celtics found their form in time, scoring 23 points in a single quarter to establish an 11-point lead. In the second quarter, the Raptors struggled to catch up, while the Celtics maintained control of the game. After halftime, the Celtics suddenly stepped up their game, unleashing a 45-18 scoring spree in a single quarter to extend their lead to over 30 points, leaving the Raptors with no chance! Eventually, the Celtics won big with a score of 125-71.
The defending champions created a 54-point tragedy in a crazy game, setting multiple NBA records. Statistically, 71 points is the lowest single-game score for the Raptors this season and also the lowest in the NBA this season. Moreover, the 54-point margin is the largest winning margin for the Celtics this season and also the largest in the NBA this season. It's not that the Celtics won in a spectacular manner, but rather they won simply and brutally, with three-pointers deciding the outcome! Throughout the game, the Celtics made 22 three-pointers with a 51.2% shooting rate, raining down arrows to pierce the heart and soul of their opponents. In comparison, the Raptors made only 10 of their 40 three-point attempts, with a three-point shooting rate of only 25%. This is the terrifying aspect of the defending champions; once they find their three-point rhythm, their opponents often have no way out!
The Memphis Grizzlies visited the Phoenix Suns, with the Grizzlies' top star Morant sidelined due to injury and Suns star Booker returning. In the first quarter, the Grizzlies took the initiative away from home, starting with an impressive 11-2 run and building a double-digit lead early on thanks to JJJ's heroic performance. In the second quarter, the Suns launched a counterattack, but someone always stepped up for the Grizzlies in response, allowing them to maintain control of the game. It wasn't until the third quarter that the Suns managed to close the gap to 2 points with multiple players contributing. However, the Grizzlies increased their defensive intensity, causing the Suns to make repeated mistakes, and the lead was extended again. The Grizzlies played steadily and came out on top. Ultimately, the Suns lost to the Grizzlies 112-117.
From trailing by 14 points to closing the gap to 2 points, and then ultimately falling short, the Suns were dominated by a Grizzlies team missing nine players. JJJ and Bane combined for 69 points + 16 rebounds + 11 assists, while Durant became a lone hero, facing a tough challenge! Durant played 38 minutes, making 11 of 19 shots (2 of 5 from three-point range), and 5 of 7 free throws, exploding for a comprehensive stat line of 29 points + 10 rebounds + 6 assists + 1 steal + 2 blocks. Unfortunately, his supporting cast let him down - Beal left the game early due to injury, and Booker made only 4 of 20 shots. How could they win this game? After this game, the Suns' record stands at 15 wins and 17 losses, placing them 11th in the Western Conference, one game behind the 10th-seeded Warriors (16 wins and 16 losses). Perhaps the Suns' "big three" is now in name only, and they really need to make some moves before the mid-season trade deadline!
Basketball fans, what are your thoughts on this? Leave me a comment to discuss it further.