The Houston Rockets visited the Denver Nuggets in a game where Jokic and Gordon were absent for the Nuggets, while Eason and Smith continued to be sidelined. The Nuggets' starting lineup featured Murray, Westbrook, Braun, Porter, and Little Jordan; the Rockets countered with VanVleet, Green, Dillon, Amen, and Shen Jing. In the first quarter, the Nuggets started with two turnovers, followed by a three-pointer from Van Jordan, which was answered by a three-pointer from Murray against Shen Jing. Green made a mid-range shot, Amen had a baseline alley-oop, and Westbrook hit a corner three to stop the bleeding. After Jalen Green's 3+1, Malone called a timeout. Upon resuming, the Nuggets committed another turnover and had to rely on Murray's individual play. Shen Jing struggled with turnovers and was blocked twice by Little Jordan. Van Jordan hit another three-pointer, and the score was 23-18 when Dillon stepped out of bounds, leading to a timeout. After the timeout, Green assisted White Magic with a three-pointer, but the Rockets turned over the ball and were countered by Braun's outside shot, prompting Udoka to call a timeout in frustration. The first quarter ended with the Nuggets trailing 23-28, five points behind. In the second quarter, during the rotation phase, Van Jordan came in with a mid-range shot and then assisted White Magic with a three-pointer, extending the Rockets' lead to ten points. Porter scored a basket plus zero to stop the bleeding. However, Old Sister-in-Law also hit a three-pointer, and Westbrook's offensive rebound led to an assist for his teammate. Adams' ground pass set…

On January 16th, Beijing time, in an NBA regular season game, the Houston Rockets defeated the Denver Nuggets 128-108 on the road, securing their fifth consecutive victory. Although they still have a noticeable gap from the first place Thunder in the Western Conference, this winning streak has solidified their position as second in the West. The Nuggets, on the other hand, saw their four-game winning streak come to an end with this loss, remaining in fourth place in the West. Prior to the game, the Nuggets announced that Jokic would be out due to injury. Without their star player, the team's overall competitiveness took a hit. Despite strong performances from Murray and Westbrook, they were unable to withstand the more aggressive Rockets. In the second quarter, the Rockets went on a 41-25 run, extending the lead to over 20 points. The Nuggets continued to fight back, but without Jokic, they were significantly weakened on both ends of the court, ultimately suffering a crushing defeat at home and ending their winning streak. Without Jokic, Murray continued his hot streak from the previous game, scoring 22 points with 8-of-14 shooting, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists, including 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. Westbrook also contributed 17 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists, while Braun added 22 points. However, even with these efforts, the Nuggets were mostly dominated by the Rockets, showing little resistance. Jokic's absence had a significant impact on the team, and the other players were unable to fill the void left by his departure. On the Rockets' side, the team maintained…

A major upset occurred at the Nuggets' home court! Can you believe it? The fourth-ranked Nuggets in the West were actually overturned by the tenth-ranked Spurs! MVP favorite Jokic scored 41 points, 18 rebounds, and 9 assists, but it was all for naught! On the other side, "French Little Giant" Wenban Yama sealed his legend with 35 points and 18 rebounds, plus 4 assists and 2 blocks! Wow, these stats are simply explosive! This game on January 4th, 2025, is destined to go down in history! Before the game, everyone thought the Nuggets would win easily. With Jokic leading the charge and in top form this season, the Spurs didn't seem to have much else besides Wenban Yama. But who knew that this young man would lead a group of little brothers to give the Nuggets a lesson! Gordon and Sohan were injured, so the Nuggets' starting lineup was Murray, Westbrook, Braun, Porter, and Jokic; while the Spurs had Paul, Vassell, Castle, Barnes, and Wenban Yama. Looking at this lineup, fans thought there was no suspense in the game. The game started with Porter giving the Nuggets a good start, making a layup with ease. But the Spurs quickly responded, with Castle and Wenban Yama scoring inside and out, launching an 8-2 run to give the Nuggets a wake-up call. Jokic saw that this wouldn't do and immediately began his scoring show, operating inside and scoring 4 points in a row. But Wenban Yama, this kid, was like cheating, impossible to guard! He shot from beyond the three-point line and…

Big Win! Jokic with 10+2, Murray's Heroics, Westbrook 3/11, Irving Struggles, Western No. 5 Changes Hands On January 15th, Beijing time, the Mavericks played against the Nuggets at home, and the game ended with the Mavericks losing to the Nuggets 99-118. The Mavericks had just played a game against the Nuggets, where they were ultimately reversed, but they still showed their abilities in the game. Now that the two teams met again, Irving returned to the game, so the Mavericks were hopeful of avenging the Nuggets. Moreover, this game was very important for the Mavericks. If the Mavericks continued to lose to the Nuggets, the win difference between the Mavericks and the Nuggets would continue to widen, with the Nuggets currently leading the Mavericks by 1.5 wins. The starting lineup for the Mavericks in this game was: Irving, Clay, Marshall, Washington, and Levli, while the Nuggets' starting lineup was: Westbrook, Murray, Braun, Porter, and Jokic. In the first quarter, the Nuggets made an 11-4 run, followed by Gafford scoring to stop the bleeding. However, the Mavericks performed poorly in the subsequent game, with Murray hitting a three-pointer and Porter also making a shot, giving the Nuggets a 10-point lead. After a timeout, Westbrook hit a three-pointer, and Ding Wei Di scored to stop the bleeding. In the following game, Murray and Porter continued to score, slowly extending the Nuggets' lead to 15 points. At the end of the period, Ding Wei Di made a 2+1 to stop the bleeding, Jokic scored with a shot, and then Murray helped the Nuggets…

NBA has a big game tomorrow, with the Nuggets facing off against the Rockets. This will be the second game of a back-to-back for the Nuggets, who just defeated the Mavericks effortlessly today. Their star player, Jokic, only attempted 7 shots, clearly conserving energy, possibly considering another back-to-back game tomorrow. Besides Jokic, only Murray from the Nuggets shot frequently, while Westbrook took 11 shots, Gordon 9, and Porter Jr. 9, indicating they are saving their strength for the decisive battle against the second-ranked Rockets in the West. The Rockets have been in great form recently, securing a four-game winning streak that has solidified their position as second in the West. Although they are currently unable to catch up with the first-placed Thunder, they are not worried about being overtaken by the Grizzlies, who are two games behind them. During this four-game winning streak, the combination of Jalen Green and Amen Thompson has given fans hope for the Rockets' future backcourt. Jalen Green scored 33, 29, 27, and 42 points respectively, with a shooting percentage of 56.3%. Amen Thompson also had impressive performances, scoring 23 points with 16 rebounds, 20 points with 15 rebounds, 10 points with 7 rebounds and 5 assists, and 19 points with 13 rebounds and 5 blocks! During the four-game winning streak, Amen Thompson averaged 13 rebounds per game, which is remarkable for a player who started as a guard. He was primarily a guard during his rookie season but has now become a rebounding machine. Since being promoted to the starting lineup, the Rockets have an…

On January 15, 2025, Beijing time, the 22-win and 17-loss Mavericks hosted the 23-win and 15-loss Nuggets. Just two days ago, the two teams faced each other, with the Mavericks leading the Nuggets by 19 points at one point despite the absence of Doncic and Irving. However, they were eventually reversed and lost the game by an 11-point margin. Today, Irving returned to the lineup, although Doncic continued to be absent, the Mavericks' combat effectiveness has been significantly enhanced. Can they defeat the Nuggets? The Mavericks' starting lineup: Irving + Clay + Marshall + Washington + Levli, while Gordon from the Nuggets continued to come off the bench, with the starting lineup: Murray + Westbrook + Braun + Porter + Jokic. In the first quarter, Levli made two dunks, Porter hit a three-pointer, Braun made a layup, and Murray made two three-pointers, giving the Nuggets an 11-4 lead. Gafford made a hook shot, followed by Murray, Porter, and Westbrook scoring eight points in a row, extending the lead to 13 points. Dinwiddie and Irving also scored, but Porter and Murray continued to extend the lead to 15 points. Dinwiddie made a 2+1 play, while Watson and Jokic responded, maintaining a 17-point lead. Gafford and Grantham scored, but Murray added four more points, ending the first quarter with the Nuggets leading 36-21. Murray scored 19 points in the first quarter alone. In the second quarter, Gordon extended the lead to 21 points. Clay, Marshall, and Irving scored for the Mavericks, but Jordan responded with consecutive alley-oops, keeping the lead at 20…

On January 15th, Beijing time, the Mavericks lost 99-118 to the Nuggets at home, with Doncic out due to injury and Irving returning. The game lost suspense from the first quarter, with the Nuggets leading 36-21 after the first quarter. In the second quarter, the Nuggets won by 11 points with a score of 35-24, leading 71-45 at halftime. The entire second half became garbage time! Jamal Murray had his strongest game of the season: playing 37 minutes, shooting 18 of 26, making 5 of 9 three-pointers, 4 of 4 free throws, scoring 45 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals. Before this game, Murray's highest score this season was only 34 points. This is the fifth time in Murray's career that he has scored over 40 points, and it is also his highest score since February 20, 2021 (50 points). Murray only played 19 minutes in the first half, shooting 12 of 15, making 4 of 6 three-pointers, 4 of 4 free throws, and scoring 32 points with 3 assists. Seeing Murray in such good form, Jokic only attempted 2 shots in the first half, which is the ultimate selflessness. This is the third time in Murray's regular-season career that he has scored over 30 points in a half, tying Anthony and Jokic for the most in Nuggets history. In the entire game, Jokic shot 4 of 7, made 1 of 2 three-pointers, 1 of 2 free throws, and got 10 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists, 2 steals, with a plus-minus of +23, the highest in the game.…

A 19-point comeback: Why did the Nuggets take another step forward? In one game, they were 19 points behind and eventually completed a reversal with a score of 112-101. This game, which can be called a "roller coaster of the heart," how could the Nuggets climb out of the mud? Is the chemistry between Westbrook and Jokic really the key to the Nuggets' comeback? What is the story behind the comprehensive outbreak from the bench to the starting lineup? This game not only played out excitingly but also left a pile of thought-provoking questions. The Mavericks indeed suffered from being "short-staffed" in this game - Doncic and Irving both rested, which made people wonder, "Can the Mavericks without a leader hold up?" However, in the first half of the game, they slapped this question in the face with their actions. Especially Klay Thompson, the veteran's 11-point explosion in a single quarter made the Nuggets' defense suffer. Throughout the game, Klay hit six three-pointers and contributed 25 points, not only consolidating the Mavericks' lead of up to 19 points but also proving that he still has the ability to dominate the rhythm of the game. However, the hidden danger of lacking core players gradually emerged. The Mavericks' tactical choices became monotonous at critical moments, lacking the control power of Doncic as the "pillar of the sea" and Irving's ability to make key shots, ultimately leading to their inability to withstand the storm of the reversal. If Klay supported the Mavericks' sky in the first half, then the wind and rain in…

Recently, Westbrook has been performing exceptionally well. Since entering 2025, he has been averaging 08+8+8, compensating for Murray's subpar form. Although he still occasionally makes mistakes, overall, Westbrook has returned to being an MVP-level player. Due to his outstanding performance, there has been widespread attention on whether he can stay with the Nuggets. Because of Westbrook's excellent state, it has recently been reported that the Nuggets management has offered him a contract extension. This is a two-year contract worth between 28millionand28 million and 28millionand30 million, with a trade penalty clause included. For the Nuggets, this offer is full of sincerity, as they have no salary cap space left; this is the largest contract they can offer. However, if Westbrook signs such a contract, it will make it even more difficult for the Nuggets to strengthen their team next season. In terms of amount, this contract offer may not fully match the immense value Westbrook brings to the team. But considering Westbrook's age and that his aspirations do not lie in big contracts, this contract still feels respectful to him. Whether Westbrook stays or not has absolutely nothing to do with the contract amount. Westbrook has found a new sense of belonging with the Nuggets. He has good chemistry with Jokic, and the team has the potential to compete for the championship. For a veteran aiming to win a title, the allure of a championship might be more important than money. Therefore, whether Westbrook stays with the Nuggets largely depends on the team's performance this season. If the Nuggets win the…

The NBA regular season schedule is nearing its halfway point, with the Western Conference competition heating up. The Thunder are firmly in first place, having won 32 of their first 38 games, with a win rate close to 85%, giving them a high probability of achieving 70 wins for the season! Young teams like the Rockets and Grizzlies have risen through strong defense, and both have good roster depth. The Rockets' Jalen Green's form has gradually improved, and it is not difficult for these two teams to secure a top-four spot in the West. However, in reality, they may become easy targets for the lower half of the playoff bracket. The most competitive area is the play-in tournament zone; specifically, from the fifth-place Mavericks to the twelfth-place Spurs, there is only a three-game difference, leaving much room for change. As the season progresses, many teams are gradually getting back on track. For example, the previously disintegrating Kings quietly achieved a seven-game winning streak to return to the top ten; the Suns also stabilized after a three-game winning streak with Bill coming off the bench. However, one team that is quite surprising is the Nuggets. As the 23-year champions, the Nuggets were stopped by the Timberwolves at the Western Conference Finals last season. During the offseason, the Nuggets gave Murray a four-year, $208 million super-max contract extension, which included a drop to ninth in the West at the beginning of the season. At that time, even Jokic was almost overwhelmed, bluntly stating that some people were not suitable for starting roles,…