On January 19, 2025, Beijing time, the 22-win and 19-loss Timberwolves hosted the 34-win and 6-loss Cavaliers. The Cavaliers suffered a crushing defeat to the Thunder in their last game and were eager to make a strong comeback today. However, they were without Mobley and Okoro, two key players, significantly reducing their combat effectiveness. The Timberwolves were playing back-to-back games, having defeated the Knicks the day before, so they were not as physically fit as the Cavaliers. Additionally, DiVincenzo was absent, with both teams experiencing a loss in strength. Who would win this battle? The Timberwolves' starting lineup was Conley, Edwards, McDaniels, Randle, and Gobert, while the Cavaliers' starting lineup was Garland, Mitchell, LeVert, Wade, and Allen. In the first quarter, Mitchell scored a layup, followed by Edwards and Conley hitting two consecutive three-pointers, giving the Timberwolves a 6-2 lead. Mitchell and Allen also scored, to which McDaniels and Gobert responded, making it 10-6 for the Timberwolves. Garland made a floater, but Edwards and Conley added five points, extending the Timberwolves' lead to seven points, forcing a timeout. After the pause, Wade and Mitchell scored, while Randle and Edwards responded, keeping the gap at seven points. Garland hit a three-pointer and Allen made a layup, but Reid hit two three-pointers and Edwards added another three, putting the Timberwolves up by 11 points. Jerome, Niang, and Mitchell then went on an 8-0 run to reduce the deficit to three points. Gobert made one of two free throws, but Wade hit a three-pointer, narrowing the gap to one point. Reid made a…

Today's NBA games were numerous, and the performances of many star players were commendable, including Booker, Durant, Trae Young, Poole, Mitchell, Jalen Green, Wiggins, and others, all of whom had impressive stats. However, if we were to select today's best player, there would be no suspense. Let's take a look at the specifics together! Mitchell's Form Returns In recent games, Mitchell has been in poor form, but he showed significant improvement today against the Timberwolves. In the first quarter, he made 3 of 6 shots, including 1 of 3 from three-point range and 3 of 3 from the free-throw line, scoring 10 points with 4 rebounds and 1 assist. In the second quarter, he scored another 12 points, making 8 of 14 shots in the first half, 3 of 7 from three-point range, and 3 of 3 from the free-throw line, totaling 22 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists. In the second half, Mitchell's scoring decreased, but his teammates stepped up, and they extended the lead in the third quarter. In the final moments of the fourth quarter, when the Timberwolves launched a comeback, Mitchell came through with crucial 7 points to secure the victory. In this game, he played for 33 minutes and 30 seconds, shooting 12 of 27, including 4 of 15 from three-point range and 8 of 9 from the free-throw line, finishing with 36 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1 steal, with a +10 plus-minus rating. Booker Scores 23 Points in the First Half The Suns narrowly defeated the Pistons on the road, with Booker…

The NBA regular season schedule for this season is more than halfway through, with fierce competition in both the Eastern and Western Conferences. There is a common point between the two divisions: the top teams, the Thunder and Cavaliers, have a significant lead over the rest of their respective conferences (more than six wins). The second-place teams, the Rockets and Celtics, also have relatively stable positions. However, from fourth place onwards, there is a chaotic battle among multiple teams. In the West, there are nine teams within a 4.5-game difference between the fourth-place Nuggets and the twelfth-place Spurs. In the East, there are six teams within a 2-game difference between the fourth-place Bucks and the ninth-place Pistons. One thing is certain: as legendary superstars like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry age, many mid-career and rising stars are gradually taking on greater roles. However, to be honest, before winning a championship, many teams are considered pseudo-strong, lacking the experience of the brutal playoff battles. This season's biggest contender in the West is undoubtedly the Thunder. Last season, they were defeated by the Mavericks' twin towers and the Doncic-East combo, but this season, with the addition of Hartenstein and Caruso, the team's lower limit has been significantly improved, and they rarely face significant pressure in the regular season. On the Eastern side, there are three championship contenders: the Cavaliers, Celtics, and Knicks. Especially the Cavaliers, who are widely favored by American media to succeed in the post-LeBron era. With the Celtics' aging roster and severe salary pressure, and the Knicks'…

The NBA has just released the first round of All-Star voting results. Giannis Antetokounmpo leads the league with 1.71 million votes, while Jokic is second as the top vote-getter in the West. Based on current voting trends, the projected starting lineup for the West is Jokic, Durant, James, Alexander, and Doncic; while the East's starting lineup is expected to be Giannis, Tatum, Towns, Ball, and Mitchell. Notably, Ball has had an impressive season with the Hornets (second-to-last in the East), earning high popularity with his healthy physique and flashy style, leading to a surge in votes. In the Eastern Conference guard competition, the top three are Mitchell, Brunson, and Lillard, but only Mitchell has made it into the starting lineup so far. Brunson currently has only 470,000 votes, less than half of Ball's, which is surprising considering New York's status as a major basketball market where popularity should not be this low. Looking at Towns, last year he received only 140,000 votes in the first round with the Timberwolves, but this year it has skyrocketed to 1 million, showing significant progress. Considering factors such as votes, on-court performance, and team records, the starting positions for the Eastern frontcourt are almost certain to be Giannis, Tatum, and Towns; while the Western frontcourt's Jokic, Durant, and James are also very stable. In the guard category, Alexander has a high chance of being selected as a starter, with the remaining spots mainly contested between Curry and Doncic. However, the determination of the All-Star starting lineup is not solely based on fan voting, with…

The NBA has embarked on its new journey in 2025, with the 2025 San Francisco All-Star voting in full swing. Teams across the league are gradually finding their rhythm, and their goals are becoming clearer. At the same time, star players are giving their all to compete for spots in the All-Star starting lineup! At this juncture, winning streaks not only boost morale but also garner popularity. Looking across the entire league, there is one team in each conference that is currently on a long winning streak, and their star players have also gained the favor of fans in the All-Star voting. Next, let me unveil their true identities for you. In the East, the longest winning streak does not belong to the defending champion Boston Celtics, nor does it belong to the Bucks, Knicks, 76ers, and other multi-star powerhouses; it belongs to the Eastern powerhouse Cleveland Cavaliers. At the start of the season, the Cavaliers broke their franchise record for the longest winning streak with a 15-game streak, which also established their leading position in the East. After a 10-point victory over the Hornets, the Cavaliers once again achieved a 10-game winning streak, making them the only team in the league's new season to achieve two 10+ game winning streaks. During this 10-game winning streak, the Cavaliers defeated teams such as the Wizards, Nets, Bucks, 76ers, Jazz, Nuggets, Warriors, Lakers, and Mavericks, truly demonstrating their dominance! From a 15-game winning streak to a 10-game winning streak, the Cavaliers have quietly transformed, relying on their deep roster and the pivotal…

On January 1st, Beijing time, the NBA 2024-25 season regular season welcomes a focus match in the league, with the Cleveland Cavaliers traveling to Los Angeles to challenge the Los Angeles Lakers back-to-back. This is the second meeting between the two teams this season. In the previous match, the Cavaliers defeated the Lakers by 24 points, showing a clear advantage. It must be said that the Cavaliers have indeed emerged as a dark horse this season, currently ranking first in the Eastern Conference and the entire league with a record of 28 wins and 4 losses. According to data released by American media B/R, if the Cavaliers maintain their current win rate of 87.5% until the end of the season, their record for the season will be 72 wins and 10 losses, which is indeed terrifying. Moreover, the Cavaliers are currently on a hot streak of 7 consecutive victories, with an undefeated record of 8 wins and 0 losses against Western Conference teams. In contrast, the Lakers' performance this season can be considered average, currently ranking seventh in the West with a record of 18 wins and 13 losses. However, recently, the Lakers' management completed a major 5-for-2 trade with the Nets at lightning speed, acquiring 3D forward Finney-Smith, which was indeed unexpected. In addition, James also officially celebrated his 40th birthday. This superstar, who has been playing in the NBA for 22 years, is averaging 23.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 9 assists this season, with a shooting percentage of 49.6%, which is indeed amazing. After training yesterday, James also…

The Lakers recently brought in Finney-Smith and Milton, and today the new recruits were finally able to play, with promising results that will improve over time. However, their opponents were formidable, as the Cavaliers, ranked first in the league, were expected to win. Despite playing at home, the Lakers faced a fierce Cavaliers team, leaving LeBron James to acknowledge that time is fair to everyone. The Cavaliers defeated the Lakers 122-110 on the road, securing an eighth consecutive victory. There's not much to say about this game; the Cavaliers' number one ranking in the league is well-deserved, as they have earned it through their performance. Mitchell and Garland in the backcourt, Wade on the wing, and Mobley and Allen in the frontcourt. The bench also boasts strong players like Strus, Nene, and LeVert. The Cavaliers' rise and rebuilding path over the years has been nothing short of miraculous; any misstep could have led to disaster. But the key is that the Cavaliers made the right moves every step of the way. First, in the trade between the Rockets and the Nets for Harden, the Cavaliers used a first-round pick to intercept Allen, a valuable center, and then acquired LeVert. Following this, the Cavaliers began to tank, miraculously snatching Mobley from the Rockets. The Rockets' scouting department hoped to select Jalen Green with the second overall pick in 2021, while the data analysis department believed Mobley was the ideal choice, given the Rockets' tradition of building around a center. Ultimately, the Rockets' owner's son decided to take Green with the second…