The Nuggets defeated the Mavericks 112-101 on the road, securing their third consecutive victory. With a record of 23 wins and 15 losses, the Nuggets have firmly established themselves in fourth place in the Western Conference. After today's win, the gap between the Nuggets and the fifth-placed Mavericks has widened to 1.5 games. Additionally, the Nuggets are 1.5 games behind the third-placed Grizzlies and 2 games behind the Rockets. Overall, the Nuggets still have a chance to compete for second place in the West this year, as the Rockets and Grizzlies face challenging schedules ahead. It must be said that the acquisition of Westbrook has been a success. In the games where Westbrook started, the Nuggets had a record of 13 wins and 4 losses, with a win rate of 76.5%. Since entering 2025, Westbrook has averaged an impressive 17.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 8 assists, with a shooting percentage of 52%. Over the past four games, Westbrook has scored a total of 91 points, grabbed 36 rebounds, and dished out 31 assists, leading the Nuggets to a record of 3 wins and 1 loss, narrowly missing a perfect 4-0. Moreover, Westbrook excels in playing against the wind, and the Nuggets have the most come-from-behind victories this season. What surprises the Nuggets the most is that Gordon has returned from injury, making the team whole again. Given Westbrook's current performance, Malone is reluctant to bench him. It is likely that Braun will move to the bench, and Gordon will return to the starting lineup after adjusting. This lineup features Westbrook…

If you were LeBron James, basking in the peak of your career, with two championship trophies and countless adoring fans, would you leave the victorious Miami Heat on a winning streak to embark on an uncertain journey? This was the difficult choice facing LeBron James in the summer of 2014 - to stay in the land of glory and continue his reign, or to return to his hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and carry the burden of rebuilding a shattered squad? Ultimately, James chose not to remain in Miami. The reasons behind his departure were not about ability, money, or other superficial factors, but rather stemmed from a deep-seated struggle for control and differing team culture philosophies. This decision not only changed the course of his career but also etched a different chapter in NBA history. James' tenure in Miami can be described as "epic." From joining the Heat in 2010 with "The Decision 1.0" to making it to the finals four years in a row and capturing two championships with overwhelming force, the 29-year-old James became the undisputed best player in the league. Behind these achievements was Pat Riley, the exceptional helmsman known for his iron fist and calm demeanor, who was instrumental in the Heat's resurgence. However, Riley's tough approach could also be seen as "exploitative." He was keen on imposing his own rules on the team, from player training schedules to team operations, even extending to the minutiae of daily life. Riley almost sought absolute control over everything. While this style could establish discipline and create a…

On January 13th, Beijing time, today's NBA games were very exciting. Stars like Tatum, Towns, Brunson, LaVine, Westbrook, and Jokic all performed well, making them candidates for today's best player. The Celtics narrowly defeated the Pelicans 120-119, with McCollum almost scoring a buzzer-beater at the end. Tatum of the Celtics scored 38 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block on 14-of-30 shooting, but his long-range shooting was poor, going 2-for-10 from three-point range. Jaylen Brown had 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists, Porzingis had 19 points and 11 rebounds, and Pritchard off the bench had 11 points and 4 assists, while Horford had 11 points and 7 rebounds. For the Pelicans, Murphy scored 30 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists, Murray had 26 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block, and McCollum went 5-for-15 to score 13 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists. The Knicks defeated the Bucks 140-106, securing a significant victory. Brunson of the Knicks exploded, scoring 44 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists on 16-of-26 shooting, including 5-of-10 from three-point range and 7-of-8 from the free-throw line. Towns also contributed significantly, scoring 30 points, 18 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal on 10-of-16 shooting. Hart went 5-for-5 to score 11 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists, Anunoby had 11 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, and 1 block, and Payne off the bench scored 18 points. The Bucks' Antetokounmpo scored 24 points, 13 rebounds, and 2 assists on 10-of-21 shooting, Lillard had 22 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists, and Middleton…

The Golden State Warriors have made a significant decision by finally deciding to part ways with their biggest "liability" - Bogutowski. This change could potentially be the turning point for them to turn the tide this season. Bogutowski's performance on the court has been frustrating to watch, lacking shooting ability and slowing down the offense, which in turn concentrates defensive pressure on other players of the Warriors. Imagine, with a slower offensive rhythm, everyone has to work harder to create scoring opportunities, which inevitably affects the team's overall operation. It directly leads to teammates finding it increasingly difficult to score, even Curry's three-point shots can't exert their full potential. Fortunately, the Warriors' management has made a major decision that catches the eye - trading Bogutowski! Isn't this a belated redemption? Especially under the strong push of owner Lacob, they plan to send Bogutowski to the Bulls in exchange for a scoring machine: Zach LaVine. It seems that Lacob is really determined not to tolerate old problems that affect the team's competitiveness anymore. Some netizens commented: "This trade is a godsend for the Warriors. Consider that LaVine is a two-time champion of the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, with physical qualities that are absolutely not to be underestimated, especially his three-point shooting, which is really powerful!" The view of this netizen is simply a big "approval". LaVine's joining will undoubtedly make the Warriors' perimeter firepower even stronger. His three-point shooting is accurate, his breakthrough ability is particularly strong, and his scoring ability under high pressure is worlds apart from Bogutowski. You should…

Translation: Beijing time on January 13, the Mavericks hosted the Nuggets at home, and Doncic continued to miss the game due to a calf injury. This is the 17th game he has missed this season, in addition, he also played only 16 minutes and 13 seconds (less than 20 minutes) in one game. This means that he has officially become ineligible for this season's MVP, All-NBA Team, and other regular-season awards. The NBA official rules stipulate that all players participating in the award must play at least 65 games and play at least 20 minutes per game; otherwise, they will not be eligible to participate in the regular-season awards. So far this season, Doncic has played 22 games, averaging 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 7.8 assists, and 2 steals per game. He has previously been selected to the All-NBA First Team for five consecutive years. This season, many stars have failed to meet the eligibility criteria for awards, including Leonard, Embiid, Zion, Banchero, and Holmgren. Mavericks head coach Kidd said, "I think this is just part of the current rules. When you have a serious injury, you may lose your eligibility for awards, but we know he is one of the best players. He has always been considered an MVP candidate." In the year-end battle against the Timberwolves, Doncic left the court with crutches and underwent an MRI the next day, which showed a left calf strain. He will be re-evaluated at the end of January this year. This season, Doncic has had many injuries. Previously, he missed 5 games due…

On January 13, 2025, Beijing time, the 22-win and 16-loss Mavericks hosted the 22-win and 15-loss Nuggets. On paper, the Nuggets had a clear advantage as Doncic and Irving were not playing, while all the main players of the Nuggets were present. However, the Mavericks had defeated the Lakers and Trail Blazers in their absence to achieve a two-game winning streak. Could they create another miracle today? The Mavericks' starting lineup was Dinwiddie, Thompson, Marshall, Washington, and Lively, while the Nuggets had Gordon returning from injury, coming off the bench. The Nuggets' starting lineup was Westbrook, Murray, Braun, Porter, and Jokic. In the first quarter, Lively and Marshall scored 6-0, followed by Jokic's layup. Marshall hit a three-pointer, and the Mavericks led 9-2. Jokic made one of two free throws, and Marshall scored again, with Thompson adding eight points, extending the Mavericks' lead to 19-3, a 16-point advantage. Jokic and Porter responded with points, but Washington and Gafford kept the gap at 16 points. Porter, Westbrook, and Gordon scored for the Nuggets, while Dinwiddie and Hardy replied, maintaining a 15-point difference. Jokic scored with a hook shot, but Graham and Gafford responded, keeping the lead at 17 points. Gordon made a jumper, and the first quarter ended with the Mavericks leading 32-17. In the second quarter, Jordan and Gordon scored four points for the Nuggets, reducing the gap to 11 points. Thompson hit a three-pointer, and Hardy made free throws, extending the lead to 16 points. Westbrook, Jordan, and Strus brought the deficit down to nine points. Lively scored with…

Chinese Players' NBA Single-Game Highest Scores: Zhou Qi with 6 Points, Yi Jianlian with 31 Points, Yao Ming's Record Ceiling A total of seven Chinese players have competed in official NBA games: Yao Ming, Yi Jianlian, Wang Zhizhi, Mengke Bateer, Sun Yue, Yi Jianlian, and Cui Yongxi. Let's take a look at their brightest moments on the NBA court. Cui Yongxi Although Cui Yongxi's NBA career lasted only a few months, his efforts and dedication to his dreams are still commendable. On December 3, 2024, in a game between the Nets and the Bulls, Cui Yongxi scored 2 points and 2 rebounds with 1 out of 6 shots, which is currently his highest scoring record in an NBA game. Zhou Qi On November 23, 2017, in a game between the Rockets and the Nuggets, Zhou Qi came off the bench for 12 minutes, made 2 out of 6 shots including 2 three-pointers, and finished the game with 6 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, and 1 steal, refreshing his personal career scoring record. Sun Yue During the 2009-10 season, Sun Yue performed outstandingly in his debut against the Bucks, coming off the bench for 5 minutes and efficiently scoring 4 points with 2 out of 3 shots. Although his playing time was limited, Sun Yue's performance was still recognized by his teammates and coaches. Mengke Bateer On April 17, 2002, while playing for the Nuggets, Mengke Bateer started in a game against the Timberwolves. Throughout the game, Bateer played for 27 minutes, made 3 out of 11 shots, made…

The Nuggets made a big comeback against the Mavericks with a score of 112-101. After this game, the Mavericks have lost 7 out of their last 10 games, and the 19-point comeback also shows how much the absence of Doncic and Irving has affected them. Jokic easily scored a near-triple-double with 19 points, 18 rebounds, and 9 assists, and even Westbrook got 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists, with six players from the Nuggets scoring in double digits. Klay Thompson had an explosive performance in this game, playing for 35 minutes, making 9 out of 19 shots, including 6 out of 13 three-pointers, scoring 25 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block, with a shooting percentage of 47.4%, a three-point percentage of 46.2%, and a true shooting percentage of 64.3%. This is the first time he has scored over 20 points in 24 days and over 26 points in 28 days, which is also his sixth 20+ point game this season. In addition, Klay also achieved a milestone of 16,000 career points in this game, becoming the 125th player in NBA history to reach 16,000 points. After the game, Klay said, "It's cool to get 16,000 points, but it also makes people realize how crazy and incredible it is for LeBron James to get 40,000 points." Klay Thompson has suffered two major injuries in his career, one being an anterior cruciate ligament tear and the other an Achilles tendon tear. He did not play in 2019 and 2020. Klay, who entered the NBA in 2011, is…

If you were Jimmy Butler, would you continue to stay on the sinking ship that is the Heat, or choose to jump to another team with more potential to fight for more glory in your career? This seemingly difficult choice has fallen on Butler. This versatile small forward of the Heat, after losing to the Pacers, completely broke down mentally and openly stated: "I want to leave this team." As soon as the news came out, the entire league exploded. Fans discussed it, some expressing understanding, and others feeling angry about his approach of "abandoning the team." So, what changes will Jimmy Butler's departure bring to the NBA? Can he find a new breakthrough at his next stop? Let's delve into this massive three-way trade that is about to hit the NBA. If this trade comes true, then the biggest winner is undoubtedly the Suns. They will use Bradley Beal and other chips to exchange for a superstar who has led the team to the finals, Jimmy Butler, forming a new "Big Three" with Durant and Booker. Just think about it, Durant + Booker + Butler, just hearing the names makes people feel intimidated, and this lineup truly possesses championship competitiveness. However, having a powerful lineup on paper is not enough. How these three individuals' personalities and playing styles will mesh has always been the biggest concern for fans. Durant, this historically level scorer, has already achieved great success in terms of honors, but he has been criticized for his "leadership shortcomings" throughout his career. From the Thunder to the…

Victory! Brunson scores 44+5+6, Antetokounmpo gets 24+13, Towns sets a record, the Eastern Conference landscape changes On January 13, 2025, Beijing time, the Knicks with a record of 25 wins and 14 losses faced off against the Bucks with a record of 20 wins and 16 losses at home. The Knicks suffered a 25-point defeat to the Thunder in their previous game and lost four out of their last five games, so they urgently needed a rebound. The Bucks were on a three-game winning streak and in good form. This was the second meeting between the two teams this season. In their first encounter, the Knicks defeated the Bucks by 22 points. For the Bucks, they were eager to seek revenge today. Who would win this battle? The Bucks' starting lineup was Lillard + Jackson + Prince + Antetokounmpo + Big Lo, while the Knicks' starting lineup was Brunson + Bridges + Hart + OG + Towns. In the first quarter, Jackson made a layup, Antetokounmpo made 2 free throws and 1, Towns and Bridges made three-pointers, giving the Knicks a 6-0 lead. Antetokounmpo, Lillard, and Jackson scored, while Brunson scored 8 consecutive points, putting the Knicks ahead 14-9. Lillard scored 7 consecutive points and Antetokounmpo made free throws, allowing the Bucks to take a 3-point lead. Achiwa and Brunson responded to regain a 2-point lead. Antetokounmpo and Green scored, but Towns and Brunson responded, keeping the gap at 2 points. Antetokounmpo, Connaughton, and Middleton scored, while Brunson continued to score, ending the first quarter with the Knicks leading 36-33.…