Defeat! Durant with 25+7+7, Haliburton shooting 8 of 19, Beal in an awkward position, the No. 11 in the West changes hands On January 5, 2025, Beijing time, the Pacers with a record of 17 wins and 18 losses hosted the Suns with a record of 15 wins and 17 losses. The Suns are currently ranked 11th in the West, having lost 6 out of their last 7 games. They urgently need to bounce back, but the Pacers have a strong lineup. Can the Suns defeat the Pacers away from home? The Pacers' starting lineup is Haliburton + Nemhard + Maserin + Siakam + Turner, while the Suns are missing Jones and Nuki, with their starting lineup being Beal + Booker + Dunn + Durant + Plumlee. In the first quarter, Maserin and Turner scored 7-0, followed by Beal's layup. Haliburton responded with a floater, making it 9-2 for the Pacers. Beal, Booker, and Dunn scored for the Suns, to which Haliburton and Siakam responded, maintaining a 6-point lead. Durant and Booker narrowed the gap to 1 point, but Haliburton and Turner extended it again. Durant tried to close the gap, leaving it at 2 points. Toping made 4 out of 4 free throws, while Durant and Morris scored consecutively, allowing the Suns to take a 1-point lead. After a timeout, Haliburton and Toping scored, and Plumlee and Durant responded, keeping the Suns ahead by 1 point. McConnell hit a mid-range shot, ending the first quarter with the Pacers leading 30-29. In the second quarter, Walker scored a layup, giving…

The Los Angeles Clippers have been performing well this season, despite Kawhi Leonard being out for more than two months. Their ranking in the Western Conference remains within the top seven, which is better than expected. With Leonard set to return, the Clippers' offensive and defensive capabilities are expected to significantly improve, once again making them contenders for the playoffs. The departure of Paul George has not affected the team, as Powell has had a breakout season, averaging 24 points with a three-point shooting percentage of 44.45%, his best performance yet. James Harden has been instrumental in maximizing the potential of players like Powell and Zubac. Zubac, a second-round pick in 2016, initially played for the Lakers as a substitute, often during garbage time, averaging only 3.7 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. At that time, Zubac averaged less than 10 minutes per game. However, through hard work and improvement, he gradually increased his averages to 7 points and 4.9 rebounds, then 8.1 points and 7.2 rebounds. The Lakers later traded Zubac to the Clippers, where he became the starting center, receiving more opportunities and seeing an increase in his scoring and rebounding averages. In the 2021-22 season, Zubac averaged 10.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists; in the 2022-23 season, he averaged 10.8 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 1.0 assists. After Harden joined the Clippers last season, he helped Zubac improve his efficiency in scoring off screens and in pick-and-roll situations, resulting in averages of 11.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.2 blocks, with both points and blocks reaching…

On January 5th, Beijing time, the Denver Nuggets defeated the San Antonio Spurs 122-111 to avoid being double-killed. In this game, Nikola Jokic continued his MVP-level performance. Although Jokic missed a buzzer-beater at the end of regulation, he dominated both ends of the court in overtime, making the alien-like Victor Wembanyama taste defeat at home and showing his prowess as an away game silencer. The matchup between Wembanyama and Jokic last night sparked heated discussions across the United States. Wembanyama scored 35 points with 18 rebounds and 2 blocks, while Jokic had 41 points, 18 rebounds, 9 assists, and 2 steals. However, it was Wembanyama's Spurs that ultimately won the game. Jokic certainly did not want to be defeated by the Spurs consecutively. In the first quarter, Jokic aggressively took 13 shots to score 14 points and 3 assists, helping the Nuggets lead by 3 points. During the second quarter when Jokic rested, the Nuggets were overtaken by the Spurs. The Nuggets' problem was defense; they allowed the Spurs' penetration too easily. Jokic was conserving energy during this period, scoring 4 points with 3 assists, 1 rebound, 1 steal, and 1 block. At halftime, Jokic had 18 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks. In the third quarter, Barnes' 13 points helped the Spurs extend their lead to over 10 points. Jokic had already given his all in this quarter, shooting 5 for 10 plus 2 for 3 from three-point range to score 13 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists. After three quarters, Jokic had accumulated 31…

Phoenix Suns Suffer Fourth Consecutive Loss! Durant Scores 25+7 in Defeat to Pacers, Haliburton's 27+8 with Consecutive Three-pointers Seals the Game Beijing Time January 5th, NBA regular season Phoenix Suns suffered a 108-126 defeat and were double-killed by the Pacers. The two teams played very close in the first half, tied at 56-56 at halftime; In the second half, the Suns lost 28-40 in the third quarter alone, and in the final quarter, the Suns' counterattack was still ineffective. The Pacers firmly controlled the situation, and Haliburton hit three-pointers in a row to kill the game. The Suns eventually lost and suffered four consecutive defeats, with their record becoming 15 wins and 18 losses; Pacers won two consecutive victories, with their record becoming 18 wins and 18 losses.‌ Statistical Data Suns: Durant 25 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 turnovers; Booker 20 points, 9 assists, 9 rebounds; Dunn 13 points, 3 rebounds; Beal 8 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists; Grayson Allen 13 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists; Morris 12 points Pacers: Haliburton 27 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block; Turner 20 points, 6 rebounds, 3 blocks; Mathurin 13 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists; Siakam 15 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists; Toppin 12 points; Sheppard 10 points; McConnell 8 points, 4 assists Best of the Game Haliburton shot 8 for 19, including 5 for 12 from three-point range, scoring 27 points, 8 assists, and 5 rebounds, hitting three-pointers in a row at the critical moment to seal the game Highlight Moments Booker stole the ball and hit a…

On January 5th, Beijing time, the Phoenix Suns suffered a 108-126 loss to the Indiana Pacers on the road, marking their fourth consecutive defeat (seven losses in their last eight games). In the first half, the Suns were able to compete with the Pacers, but their defense collapsed in the third quarter, allowing 28 points to 40 and falling behind by 12 points. The game quickly entered garbage time in the fourth quarter. It seems that the Suns really need to consider trading for Butler if they want to see any changes. Bill, who had to leave early in the previous game due to injury, returned without any issues. The trio of stars reunited, with Bill scoring 5 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal in the first quarter (2 out of 5 shots, 1 out of 1 three-pointers), Booker scoring 5 points, 1 rebound, and 2 assists (2 out of 3 shots, 1 out of 1 three-pointers), and Durant scoring 10 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds, and 1 block (4 out of 7 shots). All three stars performed well, but the Pacers' balanced scoring kept them ahead by one point. In the second quarter, the Pacers once led by 7 points. The Suns' second lineup, including Okogie, Morris, and Bol, finally stepped up to score continuously, with Durant also scoring 4 points (2 out of 2 shots). However, Bill's shooting dropped to 1 out of 5, and Booker's shooting also dropped to 1 out of 4. It is rare for the Suns to win a game with their…

Leonard, as a superstar in the league, has always been a controversial player because his playing time is too short. It's common to not see him play for an entire season, and this season, the Clippers have been struggling under Harden's leadership. But since Harden is also at the end of his career, it's clearly impossible for him to continue leading the team alone. Therefore, whether Leonard can return to share the pressure is something that fans are very concerned about. However, Leonard seems to be continuing to tease the Clippers. Previously, Leonard stated that he might return to play during the Christmas game, but as everyone saw, Leonard did not return to play. Originally, it was said that he would return for the New Year, but Leonard's return has been postponed again. This time, the Clippers revealed that Leonard's return time will be postponed. Now, not only can the fans not accept it, but even some NBA players can't stand it. In the program, Rivers talked about: "Still acting, you shot an advertisement, saying for the 15th time that you will return to the game. But brother, go play on the court, that's your job, you've been injured 1500 times. I'm not saying the injury is fake, but Leonard hasn't really played." It must be said that now everyone's attitude towards Leonard is basically quite disappointed. They simply cannot understand how, as the actual leader of the Clippers, Leonard hardly plays. This attitude and the continuous promise of returning, then continuing to敷衍, will make both fans and teammates of…

The Lakers have won another game, defeating the Eastern powerhouse Hawks at home with a score of 119-102. Notably, LeBron James scored another 30 points today, bringing his career total to 563 games with 30+ points, surpassing Jordan to become the top scorer in history. The Lakers also have more good news as they have returned to fourth place in the West. After defeating the Hawks, their record stands at 20 wins and 14 losses. This is due to the Nuggets and Mavericks both losing their games today, allowing the Lakers to quickly climb up the ranks. The Lakers have had a rollercoaster season. Initially, the Lakers' record was at the top four level in the West, matching the Warriors and Suns with a strong start. However, all three teams began to falter, with the Lakers even dropping out of the play-in tournament area at one point. Now, the Lakers have finally made a comeback, and it's clear that acquiring Smith has significantly increased the defensive depth on the wing. In his debut with the Lakers against the Cavaliers, Smith went 1 for 4, not yet adapting to the team, but his defense still impressed the Lakers. Against the Trail Blazers, Smith had a 1 for 6 shooting rate, which had nothing to do with the opponent and was purely due to not yet adapting to the Lakers. Today, Smith found his rhythm, scoring 8 points and grabbing 5 rebounds in 23 minutes off the bench, going 3 for 5 from the field and 2 for 3 from beyond the…

Congratulations to Rose! Bulls No. 1 jersey will be retired, becoming the 5th person in team history to receive this honor, shoulder to shoulder with Jordan and Pippen!‌ On January 5th, Beijing time, the Bulls officially announced that they will retire Derrick Rose's No. 1 jersey during the 25-26 season, with the specific date to be formally announced later. The Bulls stated, "Our No. 1 is forever from Chicago." Team President and CEO Michael Reinsdorf shared this news with Rose face-to-face in Chicago on Saturday morning, local time. Below is the official statement made by Michael Reinsdorf on behalf of the Bulls: "Derrick is not only a hometown hero but also a symbol of the entire Bulls basketball era," Jerry Reinsdorf said. "Retiring a jersey is recognition of a player's influence beyond their achievements on the court. It honors those who have made outstanding contributions to the team and established a deep and lasting connection with the fans. It acknowledges the emotional bond and significant impact players have on the team and its image. We are proud to add Derrick to the elite group of players - Jerry Sloan, Bob Love, Michael Jordan, and Scottie Pippen - whose jerseys have been officially retired by the Chicago Bulls." "Derrick's talent is extraordinary, but what impresses me most is how he maintains humility and expresses himself through basketball games." Michael Reinsdorf said. "Watching Derrick play as a player is exciting, but getting to know Derrick privately is an honor. His achievements both on and off the court make him truly unique. His…

On January 5th, Beijing time, the Chicago Bulls officially announced that they will retire Derrick Rose's No. 1 jersey next season. The statement reads: "The Bulls will retire Derrick Rose's jersey in the 2025-26 season. No other Bulls player will wear the No. 1 jersey. No. 1 forever belongs to Chicago." Bulls President Michael Reinsdorf personally informed Rose of this matter. Upon hearing the news, Rose was very emotional and moved to tears, then his face was filled with smiles; Michael also said that in the future, only PJ (Rose's son) could wear the No. 1 jersey for the Bulls. With tears in his eyes, Rose indicated that it was okay; Rose hugged and thanked Michael, then shouted out the window. Yesterday, Rose expressed on the show that he hoped the Bulls would retire his No. 1 jersey, jokingly saying that considering the current level of statue production, please don't erect a statue for me. Today, Rose's wish has come true. His No. 1 jersey will be retired next season. Rose joins Jerry Sloan (No. 4), Bob Love (No. 10), Jordan (No. 23), and Pippen (No. 33) as the fifth Bulls player to have his jersey retired; additionally, Bill Russell's jersey was also retired by the Bulls (No. 6, retired throughout the league). James, Paul, Noah, Korver, and others recorded videos to pay tribute to Rose. During this time, James said: "Derrick Rose will always be remembered in basketball games. Congratulations, brother, the best is yet to come." Today is Rose Night. Both the Bulls and Knicks teams wore special…

On January 5th, Beijing time, the Chicago Bulls officially announced that they will retire Derrick Rose's No. 1 jersey during the 2025-2026 season. The Bulls' official statement reads: "Our No. 1 is forever from Chicago." This announcement was made personally by team president Michael Reinsdorf, who expressed this decision of honor during his meeting with Rose in Chicago. Reinsdorf also mentioned: "Derrick is not only a hometown hero but also an important symbol in the history of Bulls basketball. His talent is unparalleled, and what moves us most is his humility and personal charm off the court." Rose, a native of Chicago, was selected as the first overall pick by the Bulls in 2008, starting his career. Between 2009 and 2015, Rose played for the Bulls, becoming one of the most representative players in the team's history. In the 2010-2011 season, he became the youngest regular-season MVP in NBA history, leading the Bulls to the best record in the league with 62 wins and 20 losses, and guiding the team into the Eastern Conference Finals. Now, Rose's No. 1 jersey will hang alongside those of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and others in the Bulls' arena, becoming a symbol of the team's history. As the youngest regular-season MVP in NBA history, Rose's basketball skills are top-notch, whether it's his breakthroughs on the offensive end or his vision and passing in organizing the game. In the 2010-2011 season, he averaged 25 points and 7.7 assists, leading the Bulls to their best record of 62 wins and 20 losses. That year, Rose's performance…