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…

Translation: "An MVP from the West and an Eastern 'laughingstock,' what sparks could these two ignite?" When the Nuggets signed Westbrook, almost everyone had doubts and questions. Some fans even jokingly questioned whether the Nuggets' management had a short-circuited brain, how could they think of pairing the "nearly scrapped" Westbrook with the already busy Jokic? But reality is often more exciting than fiction, and this seemingly mismatched pair used their chemistry and strength to lead the Nuggets to a triumphant march. From on-court statistics to off-court interviews, they not only silenced doubters but also became the biggest contributors to the Nuggets' strong record this season. The Nuggets' performance this season fully deserves the words "steady and solid." In the first 20 games of the season, they won 14 games, ranking fourth in the West. This achievement is not explosive, but considering that the team experienced an injury wave at the beginning of the season, with Murray and Gordon missing some games, it is quite surprising to achieve such a win rate. More importantly, the team's playing style and chemistry are becoming increasingly mature, especially when Westbrook and Jokic play together, the fluidity of the game is visibly apparent. In fact, saying that Westbrook joining the Nuggets was "highly controversial" is no exaggeration. At the beginning of the season, the outside world generally did not favor this move, after all, Westbrook's performance last season with the Lakers could be described as a "disaster." Whether it was on-court decision-making or public perception, Westbrook became the target of public opinion. Yet the Nuggets…

The regular season schedule is nearing its halfway point, and many big-name teams are not performing up to expectations. Two typical examples in the West are the Warriors and the Suns. Durant of the Suns is working hard, Booker is struggling, and Beal has become unpopular. The three giants' positions conflict with each other, and they end up with nothing after standing alone. Curry, with his league-leading salary of $55.76 million, has seen a significant decline in his team's dominance. In the games he played, the Warriors had a record of only 14 wins and 16 losses, and many of these losses were due to Curry's turnovers or blind shooting attempts. Curry relies heavily on the system, but Kerr has yet to find a perfect rotation, causing the Warriors to plummet. Including the 76ers, Embiid plays intermittently, and George has regressed into a blue-collar role, disappointing fans with their performance. Many teams have spent a lot of money without achieving the expected results. This mainly depends on whether the high-salaried stars can contribute energy. There is such an awkward team in the West that started the season with a record of 21 wins and 15 losses, barely ranking fourth, but the entire team is seething with undercurrents. They are the Nuggets. As the core of the team, Jokic averaged 31.5 points (first in the league) + 13 rebounds (third in the league) + 9.7 assists (second in the league) + 1.7 steals (sixth in the league) + a 47.3% three-point shooting percentage (first in the league) this season, doing everything…

The recent ups and downs of the Nuggets' record have left fans feeling anxious, with the focus naturally falling on Jokic and Murray. Everyone is talking about the main characters in this basketball drama, and it's hard not to want to delve into what they've been up to. The team's record fluctuates between highs and lows, leaving fans breathless. The heart of the team is undoubtedly the domineering "Cheeseburger" Nikola Jokic. This big guy not only shines with impressive stats on the court but also excels at controlling the rhythm of the game. However, his recent performance has been heart-wrenching. He tirelessly carries the team's hopes almost single-handedly. It's like a magical realism; Jokic's efforts are undeniable. He's proficient in scoring, rebounding, and assists. When he gets going, a solo move can intimidate opponents. But even machines have their limits; how can he single-handedly support the entire team? This question deserves serious reflection from the Nuggets' management. Let's not talk about Jokic being "Crazy," just watching him run around the court is enough to make one's heart ache. The most frustrating thing is Jamal Murray's lackluster performance. Jamal Murray, the team's second-in-command, earns a high salary but often seems invisible during games. On the offensive end, his touch is cold, and he falls short of expectations, becoming a burden in crucial matches. Comparing his arrogant demand for top pay with his current slump makes one want to shout, "Trade Murray now!" While injuries can be sympathized with, as a key player, he should at least live up to his top…

On January 8th, Beijing time, the NBA regular season saw the Denver Nuggets host the Boston Celtics. The Nuggets' starting lineup for today's game was Murray, Westbrook, Saric, Porter Jr., and Braun. The Celtics started with Holiday, Brown, Porzingis, Horford, and Tatum. Without Jokic and Gordon, the Nuggets' strength has significantly decreased, while the Celtics are at full strength, boasting an exceptionally strong lineup. If the Nuggets had their full roster, they might have been able to compete with the Celtics, but as it stands, their chances of victory seem slim unless someone has a superhuman performance. The first quarter began with both teams trading blows, making for an exciting start. However, during the stalemate, the Celtics' superior strength became evident as they launched wave after wave of offensive surges, gradually widening the gap. The Nuggets started off well with their shooting, with Porter Jr. and Murray hitting threes, and even Westbrook sinking two consecutive three-pointers. Despite this, the Nuggets still trailed. The gap continued to grow, quickly reaching around ten points. Westbrook played very reasonably today, giving his all on defense and capitalizing on opportunities to score on offense. He has done everything he could, but the opponent is just too strong. The complete Celtics lineup is firing on all cylinders, and they are missing one key player, White. The first quarter ended with the Nuggets trailing by 12 points, 25-37. In the second quarter, the Nuggets made a full-scale counterattack, with Strus leading the charge by scoring five points in a row, helping the team reduce the deficit.…

This game, the Nuggets really played a bit risky! They were supposed to conquer the Pelicans, but they almost got dragged down by the Pelicans. If it weren't for the overtime at the end, they would have become a laughingstock. This game really made people sweat, especially the two big cores of the Pelicans, CJ McCollum and Murray, which made people feel a little confused. You say, these two people with big contracts, but brought such an inefficient performance to the team, don't they feel ashamed? The game started, and the Nuggets failed to play their advantage, but the Pelicans gave them a lesson. The Pelicans played very hard, especially McCollum, whose 21 shots and 8 hits looked a bit annoying. He made 4 of 10 three-pointers, with a hit rate of 40%, but his overall hit rate was only 38%. Honestly, such a state could not lead the team at all. Murray is also similar, shooting 7 of 24 for 17 points and 15 assists, but the most embarrassing thing is that he missed all six three-pointers, with a three-point hit rate of 0%. The low-efficiency performance of these two cores not only slowed down the offensive rhythm but also messed up the entire team's offense. You say, with such a performance, can you believe that they receive millions of dollars in salary every year? Some netizens also said on the Internet: These two people from the Pelicans really lost the definition of the core, playing so inefficiently, yet dare to take such high salaries. This is simply a…

On January 2, 2025, Beijing time, the NBA regular season saw the 18-win and 13-loss Nuggets host the 18-win and 15-loss Hawks. This was the second meeting between the two teams this season. In their first encounter, the Nuggets won by 30 points on the road, with Jokic scoring 48 points, 14 rebounds, and 8 assists. Today, the Hawks were determined to seek revenge. Could they do it? The Nuggets were without Gordon, starting with Murray, Westbrook, Braun, Porter, and Jokic. The Hawks were missing Johnson, starting with Trae Young, Daniels, Matthews, Huijia, and Capela. In the first quarter, Porter hit a three-pointer, which was answered by a three-pointer from Daniels. Murray made a mid-range shot and Jokic scored a 2+1, giving the Nuggets an 8-3 lead. Daniels and Trae Young tied the score, but Porter, Jokic, and Braun extended the lead to seven points. Trae Young made three free throws and Capela scored with a hook, reducing the gap to two points. Porter made a layup, but Huijia and Daniels responded, leveling the score. Jokic and Murray then extended the lead back to seven points. Krajicek, Huijia, and Okongwu scored for the Hawks, while Strasser, Pickert, and Watson responded for the Nuggets, maintaining a six-point lead. Hunter and Trae Young scored for the Hawks, but Murray, Jokic, and Pickert responded, ending the first quarter with the Nuggets leading 40-33. In the second quarter, Matthews scored a layup, reducing the gap to five points. Jordan and Watson extended the lead to nine points for the Nuggets. Okongwu, Hunter, and Rody…

The Denver Nuggets have been revitalized recently, securing a 132-121 victory over the Utah Jazz, gifting them their fourth consecutive loss while achieving their own second consecutive win, now ranking sixth in the Western Conference. After being soundly defeated by the Cavaliers previously, Nikola Jokic's scolding seemed to have woken up the team. Known for his gentlemanly demeanor, Jokic stated that the team's recent performance did not deserve to win. To others, this might not seem like much of a reprimand, but for Jokic, who is considered a "good guy," it was the extent of his anger, especially when directed at his teammates. Honestly, apart from Jokic and Russell Westbrook, the rest of the Nuggets' lineup this season has not been deserving of victories. Michael Porter Jr. has been plagued by injuries, and Aaron Gordon's performance has been declining. Jamal Murray, despite his hefty contract, seemed to be coasting. It wasn't until Jokic's outburst that the Nuggets began to show signs of life. Murray started playing with more effort and has been performing exceptionally well recently. Coach Michael Malone also made a change, placing Westbrook in the starting lineup alongside Murray. The Nuggets set several incredible records today, starting with Murray, Jokic, and Westbrook. Together, they scored a combined 72 points, 36 rebounds, and 31 assists, with each player contributing at least 10 assists. This marks the first time since 1992 that three teammates have each recorded 10 or more assists in a single game. Throughout the game, the Nuggets had only seven turnovers while dishing out 38 assists. Jokic,…

The Nuggets defeated the Pistons 134-121 today, finally ending their embarrassing two-game losing streak. The Pistons have been in good form recently, but they were still no match for the Nuggets, as the gap in strength between the two teams is significant. After being hammered by the Cavaliers last time, even Jokic, known for his good nature, got angry, saying that the team was struggling so much, why should they win? Today, Gordon didn't play, and Malone wasn't stubborn in starting the lineup, putting Westbrook in when needed, directly forming a backcourt with Westbrook and Murray. On the front line, Braun and Porter were promoted to the No. 4 position, with Jokic at the No. 5 position. In fact, the Nuggets' biggest problem this year is still their poor defense, and they won today solely through offensive play. Despite winning, the Nuggets also allowed the Pistons to score 121 points. For a championship-contending team, the Nuggets' defense this year is not up to par. Losing Pope and Brown has been extremely damaging to the Nuggets, and if they had known it would be like this, they would have done everything to keep Pope and Brown instead of dismantling the championship-winning squad. The Nuggets' victory was undoubtedly due to Westbrook's contributions. In the first half, the two teams were not far apart, and the Pistons, led by their ball-handling core Cunningham, played fiercely. Ivey finished the game, CC organized and connected with his teammates, then Harris and Hardaway spread out on one side, and Duren dunked. The Pistons have a good…

The Denver Nuggets have finally put an end to their losing streak with a 134-121 victory over the Detroit Pistons. The team was in desperate need of a win after being defeated by the Cleveland Cavaliers in their previous game, which had significantly affected their morale. However, the good news is that the Nuggets no longer solely rely on Nikola Jokic, as Jamal Murray has shown signs of recovery. In today's game, Murray delivered an impressive performance with 34 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, and 3 blocks, achieving a +24 plus-minus rating and shooting at a high efficiency of 12 out of 21 from the field and 4 out of 7 from beyond the arc. We previously mentioned that Jokic is the foundation of the Nuggets, while Murray is the key to igniting the team's potential. The reason behind the Nuggets' inconsistent form this season can be attributed to Murray's injuries and his lackluster performance following his max contract. However, since the start of the season, Murray's condition has gradually improved, especially in December. Over the course of 9 games, he has averaged 22.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.6 steals, and 0.9 blocks, with a shooting accuracy of 49% and a three-point percentage of 43.4%. After the game, Nuggets head coach Michael Malone discussed Murray, stating that if he continues to play at this level, the Nuggets will be unbeatable. Malone acknowledged that the outside world is harsh on Murray due to his max contract, which raises expectations for him. Murray's underperformance was a significant factor in…