On January 2, 2025, Beijing time, the NBA regular season saw a match between the 21-11 Rockets and the 20-13 Mavericks. Both teams were on a two-game losing streak and were eager to bounce back. Who would win this battle? The Rockets' Thompson was suspended and Ison was out due to injury, with the starting lineup being VanVleet, Jalen Green, Dillon, Smith, and Shen Jing. On the Mavericks' side, Doncic was out due to injury and Marshall was suspended, with the starting lineup being Irving, Dinwiddie, Clay, Washington, and Lively. In the first quarter, Lively scored 4-0, followed by Jalen Green's layup and Clay's three-pointer, giving the Mavericks a 7-2 lead. VanVleet and Smith made free throws, while Washington and Clay continued to score, extending the Mavericks' lead to 10 points. Jalen Green, Smith, and Dillon narrowed the gap to 2 points. Gafford scored a layup, and Dillon scored 4 points in a row, leveling the game. Hardy and Kellebel scored, but Jalen Green, Shen Jing, and Dillon responded, allowing the Rockets to take a 1-point lead. Grammes, Hardy, and Powell scored 7-0 to regain a 6-point lead, ending the first quarter with the Mavericks leading 30-24. In the second quarter, Adams scored from the offensive rebound, maintaining a 4-point lead. Grammes continued to score, although Whitmore responded, the gap widened to 9 points. Holiday scored a layup, and Dinwiddie responded with a three-pointer, giving the Mavericks a 10-point lead. Shen Jing and Whitmore narrowed the gap to 2 points. Irving scored a layup, and Shen Jing, Whitmore, and Jalen…

The Houston Rockets faced off against the Dallas Mavericks in a decisive match, ultimately securing a victory with a score of 110-99, ending their two-game losing streak. This season, the Rockets have now achieved a double-kill over the Mavericks, with Luka Doncic continuing to sit out due to rest, and Washington also sustaining an ankle injury after playing only 16 minutes, forcing him to withdraw from the game. Without Washington's strong presence at the power forward position, the Mavericks' depth appeared to be stretched thin. Kyrie Irving was also off his game, performing poorly in the first half before finding some momentum in the second half. On the Rockets' side, they were without Ison and Amen, who was suspended for two games, leaving the "Door God" duo absent. Despite these absences, the Rockets' starting lineup remained intact, featuring Van Jordan, Jalen Green, Dillon, Smith, and Shen Jing. With Doncic out, the Rockets' strategy against the Mavericks was straightforward: focus on defending Irving, occasionally double-teaming him and forcing other Mavericks players to take on the offensive load. Initially, this tactic proved effective, but the Mavericks' outside shooting was accurate. Players like Dinwiddie, Thompson, and Washington were on fire, with LeFevre also scoring consistently, allowing the Mavericks to lead 30-24 in the first quarter, largely thanks to Jalen Green's scoring efforts. In the second quarter, the Mavericks extended their lead to as much as 40-30, a 10-point advantage. Coach Udoka was forced to bring back Jalen Green and other starters, pairing them with the scoring prowess of White Moore. The combination of…

Shams: The Lakers are willing to trade three first-round picks. It's rare that the Lakers have finally woken up; I thought they were really planning to keep their first-round picks for future drafts? Look how happy James is, he's doing a celebratory dance... It feels so familiar, be careful not to receive a cease and desist letter. In fact, the Lakers weren't always reluctant to use their picks; they once offered Westbrook plus two first-round picks for Irving, but were rejected by the Nets. The Nets' asking price for Irving was Westbrook, Reeves, Christie, two first-round picks, and a pick swap, which the Lakers didn't agree to. To get back on topic, the Lakers plan to use three first-round picks to acquire a player who can play alongside LeBron and Davis, and also participate in Redick's coaching system over the next 3-5 years. Simply put, the Lakers want a young star. Currently, in the league, there seem to be only two players who meet this condition and could potentially be poached: former Klutch Sports client Trae Young and current client De'Aaron Fox... Enthusiastic netizens have the highest呼声for the Lakers to trade for Fox. But what the Lakers want may not align with the netizens' opinions. They previously showed strong interest in Trae Young, but seem less interested in De'Aaron Fox, who is now looking to leave the Kings, and we haven't even seen any reliable rumors about the two parties. Trae Young (26 years old) is younger than Fox (27 years old), has stronger leadership abilities, and his scoring ability…

The NBA's best lineup has only 15 spots each year, which is a more prestigious individual honor than being an All-Star. Among these, the first team consists of two backcourt players and three frontcourt players, essentially representing the league's top five players for that season. Therefore, being selected to the first team is highly valued and challenging. So, how many times have current superstars been selected to the first team? Irving has never been selected, Curry and Jokic four times each, and Harden six times, ranking only second. Irving is undoubtedly talented, but he has never reached the level of a superstar. Whether in terms of personal performance or leadership ability, he does not rank among the top tier, hence he has never been selected to the first team in his 13-year career. However, his one-on-one scoring ability in critical moments is top-notch in the league. Similarly, Butler, despite leading his team to the finals twice, has also never been selected to the first team, illustrating just how difficult it is to be chosen. Westbrook was also a formidable player during his peak, a versatile warrior, especially during his time with the Thunder. He achieved the remarkable feat of averaging a triple-double and won the scoring title twice and the assist title twice. However, even as strong as Westbrook is, he has only made it to the first team twice, in 2016 and 2017. The competition at point guard is incredibly fierce. Curry, on the other hand, has had it slightly better. He has won two MVP awards in his…

On December 31st, Beijing time, the NBA officially announced the weekly MVPs for the 10th week of the season in both the Eastern and Western Conferences. 76ers star Tyrese Maxey and Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander were selected, both averaging over 30 points per game. Irving, Brunson, and Reeves were among those nominated. Eastern Conference Weekly MVP - Tyrese Maxey Last week, Maxey led the 76ers to a 3-0 record, averaging 32.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 8.7 assists per game. He scored 32 points with 10 rebounds and 8 assists against the Spurs, 33 points with 12 assists and 4 rebounds against the Celtics, and 32 points with 6 assists against the Jazz. Maxey achieved three consecutive games with over 30 points, leading the team to a happy three-game winning streak. This is Maxey's first time being named the Eastern Conference Weekly MVP this season and the second time in his career. He previously won the award on October 10, 2023. The official 76ers account posted a poster to congratulate Maxey. Currently, the 76ers are ranked 11th in the East with a record of 12 wins and 17 losses. So far this season, Maxey has played in 23 games, averaging 26 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 2 steals per game, ranking first in scoring on the team. Western Conference Weekly MVP - Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Last week, Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder to a 4-0 record, averaging 35.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 6 assists per game. He scored 41 points with 9 rebounds and 3 assists against the Wizards, 45 points with…

The NBA has been quite eventful recently, with Marshall and Nurkic getting suspended for fighting, the Timberwolves cutting Dozier to save money, and Kings head coach Brown suddenly being fired. These incidents have left the league in disarray, causing fans to shake their heads in disbelief. Marshall may have acted impulsively by fighting, but it was heartwarming to see Irving immediately offer to pay his teammate's fine without hesitation. This kind of behavior from a team leader is indeed touching, especially since there are not many players in the league willing to do so. The atmosphere within the Mavericks seems to be quite positive. Both Irving and Doncic are ball-dominant players, but they seem to get along well in the locker room. Otherwise, Irving wouldn't have been so quick to help out financially. Marshall has been suspended for four games, resulting in a loss of over $230,000. For a player on a minimum salary, this amount is significant. Without Irving's assistance, he would likely be feeling the pain for some time. Nurkic, on the other hand, faces a more awkward situation as Durant has not offered to cover his fine, which amounts to over $370,000. This incident not only caused physical harm but also took a toll on his wallet. The league's decision to penalize the players for fighting is reasonable, as such behavior on the court is indeed detrimental. However, the act of players helping each other pay fines reveals a warm side of the NBA's locker room culture. Although the Mavericks' record is not particularly impressive, the relationships…

On December 29th, Beijing time, the Mavericks played their second back-to-back game without Luka Doncic, who continued to be absent and will be re-evaluated in a month. The Blazers once led by as many as 21 points, but Kyrie Irving refused to give up and went on a furious scoring spree in the second half. In the final quarter, Irving scored 20 points, unwilling to concede defeat, but unfortunately, the comeback attempt fell short, resulting in a regrettable 122-126 loss. American media wrote: "Kyrie, say help me again!" Due to it being the second game of a back-to-back, the entire team was somewhat fatigued, having just flown from Phoenix to Portland. It seemed that only Irving had his energy levels intact. In the first quarter, Irving shot 6 for 4 with 1 three-pointer made, scoring 9 points. He took advantage of a screen and immediately launched a shot, while the Mavericks as a team scored only 25 points in the first quarter, with their defense collapsing, allowing the Blazers to score 36 points. It was an all-out offensive battle. Sharpe scored 16 points in the first half, Simmons had 10, Grant had 6, Ayton had 14 points and 7 rebounds, Avdija had 11, and Henderson had 12. By halftime, five Blazers players had already scored in double figures. Irving single-handedly challenged the entire Blazers team, shooting 9 for 5 with 1 three-pointer made, scoring 15 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, and 1 block in a single quarter. By halftime, Irving had already accumulated 24 points. In the third quarter, Irving…

Shams: The Lakers are willing to trade three first-round picks. It's rare that the Lakers have finally come to their senses; I thought they were really planning to keep their first-round picks for future drafts? Look how happy James is, he's even doing a little dance to celebrate... It feels so familiar, be careful not to receive a lawyer's letter. In fact, the Lakers weren't unwilling to use their picks before; they once offered Westbrook and two first-round picks for Irving, but were rejected by the Nets. The Nets' asking price for Irving was Westbrook, Reeves, Christie, two first-round picks, and a pick swap, which the Lakers didn't agree to. To get back on track, the Lakers plan to use three first-round picks to acquire a player who can play alongside LeBron and Davis and also participate in Redick's coaching system in the next 3-5 years. Simply put, the Lakers want a young star. In the current league, there seem to be only two players who meet this condition and can be poached: former Klutch Sports client Trae Young and current client De'Aaron Fox... Netizens are most enthusiastic about the Lakers trading for Fox. But what the Lakers want may not align with the netizens' opinions. They previously showed strong interest in Trae Young, but they don't seem very interested in De'Aaron Fox, who is now planning to leave the Kings, and we haven't even seen any reliable rumors about the two parties. Trae Young (26 years old) is younger than De'Aaron Fox (27 years old), has stronger leadership abilities,…

The NBA regular season game between the Suns and the Mavericks at the Suns' home court ended in an unexpected way. This match, originally highly anticipated for the direct confrontation between Durant and Irving, became a hot topic due to a brawl on the court. The chaotic scene not only left the audience stunned but also left Mavericks star Irving standing there with a basketball, at a loss. NBA players surrounded and swung fists from multiple angles, please pay attention to the referees, Irving was scared. The game started with the Mavericks quickly taking the initiative. Irving was in hot form, hitting consecutive three-pointers, helping the team to a dream start of 14-4. The Suns seemed to be struggling, barely keeping up with the point difference under Durant's leadership. At the end of the first quarter, the Mavericks only led by 3 points, but their firepower was clearly not exhausted. In the second quarter, the Suns' offense completely fizzled out, while the Mavericks expanded their lead to 16 points with a multi-flower attack. The game took a dramatic turn in the third quarter. Nurkic and the Mavericks' Marshall and Washington suddenly erupted into physical conflict during a scramble under the basket. The argument escalated to multiple people swinging fists and shoving each other, with the situation once out of control. The referees quickly intervened to expel the three troublemakers and tried their best to calm the situation. From the video replay, it can be seen that Irving wanted to go forward to understand the situation, but after witnessing the chaotic…

On December 29th, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued with a total of 9 matchups scheduled for the day. The specific results are as follows: The Heat lost to the Hawks 110-120, the Thunder defeated the Hornets 106-94, the Knicks narrowly beat the Wizards 136-132, the Bucks narrowly lost to the Bulls 111-116, the Suns lost to the Warriors 05-109, the Pistons lost to the Nuggets 121-134, the 76ers narrowly beat the Jazz 114-111, the Mavericks lost to the Blazers 122-126, and the Kings lost to the Lakers 122-132. Stars such as Jalen Johnson, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Brunson, Josh Giddey, Jonathan Kuminga, Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Kyrie Irving, and Anthony Davis all had impressive performances. So, who will be awarded the title of today's best player? Let's take a look together. In the game between the Mavericks and the Blazers, six players from the Blazers scored in double figures, including 22 points, 4 rebounds, and 8 assists from Anfernee Simons, 23 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists from Shaedon Sharpe, 21 points and 16 rebounds from Deandre Ayton, and 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists from Deni Avdija. They led the Mavericks by as many as 21 points and eventually won by a narrow margin of 4 points! Despite their efforts, the Mavericks were unable to secure the victory, but Kyrie Irving did his best. He played for 38 minutes, shooting 16 of 26 (5 of 12 from three-point range) and making all 9 free throws, scoring a comprehensive stat line of 46 points, 2 rebounds,…