On January 20th at 7 a.m. Beijing time, the Denver Nuggets faced off against their nemesis, the Orlando Magic, in an away game. Last season, the Magic completed a double-kill over the Nuggets, sweeping them in the season series! This season, the Orlando Magic has been hit by a severe injury wave. Even though their star player, Paolo Banchero, has recovered from his injury, key players such as Franz Wagner, Jonathan Isaac, Cole Anthony, and Markelle Fultz are still on the injury list, significantly weakening the team's fighting power. This has directly led to the Magic falling from fourth place in the Eastern Conference to seventh. Facing a weakened Magic lineup, the Nuggets have a rare opportunity for revenge! According to statistics, Jamal Murray averaged 18.7 points in the first 20 games of the season, but in his last 15 games, he has been averaging 22 points with a three-point shooting percentage of 43.4%. With Jamal Murray regaining his form and Russell Westbrook fitting perfectly into the starting lineup, the Nuggets are developing in a positive and healthy direction. The Nuggets' starting lineup for this game includes Nikola Jokic, Russell Westbrook, Bruce Brown, Michael Porter Jr., and Jamal Murray. The Magic's starting lineup consists of Markelle Fultz, Paolo Banchero, Chuma Okeke, Wendell Carter Jr., and Franz Wagner. The game began with the Magic taking an early lead, 8-3, forcing a timeout from the Nuggets! Jokic hit a mid-range shot, Okeke responded with a layup, Carter Jr. nailed a three-pointer, Brown finished a fast-break dunk, Banchero scored two points with a…

Victory! Jokic with 20+14+10, Banchero 17 for 4, Westbrook Makes a Big Contribution, Western Conference Landscape Changes Beijing time January 20, 2025, the 23-20 Magic hosted the 25-16 Nuggets. The Magic were missing the Wagner brothers, Suggs, and Bitadze, suffering a significant loss in combat power. On paper, they were not considered strong opponents for the Nuggets. However, the Magic are an iron-blooded team known for their tenacity and strong defense. Could the Magic pull off an upset against the Nuggets today? The Magic's starting lineup featured Anthony, Pope, Silva, Banchero, and Carter, while the Nuggets started with Murray, Westbrook, Braun, Porter, and Jokic. In the first quarter, Carter and Pope opened with a 4-0 lead. Westbrook hit a three-pointer, followed by Carter and Pope scoring another four points, putting the Magic ahead 8-3. After a timeout, Jokic and Murray scored, to which Silva and Carter responded, maintaining the Magic's lead at 13-7. Braun scored four consecutive points, Banchero made a putback, and the Magic led by four. Jokic made a layup, Silva responded with a three-pointer, and the lead was five. Porter hit a three-pointer, Pope responded in kind, and the lead remained at five. Jokic and Westbrook scored again, while Quinn and Xiustan hit three-pointers, extending the lead to seven. Jokic and Strasser narrowed the gap to one point, and the first quarter ended with the Magic leading 29-28. In the second quarter, Quinn made a layup, giving the Magic a three-point lead. Gordon also made a layup. Banchero, Quinn, and Xiustan combined for seven points, extending the…

On January 20th, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued with the Nuggets visiting the Magic. The two teams were locked in a seesaw battle, with the Magic able to take some initiative and even lead by as much as 10 points at one point. However, Murray and Jokic led the team to turn the tide, and they further widened the gap in the following quarters, with the fourth quarter quickly losing suspense. Ultimately, the Nuggets defeated the Magic 113-100, securing their second consecutive victory while maintaining their position as fourth in the West. The Nuggets have been in excellent form recently, but they initially found themselves in a passive situation. However, the team's multi-point scoring and the outstanding performance of Murray and Jokic helped them reverse the situation. They took control of the game in the third quarter, finishing with a 16-point lead. In the fourth quarter, the Nuggets extended their lead, allowing Jokic to rest early, and the game lost its suspense early, resulting in a 13-point victory for the Nuggets. The Nuggets' outside shooting was not impressive this time, only making 7 three-pointers throughout the game. According to current league trends, such a performance would be difficult to win a game. Surprisingly, the Nuggets achieved a big win. This is largely due to their dominance in the paint, with Jokic anchoring the team, giving them an absolute advantage inside and ultimately helping them secure the victory. The Nuggets shot 40 out of 77, with a field goal percentage of 51.9%, encountering little trouble. Jokic played exceptionally well,…

The recent performance of the Houston Rockets has been quite impressive. Taking the home game against the Lakers as an example, throughout the match, the Rockets relied on their tenacious defense and outstanding rebounding to secure a crucial victory with a score of 119-115. The significance of this result is remarkable, as it solidified the Rockets' second place in the Western Conference and further widened the gap with the third-ranked Memphis Grizzlies. Through this game, people seem to have glimpsed the glimmer of hope that emerged after the team's rebuilding efforts. While the Rockets' defensive performance is commendable, their offensive issues remain prominent. Their three-point shooting percentage ranks third from the bottom in the league, and their assist numbers are also lacking, placing them at the bottom of the rankings. Such data is far from satisfactory. The Rockets' offensive struggles could potentially become a significant obstacle in their quest for a deep playoff run. This lack of offensive prowess may indeed pose a formidable challenge on their path forward in the playoffs. At this juncture, the Rockets are urgently in need of personnel reinforcements, particularly focusing on bolstering their offense and enhancing the depth of their overall roster to better develop and strengthen the team. Recently, American media outlet BR proposed a trade that could potentially provide the Rockets with an opportunity to break out of their current predicament. It is suggested that the Rockets consider trading away Cameron Whitmore, who is currently in a state of "unfulfilled potential," in exchange for Jonathan Isaac from the Orlando Magic. The details…

The NBA for the 2024-25 season is at a critical juncture of generational change, with veterans like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant gradually fading from the NBA scene. We can see an increasing number of young players slowly becoming the face of the NBA. To this end, American media outlet Hoopshype has listed the top 25 young stars under 25 years old in the NBA as of 2025. Let's take a look at which players' rankings may have been overestimated or underestimated? Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs) Victor Wembanyama should be ranked first, averaging 25.1 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 4.0 blocks, and a shooting percentage of 47.9%. His salary for this season is $12,768,664, ranking 129th. As a rookie contract, this salary is not an issue. Although Wembanyama is a center, he seems capable of playing all five positions on both offense and defense. Standing at 2.26 meters tall, he can dribble like a guard and easily break through for layups. Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves) Anthony Edwards ranks second, averaging 25.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.2 steals, and a shooting percentage of 42.7%. His salary is as high as $42,176,400, ranking 21st. Edwards is known as one of the strongest shooting guards currently active, famous for his explosive power, highlight-reel dunks, and excellent three-point shooting ability. He can be considered one of the smartest young superstars currently in the league. Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic) Paolo Banchero ranks third, averaging 29.0 points, 8.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and a shooting percentage of 49.5%. His salary is $12,160,800, ranking…

On January 11, 2025, Beijing time, the 22-win and 17-loss Magic hosted the 19-win and 16-loss Bucks. The Magic's top star, Paolo Banchero, returned from injury, while the Wagner brothers and Suggs continued to be absent. The Magic were playing back-to-back games, and except for Banchero, the other players were not physically fit enough. Could they compete against the Bucks, who have Giannis Antetokounmpo? The Bucks' starting lineup was Lillard + Jackson + Prince + Giannis Antetokounmpo + Brook Lopez, while the Magic's starting lineup was Anthony + Pope + Silva + Banchero + Bitadze. In the first quarter, Prince and Lopez hit three-pointers, giving the Bucks a 6-0 lead. However, Anthony, Bitadze, Silva, and Banchero scored 13 points in a row, allowing the Magic to take a 7-point lead. Lillard, Prince, and Giannis Antetokounmpo narrowed the gap to 1 point, but Pope, Silva, and Isaac extended it to 8 points. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Portis brought the Bucks within 1 point, and Blake and Banchero scored, while Middleton, Portis, and Giannis Antetokounmpo responded. The Bucks took a 1-point lead, but Isaac and Blake helped the Magic regain a 4-point advantage. Giannis Antetokounmpo dunked, and at the end of the first quarter, the Magic led 31-29. In the second quarter, Lillard made free throws, and Isaac and Blake responded, giving the Magic a 5-point lead. Middleton made a mid-range shot, and Banchero and Silva responded, increasing the lead to 7 points. Lillard scored 6 points in a row, and Silva and Anthony responded, keeping the lead at 5 points. Giannis Antetokounmpo…

Defeat! Magic's Five Tigers Score 64+21, Randle with 23+10, Edwards Sets Record, Western No. 7 Changes Hands On January 10, 2025, Beijing time, the 22-win and 16-loss Magic hosted the 19-win and 17-loss Timberwolves. The Magic were missing Banchero, Wagner brothers, and Suggs, suffering a significant loss in combat power. For the Timberwolves, this was a game they needed to win. Currently on a two-game winning streak, could the Timberwolves seize the opportunity? Conley continued to come off the bench for the Timberwolves, with the starting lineup being Edwards + DiVincenzo + McDaniels + Randle + Gobert, while the Magic started with Anthony + Pope + Sustan + Silva + Bitadze. In the first quarter, Gobert scored 4 points in a row, followed by a 7-point response from Pope and Bitadze. Randle made a layup and Edwards hit two consecutive three-pointers, giving the Timberwolves a 12-7 lead. Silva and Anthony scored, but Edwards and Randle responded strongly, maintaining an 8-point lead for the Timberwolves. Isaac and Bitadze scored, while Reed responded with consecutive points, keeping the gap at 8 points. After a timeout, both sides went nearly three minutes without scoring. Randle hit a three-pointer, and the first quarter ended with the Timberwolves leading 29-18. In the second quarter, Silva, Carter, and Blake reduced the deficit to 6 points. Randle and Walker extended it to 10 points. Howard and Silva reduced it back to 6 points. Gobert and Edwards scored, while Sustan, Pope, and Anthony scored consecutively, allowing the Magic to tie the score. However, Edwards, DiVincenzo, Conley, and Randle…

Why is Klay unwilling to end his career with the Warriors? What are the reasons behind abandoning the reputation of being a one-team player? The Warriors offered Klay a contract worth about $25 million per year, but he and his team were not satisfied with this figure. They hoped to secure a more lucrative deal based on his performance in the games. In the following two crucial seasons, however, his performance did not meet expectations. Despite this, the Warriors still proposed a renewal contract for two years totaling $48 million, which is undoubtedly a contract above market value for Klay at present. Recalling the previous five-year contract worth a total of 190million,thatwasbasedonthe190 million, that was based on the 190million,thatwasbasedonthe40 million standard in 2019. Klay seems to insist that his value is around $30 million and also hopes to obtain a long-term contract, which makes it difficult for the team to accept. If Klay's annual salary were $10 million, every team in the league would compete for him. If it were $15 million, championship-contending teams would join the competition. At $20 million, teams would need to consider carefully. And once it reaches $25 million, perhaps only the Warriors and a few other teams willing to pay high prices would consider it. As for a $30 million Klay, he might just have to find a cool place to stay. From an objective perspective, the renewal contract offered by the Warriors aligns with Klay's current market value and does not take advantage of emotional factors to lower the price. There were rumors that…

This season, the New Orleans Pelicans in the West and the Orlando Magic in the East have garnered sympathy from many fans. Despite a grand offseason of recruitment operations, they ultimately succumbed to injuries. At present, these two teams have divergent directions for future development. The former is actively putting All-Star players Ingram and CJ McCollum on the trading block and attempting to listen to offers for Zion, aiming to start the team's rebuilding plan this summer; as for the Magic, they have shown remarkable resilience, with players like Banchero, Wagner Jr., Wagner Sr., and Suggs delivering impressive performances before being plagued by injuries. The inspiring story of victory from adversity did not favor Magic head coach Mosley, who led a depleted squad to a crushing defeat at the hands of the Western Conference's bottom-dwelling Jazz. Considering the team's severe issues, perhaps the result of losing can be accepted, but the process was somewhat embarrassing. Even with center player Bitadze, they could not change the fact of being completely overwhelmed in the paint. In this game, Jazz center Kessler was unstoppable, single-handedly wreaking havoc on the Magic's interior. He played only 28 minutes but contributed 10 points, 17 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block. Among the 17 rebounds, 6 were offensive boards. He used his proactive hustle to win numerous ball possessions and second-chance scoring opportunities for his team. As a 23-year-old third-year rookie earning less than $3 million, with the constant worry of being traded, he still managed to average a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds. Moreover,…

The Lakers suffered a heartbreaking loss at home against the Orlando Magic, who were playing back-to-back games. The game was decided by a last-second shot from Franz Wagner, a familiar scenario for Lakers fans as Anthony Davis missed two free throws, allowing the opponent to hit a three-pointer for the win, a situation that occurred more than once last season. However, the Lakers did not lose this game due to their 26-for-17 free throw shooting, which cost them 9 points. While this was unfortunate, it was not the main reason for their defeat. 1. Why Did Reddish Only Play in the Final Play?‌ Throughout the fourth quarter, the Lakers primarily used Christie in their rotations, with Reddish only entering the game in the final play to defend against Wagner, who ultimately made the game-winning shot. Coach Ham's decision to use Christie was clear; he wanted to chase after Suggs, who had a good game. However, in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter, the Magic focused their offense on Wagner, using screens to switch out the big men. Wagner then attacked Christie twice in a row and followed up with two more attacks on Reeves. At this point, Christie was completely unable to keep up, being at a disadvantage in height and wingspan, making him the weakest point on the court. In comparison, KCP posed too great an offensive threat to be replaced, and Reeves' experience in close defense and ability to share the ball on offense meant he couldn't be taken off either. It was time to replace…