The Clippers visited the Nuggets for a game, with neither Kawhi Leonard nor Nikola Jokic playing. The Clippers' starting lineup was Harden, Dunn, Powell, Jones, and Zubac, while the Nuggets started with Murray, Westbrook, Braun, Porter, and Jordan. In the first quarter, Murray scored a 2+1, followed by Powell's three-pointer, and then Braun's three-pointer. Both teams exchanged leads as the score kept rising. After Harden assisted Batum's three-pointer, Murray made a mid-range shot, leading to a timeout at 12-10. Returning to the game, Porter scored five points to extend the lead, Powell hit a three-pointer to stop the bleeding, and Jordan made a 2+1 under the basket. Westbrook made a putback, and Porter followed with another three-pointer, leading to a 14-3 run that forced the Clippers to call a timeout. However, after the timeout, the Clippers' offense remained ineffective, and Westbrook's three-pointer increased the lead to 15 points. Harden and Porter each made a three-pointer to try to close the gap, but the Nuggets continued to score, ending the first quarter with the Clippers trailing 19-33, a 14-point deficit. In the second quarter, during the rotation phase, Porter continued to score, but the Nuggets were raining threes from outside. After Murray made his own three-pointer, he assisted Saric with another three-pointer, and then made another three-pointer himself, directly widening the gap and forcing the Clippers to call a timeout. Returning to the game, the Nuggets maintained their offensive momentum, leading by as many as 25 points. It seemed like the game was about to be over. After Harden returned, he…

On January 7, 2025, Beijing time, the 17-win and 17-loss Timberwolves hosted the 20-win and 15-loss Clippers. This was Leonard's second game back from injury. Facing the tall and defensively strong Timberwolves, how would Leonard perform? The Clippers started with Harden, Dunn, Powell, Leonard, and Zubac, while the Timberwolves changed their lineup, with Conley coming off the bench. Their starting lineup was Edwards, DiVincenzo, McDaniels, Randle, and Gobert. In the first quarter, Gobert made 1 of 2 free throws, Powell made both, Gobert dunked, and Dunn hook shot, giving the Clippers a 4-3 lead. Edwards scored 4 points in a row, allowing the Timberwolves to take a 3-point lead. Leonard, Harden, Powell, and Zubac responded with a 9-0 run to take a 6-point lead and force a timeout. After the timeout, Leonard made a putback, extending the Clippers' lead to 8 points. McDaniels hit a three-pointer, but Leonard, Harden, Mann, and Coffey followed with a 10-0 run to increase the lead to 15 points. Reid and Edwards narrowed the gap to 11 points with a layup and a dunk. Harden made a floater, and DiVincenzo made both free throws. At the end of the first quarter, the Clippers led 27-16. In the second quarter, Powell made a 2+1 play, extending the Clippers' lead to 14 points. Walker and Reid reduced the deficit to 9 points. Jones, Coffey, and Zubac continued to score, increasing the lead to 19 points. After a timeout, Gobert dunked, and Zubac responded with a layup, maintaining a 19-point lead. Reid and Conley scored consecutively, reducing the…

The entire game saw the Timberwolves defeat the Clippers with a score of 108-106. In this match, the Clippers led by double digits in the first quarter but were continuously chased down by the Timberwolves in the following three quarters, ultimately suffering a reversal in the final moments. After the game, the Clippers faced four pieces of bad news. Porter Jr. still needs to minimize his playing time in crucial moments due to his inconsistent ball handling. During that period, he made a fast-break turnover and a poor pass to Zubac, which were both very costly. Although Porter Jr. performed well in the first three quarters, Tyronn Lue still needs to be cautious in using him. If he makes mistakes in key moments, it can greatly affect the team's momentum. Powell's usage also became problematic. There was a period where Powell was given excessive ball-handling responsibilities, which raises questions for anyone. Powell's advantage lies only in his three-point shooting, yet he has been attempting dribble drives, leading to a drop in shooting percentage and an increase in turnovers. More critically, he is unable to pass when driving. If he misses from outside, his teammates might still have a chance to grab the rebound, but this resulted in him shooting 7 out of 17 for the game, and Powell was restricted in the final moments. Although Leonard has returned, he still requires a significant amount of time to recover. Given his current state, he can only play during regular times. Once he enters the decisive period, he struggles to score on…

The Clippers achieved a thrilling victory over the Pelicans with a score of 116-113, successfully securing their third consecutive win! This game was filled with drama from the start, as the Clippers once trailed by 14 points and seemed on the verge of being outpaced by the Pelicans. However, the Clippers staged an impressive comeback in the second half, culminating in an exciting victory. Notably, Harden's key performance in the third quarter, along with the strong showings by Powell and Zubac, ultimately helped the Clippers complete a risky comeback and secure the win. Let's talk about the game process. The Clippers seemed a bit off at the beginning, allowing the Pelicans to open up a lead. At the craziest moment, the Clippers were down by 14 points. Under such circumstances, who would have thought the Clippers could still turn things around? Harden is a tough player indeed! In the third quarter, he was on fire, nailing three-pointers one after another, scoring an explosive 13 points in a single quarter, leading the Clippers to gradually catch up with the Pelicans. Can Harden play any stronger? At the critical moment, he stepped up, and everyone knows that with Harden, the Clippers are just different! This game was a testament to Harden's value! A netizen commented that if Harden can maintain this form, the Clippers really have a chance to challenge for the top four in the West! As the game entered the final quarter, Powell and Zubac of the Clippers played pivotal roles. Powell continuously scored with aggressive offense, while Zubac displayed…

The Clippers finally welcomed the return of Leonard at home, ultimately defeating their opponents 131-105 with ease. Harden has returned to being an assistant rather than carrying the team. He delivered 15 assists throughout the game, including 13 in the first half, setting a new league record for the season. It must be said that Harden's focus on passing is truly remarkable. Initially, it was thought that Harden would score less than 10 points, but he still managed to score in double digits. With Leonard's return, Harden also seems more relaxed, allowing him to enjoy the game. Of course, Powell is the most comfortable player for the Clippers. In the previous game without Harden's help to attract defensive attention, Powell had an abysmal shooting rate of 1 out of 11 against the Thunder. This experience made Powell feel depressed as he felt the pressure Harden faces. In this game, with Leonard's return and Harden drawing defenders, these two leaders completely absorbed the Hawks' defense, allowing Powell to once again become a high-scoring player. Moreover, Harden has a clear advantage over Trae Young, as today marks the ninth time Harden has faced off against Trae Young in his career, maintaining an undefeated record of 9 wins and 0 losses. Trae Young, a rookie from 2018, has not played against Harden often due to the divisional differences and some injuries. However, analyzing their past encounters, it is evident that Harden has indeed declined somewhat. Particularly, his physical condition no longer allows him to consistently perform at a high level. In their past…

On January 5th, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued with a match between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Atlanta Hawks. The Clippers, as a strong team in the East, ranked 7th in the West with a record of 19 wins and 15 losses after completing 34 rounds of the regular season. They recently suffered two consecutive losses to the Spurs and Thunder, and urgently needed a victory to boost the team's morale. The Hawks, as an emerging force centered around young players, had a fluctuating performance this season. After consecutive losses to the Nuggets and Lakers, they also suffered two consecutive defeats and ranked 7th in the East before the game. This match is a contest between the 7th-ranked teams from the East and West, and it is particularly noteworthy that Leonard made his comeback debut in this round, as well as the strong confrontation between Harden and Trae Young. Who will lead their team to victory in the end? Let's wait and see. Ultimately, after four quarters of competition, the Clippers defeated the Hawks 131-105. Player ratings: 4 players scored perfectly, 4 passed, and 2 struggled! With the departure of Paul George and Leonard's long absence, Harden had to lead the team alone. Although their performance was also up and down, it was much more optimistic than expected. However, they lost consecutively to the Spurs and Thunder in the last two rounds, which affected the team's morale. They urgently needed a victory to boost the morale of the entire team. Facing the Hawks, who just suffered a…

Clippers Win Big by 26 Points! Harden Scores 10+2+15, After the Game, Leonard Enters the Court to Celebrate Victory with Teammates Beijing time, the NBA regular season Clippers hosted the Hawks at home. The Clippers' starting lineup today is Harden, Dunn, Powell, Leonard, Zubac. The Hawks' starting lineup is Trae Young, Daniels, Krajicek, Lissaj, Capela. Leonard made his season debut after a long absence due to injury. It's hard to say how he will perform in his first game back. However, as long as Leonard returns, it is believed that the Clippers' record will continue to improve. The Hawks just had a tough game against the Lakers yesterday, and today they are playing their second game in as many nights, which may lead to some fatigue for the players, which could be an advantage for the Clippers. At the start of the first quarter, how is Leonard performing? He caused turnovers on defense and hit a three-pointer on offense, even while being guarded closely by the opponent. It seems that both offensively and defensively, he is back at full strength. The two teams played back and forth in the first quarter, with the Clippers taking a slight lead at one point, but the Hawks were able to respond in time and reduce the gap, preventing the Clippers from gaining momentum. At the end of the first quarter, the Clippers led the Hawks 29-28 by a single point. However, in the second quarter, the situation changed dramatically. After a brief struggle between the two teams, the Clippers began to dominate on…

Title: Defeat! The Hawks' Five Tigers Score 77+23, Harden with 10+15, Leonard's Debut Surprise, Western Conference Landscape Changes Content: On January 5, 2025, Beijing time, the Clippers with a record of 19 wins and 15 losses faced the Hawks with 18 wins and 17 losses at home. The Clippers' top star, Leonard, made his season debut after returning from injury. How would he perform? The Hawks were playing back-to-back games, having lost to the Lakers the previous day and suffering their second consecutive defeat. They were eager for a strong comeback, but could they win against the Clippers with Leonard? The Clippers' starting lineup was Harden, Dunn, Powell, Leonard, and Zubac, while the Hawks were without Johnson, starting with Young, Daniels, Krajicek, Risa, and Capela. In the first quarter, Powell scored with a hook shot, Young made a layup, and Risa hit a three-pointer, giving the Hawks a 5-2 lead. Leonard responded with a three-pointer, and Daniels made a layup, leaving the Hawks ahead by 2 points. Zubac, Powell, and Dunn then took over, giving the Clippers a 3-point lead. Capela, Young, and Krajicek scored for the Hawks, but Jones, Powell, Batum, Harden, and Coffey went on a 16-0 run, extending the Clippers' lead to 15 points. Matthews and Young hit back-to-back threes, and Risa dunked, reducing the gap to 1 point. The first quarter ended with the Clippers leading 29-28. In the second quarter, Coffey and Powell scored 5 points in a row, extending the Clippers' lead to 6 points. Matthews and Rody closed the gap to 2 points,…

The first round of All-Star voting results are finally out. On the Eastern side, the top three frontcourt players are Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum, and Karl-Anthony Towns, while the top three backcourt players are LaMelo Ball, Donovan Mitchell, and Damian Lillard. In the West, the top three frontcourt players are Nikola Jokic, Kevin Durant, and LeBron James, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic, and Stephen Curry in the backcourt. Generally speaking, there are no surprises, as voting is primarily based on the season's performance. However, established superstars like LeBron, Durant, and Curry still have a strong fan base, ensuring their selection regardless of their current form, as long as they remain in the league. Among those who could potentially make their first All-Star appearance are Jaylen Williams, Alperen Sengun, Franz Wagner, Evan Mobley, Derrick White, Tyler Herro, and today's main character, Norman Powell. Currently, he has 110,222 votes, ranking him 10th among Western Conference guards. Objectively, such a vote count offers slim hopes in the competitive guard category, but it is undoubtedly significant for Powell. This is the first time in his 12-year career that he has reached an All-Star level, which is a massive recognition. Looking at his actual performance this season, he indeed deserves an All-Star selection, even outperforming many players ahead of him. At the start of the season, the Clippers were seen as a team outside the play-in tournament, but in the first five games, Powell averaged 25.4 points, 3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists, with shooting percentages of 49.5% and 41.3%. This performance was somewhat shocking, as…

The NBA regular season is nearing its halfway point, and the Western Conference standings are becoming clearer. The Thunder have a stable first place with a 13-game winning streak, pulling ahead of the Grizzlies and Rockets. The second-tier teams, the Rockets and Grizzlies, maintain a win rate above 65%, making the top four in the West relatively secure. The Mavericks have seen their record drop due to Luka Doncic's injury, similar to the Suns at the start of the season, where the absence of key players makes it difficult to win games. In the third-tier group, the Suns are gradually falling behind, but from the tenth-place Spurs to the fourth-place Nuggets, there is only a 2.5-game difference, with intense competition among them. Despite being one of the least favored teams by American media, the Clippers have started the season with a solid 19-15 record. Firstly, after more than two months of recovery from injury, Leonard is finally set to return. However, his comeback raises questions about whether it will disrupt the team's established chemistry. Let's look at the first phase of fan voting for this season's All-Star Weekend. In the Western Conference frontcourt rankings, Jokic (1.42 million votes), Durant (1.27 million votes), and James (1.17 million votes) dominate the top three spots. In the backcourt, the top two are Alexander (1.05 million votes) and Doncic (0.87 million votes), with Curry ranking third with 0.81 million votes. This essentially determines the Western Conference All-Star starting lineup. Among the most anticipated Clippers players, Harden ranks sixth in the Western Conference backcourt with…