On December 28th, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued with a match between the Rockets and the Timberwolves at the Rockets' home court. The two teams started off with poor offensive form, with the Timberwolves taking some initiative, but in the second half, the Rockets began to dominate the game, building a 16-point lead at one point. However, the Timberwolves staged an incredible comeback with a 15-2 run. Ultimately, the Timberwolves defeated the Rockets 113-112. In this game, both teams initially struggled offensively, with no significant point difference. The Timberwolves later found their rhythm, while the Rockets relied on Shen Jing's continuous scoring inside to keep up, trailing by 5 points at halftime. In the second half, the Timberwolves' shooting went cold, unable to keep up with the pace, while the Rockets seized the opportunity, taking control of the game with a 32-19 run in a single quarter, successfully reversing the situation and leading by 8 points after three quarters. In the final quarter, the Rockets started with another 10-0 run, further widening the gap. It seemed as though the game would lose its suspense, but then the Timberwolves began their counterattack. In the closing stages of the game, the Timberwolves suddenly erupted, with Walker and Reid hitting consecutive threes, and Edwards completing a 2+1 play. An 18-4 run narrowed the gap to 2 points. Shen Jing made one of two free throws, Edwards hit a three-pointer to take the lead, and VanVleet missed a three-pointer, ending the game with the Rockets suffering a heartbreaking reversal, losing 112-113. This…

NBA regular season action continues, with several intense matchups taking place in the West. In the key battles: Edwards hits a buzzer-beater, the Timberwolves come back to defeat the Rockets; the Clippers beat the Warriors, with Kuminga scoring an empty 34 points and 10 rebounds; the Mavericks win against the Suns, with a full-scale brawl on the court, thus the Western Conference standings are in chaos once again: the Grizzlies surpass the Rockets, the Clippers surpass the Lakers, and the Warriors drop out of the play-in tournament area! In the playoff zone, the Thunder continue to occupy the top spot with a nine-game winning streak. The Grizzlies surpass the Rockets after defeating the Pelicans 132-124. Morant is in explosive form, shooting 8 for 11 and scoring 25 points with 7 assists, but he was hit again on his old injury, hopefully without serious consequences. Jaren Jackson scores 33 points with 6 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 assists, and 3 blocks; Bane scores 18 points with 8 assists, 4 rebounds, and 4 steals; Eddy scores 14 points with 9 rebounds and 2 blocks; and Little Pippen scores 13 points with 5 rebounds and 4 assists. On the other hand, the Rockets were tragically defeated by Edwards' buzzer-beater, experiencing a scoring drought while leading by double digits, being hit with a 10-0 run and ultimately losing by a three-pointer from Edwards, missing out on a four-game winning streak. Shen Jing scores 38 points with 12 rebounds, Jalen Green scores 14 points with 6 assists, VanVleet scores 18 points with 6 rebounds and 7…

In an NBA regular season game, the Rockets suffered a surprising 112-113 reversal at the hands of the Timberwolves. The Rockets were leading by a significant margin in the final moments of the game, but the Timberwolves staged an incredible comeback with a 15-2 run that no one could have anticipated. Following the match, the Rockets faced four pieces of bad news. The first major mistake was attributed to Udoka. In the crucial moments of the game, his handling was deemed poor. He did not call a timeout when the opponent was on a scoring streak. Throughout the season so far, Udoka's decisions regarding player rotations and timeouts during decisive periods have been questionable. A timely timeout could have disrupted the Timberwolves' rhythm, but he chose not to do so. Additionally, he persisted in using players who were clearly unsuited for the fourth quarter, which was another significant error. During this time, VanVleet and Green also contributed to the defeat. Green, in particular, made a series of inexplicable moves and turnovers, which significantly altered the momentum on the court. Despite Green's continuous misses throughout the game, Udoka continued to trust him. VanVleet, who scored zero points in the final quarter, also made some rash shots in the closing moments, giving the opponent multiple opportunities to close the gap. These two players have consistently been a hidden trouble, and it might be better to bring in Tate and Holiday, who are more reliable options. After a recent outburst, Whitmore's performance also collapsed. He had just completed a major breakout the day…

NBA regular season, Thunder 120-114 Pacers, Rockets 128-111 Pelicans, Grizzlies 155-126 Raptors, let's take a look at the Western Conference standings. The Thunder defeated the Pacers to win their ninth consecutive victory. Alexander once again proved his abilities with a powerful performance, scoring 45 points. With his outstanding skills, he single-handedly led the team forward, securing a stable first-place position with a record of 24 wins and 5 losses. The Rockets overcame the Pelicans to celebrate their fourth consecutive victory. Coach Wu is no longer stubborn, allowing Whitmore to come off the bench. Whitmore was very competitive, shooting 9 for 16 to score 27 points, once again proving his strength. Jalen Green also performed impressively, scoring 30 points without any turnovers, which is quite rare in a game. With this four-game winning streak, they are ranked second. The Grizzlies crushed the Raptors by 29 points, with a record of 21 wins and 10 losses, placing them third. The Grizzlies have a formidable lineup, from starters to substitutes, everyone contributes when they step onto the court. A total of 8 players scored in double figures, showcasing their terrifying strength. Especially Morant, who plays with great flair but has the drawback of being prone to injuries. After looking at the standings, let's consider the Rockets' upcoming schedule. A tough stretch of games is on the horizon, and I estimate that it will be difficult for the Rockets to maintain their second-place position. They are about to face the Timberwolves back-to-back, with a 50% chance of winning. They will also challenge the Heat,…

On December 28th, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued. In today's game, the young Houston Rockets played at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Before this game, the Rockets were ranked second in the West. The two teams had met once before, with the Rockets defeating the Timberwolves in that game. In today's match, the Rockets were without their two main players, Dillon and Ethan, while the Timberwolves hoped to complete their revenge on the Rockets' home court. In the first quarter, the Rockets started strong with a 9-3 lead and quickly took the lead. The Timberwolves responded with 7 consecutive points to overtake the score. The two teams then engaged in a tightly contested battle with the lead changing hands. Edwards' buzzer-beating counterattack helped them end the first quarter with a 1-point lead over the Rockets. In the second quarter, the Timberwolves unleashed their outside shooting, with DiVincenzo and Edwards continuously hitting three-pointers, giving the Timberwolves a double-digit lead. The Rockets attempted to close the gap, but at halftime, they trailed the Timberwolves by 5 points. After halftime, the Timberwolves' offense suddenly stalled, with Edwards scoring only 1 point in the third quarter. The Rockets' defense began to show results, as the Timberwolves failed to score more than 20 points in the quarter, allowing the Rockets to quickly take the lead. In the fourth quarter, the Rockets maintained a lead of over 10 points. After Xiao Smith hit two consecutive three-pointers, the Rockets had extended their lead to 15 points over the Timberwolves. However, the game took an unexpected…

NBA Western Conference Latest Rankings: Clippers Create NBA Miracle, Grizzlies Rise to 2nd, Warriors Drop to 11th Beijing Time, December 28, 2024: Today, there were 8 NBA games involving the Warriors, Clippers, Nuggets, Mavericks, Suns, Rockets, Grizzlies, Timberwolves, Spurs, and Pelicans. After the games, the Western Conference standings saw significant changes. The Nuggets faced off against the Cavaliers at home without Gordon. The Nuggets engaged in a high-scoring battle with the Cavaliers, but the Cavaliers' offensive firepower was much stronger. Apart from Allen, everyone else could shoot three-pointers, going 23-for-48 from beyond the arc. Although the Nuggets also shot well from three (15-for-31), they still had a noticeable gap compared to the Cavaliers. As a result, the Cavaliers maintained control throughout the game, leading by as many as 21 points before ultimately defeating the Nuggets 149-135. Mitchell scored 33 points with 10-of-17 shooting, Mobley had 26 points with 9-of-13 shooting, Garland got 25 points with 10-of-18 shooting, Allen had 22 points with 10-of-13 shooting, Jokic scored 27 points with 12-of-19 shooting, and Murray got 27 points with 10-of-20 shooting. After the loss, the Nuggets dropped from fifth to seventh in the West with a record of 16 wins and 13 losses. The Suns hosted the Mavericks without Booker and Allen, while the Mavericks were without Doncic and Lively. The Mavericks took a 3-point lead in the first quarter, extended their advantage significantly in the second quarter by winning it by 13 points, and led by 16 points at halftime. In the third quarter, a conflict occurred between the players, resulting…

When Silas left Houston, Rockets general manager Stone expressed his gratitude to him. Although Silas is not capable enough, he has successfully completed the task of tanking assigned by the Rockets management, and he has both merits and hardships. Let's take a look at the Nets. They have won 12 games in the Eastern Conference with insufficient competitiveness so far, and they have already fallen behind the first group of tanking. The Nets' general manager is anxious. He has reduced the price to sell the team's main player Schroder. Lakers reporter Buha previously stated that insiders in the league were surprised by Schroder's trade, believing that he should be able to exchange for a first-round pick. Schroder is gone, and the Nets' head coach has handed over the offensive banner to Johnson, and they can still win. The Nets defeated the Bucks away, with Cameron Johnson scoring 29 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists, becoming the big contributor to the victory. Judging from the current situation, the Nets may accelerate the transaction and send Johnson away. Five days ago, NBA reporter Evan Sidery revealed that as many as 10 teams had inquired about the situation of Cameron Johnson with the Nets. If the Nets continue to win, the trade may be reached in the coming weeks. Many NBA reporters have mentioned the Rockets' interest in Cameron Johnson, and some fans also hope that Stone can trade him to enhance the team's offensive firepower. The Nets hope to get a first-round pick and a promising young player with training value in…

The Houston Rockets defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 128-111, with Jalen Green exploding for a super performance. He shot 12 of 21 from the field, including 6 of 11 from three-point range, scoring 30 points with 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals, with a plus-minus of +30. Over the past 11 games, Jalen Green's state has indeed been improving. His awakening game was against Philadelphia where he scored 41 points. After entering December, the Rockets faced several strong teams, and Green's performance was inconsistent, playing well in some games and poorly in others. Against the Kings, Green scored 28 points, but in two games against the Warriors, he only managed 14 and 12 points, followed by two games against the Thunder where he scored 9 and 12 points. However, surprisingly, against the Clippers, Jalen Green efficiently scored 31 points and 4 rebounds, followed by two games against the Pelicans where he scored 34 and 30 points. Over the past 11 games, Jalen Green averaged 22 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.3 steals, with a shooting percentage of 47.2%, a three-point percentage of 36%, and a true shooting percentage of an impressive 60.2%, with a cumulative plus-minus of +36. This means that when Jalen Green averages 22 points per game, the Rockets can improve their win rate even if his shooting percentage is not as high as 47%, but rather around 45% and 36%. The Rockets' defensive efficiency and average points allowed are among the top three in the league this year, but their offense is only average. This…

The Houston Rockets defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 128-111 in a recent game. Jalen Green and Van Jordan had outstanding performances, while Whitmore, coming off the bench, became a key player, effectively filling the void left by the absence of Ison. The contrast between Whitmore (referred to as the "White Wizard") and Shepherd was particularly evident, with Shepherd scoring only 1 point in 18 minutes, while Whitmore scored 27 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal in 26 minutes, shooting 9 for 16 from the field and 4 for 8 from three-point range. Coach Udoka's positioning of the two players is somewhat similar. Previously, when Whitmore was in the G League, Shepherd averaged only 10 minutes per game. His main task was not to come off the bench as a backup point guard but to be used as a spot-up shooter, with the ball still in the hands of Van Jordan and Shen Jing. However, Shepherd has too many passes that shift responsibility because he is afraid to shoot and plays safe to maintain stability. Defensively, Shepherd's physique does not meet NBA standards, and it can be said that whenever teams face the Rockets, they single out Shepherd for one-on-one play. Offensively, Shepherd lacks tactical status, and even if given tactics, his body cannot execute them. Defensively, he has become a weak point. Currently, Shepherd really needs to go to the G League for training. This is not to look down on Shepherd, but rather to say that if you force him to stay with the Rockets, you cannot…

The focus of the NBA Christmas Day game was undoubtedly the matchup between the Lakers and the Warriors, with top-tier stars LeBron James and Stephen Curry both scoring over 30 points, delivering an exciting game for the audience. Ultimately, the Lakers emerged as the winners and took the opportunity to improve their ranking to sixth in the Western Conference, while the Warriors' ranking dropped to tenth. Due to a significant gap in performance from the top of the Western Conference, the Thunder, both teams hope to optimize their rosters. The Warriors' general manager, Bob Myers, hopes to maximize their advantage of strong shooting ability by focusing on adding shooters. The Lakers hope to add a quality frontcourt player to alleviate pressure on Anthony Davis in the paint. In comparison, the Rockets, ranked second in the West, have a better competitive situation, but general manager Rafael Stone stated in an interview with Jonathan Feigen of the American media "Houston Chronicle" that he will not miss any opportunity to strengthen the team's lineup. Recently, American media "BR" suggested that the Warriors, Lakers, Rockets, and Nets should discuss a four-team trade proposal. If negotiations progress smoothly, Kuminga is expected to join James in Los Angeles, while C-Johnson will go to Golden State to assist Curry. The specific trade plan is as follows: The Warriors send Jonathan Kuminga + Li Kair + Kevin Looney to receive Cameron Johnson. The Lakers send Hood-Sefcik + Christian Wood + the Lakers' 2029 first-round pick + the right to swap first-round picks in 2030 to receive Jonathan Kuminga.…