On January 14, 2025, NBA regular season action continued with two highly anticipated Western Conference matchups. The Rockets narrowly defeated the Grizzlies 120-118, thanks to Jalen Green's efficient performance, securing their fourth consecutive win; while the Warriors suffered a loss on the road against the Raptors, falling 101-104 and experiencing a losing streak. The Warriors versus the Raptors match was once a close contest. Initially, the Warriors took a temporary lead but were quickly overtaken by the Raptors, trailing 26-28 at the end of the first quarter. In subsequent quarters, both teams exchanged blows, especially in the third and fourth quarters where the score remained tight until the final minute determined the outcome. A key dunk by Adebayo helped the Raptors establish a three-point lead, and although the Warriors made efforts to catch up, they ultimately failed to reverse the situation and lost the game regrettably. Curry's performance remained outstanding, contributing 26 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists, but the support from other players was insufficient, particularly as the 37-year-old Curry showed signs of fatigue during the game. At the same time, the Warriors' recruitment did not meet expectations, with Schroder failing to provide significant assistance to the team. If the Warriors do not make adjustments soon, they may struggle to maintain competitiveness in the fierce Western Conference race and could even miss out on a play-in tournament spot. The game between the Rockets and the Grizzlies was filled with drama. Although the Rockets initially trailed, ending the first quarter seven points behind at 23-30, they quickly adjusted their state…

On January 14, 2025, Beijing time, the 25-12 Rockets hosted the 25-14 Grizzlies. The Rockets are currently ranked second in the West, while the Grizzlies are third. This is a crucial game for both teams. This is their third meeting of the season; the Rockets won the previous two encounters by 20 and 4 points respectively, including a 4-point victory just four days ago. Today, the Grizzlies are eager to bounce back, but the Rockets are in excellent form with a three-game winning streak. Can the Grizzlies defeat such a formidable opponent? The Grizzlies' starting lineup includes Morant, Bane, Wells, Jackson, and Idi. On the Rockets' side, Smith and Ison are absent, leaving the starting lineup as VanVleet, Jalen Green, Dillon, Amen, and Shen Jing. In the first quarter, Morant and Bane hit three-pointers, giving the Grizzlies a 6-0 lead. Amen responded with a three-pointer and Jalen Green scored a layup, reducing the gap to one point. Jackson, Morant, and Wells added points, while Shen Jing and Jalen Green kept the Rockets close, trailing by two points. After a timeout, Morant scored five consecutive points, extending the Grizzlies' lead to seven points. Dillon, Jalen Green, and Amen went on a 10-0 run to take a three-point lead. Aldama, Pippen, and Jackson countered with a 9-0 run to regain a six-point advantage. Adams made a shot, and Lavinia hit a three-pointer, ending the quarter with the Grizzlies leading 30-23. In the second quarter, Whitmore hit a three-pointer, narrowing the gap to four points. Kennard and Pippen extended the lead to eight…

On January 14th, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued, with the Rockets playing against the Grizzlies at home. The two teams were locked in a tug-of-war battle from the start, with the Grizzlies taking the lead with a 12-2 run. However, the Rockets' Green and Whitmore kept scoring to narrow the gap. In the second half, although the Grizzlies managed to pull away, the Rockets fought back again, with Green scoring crucial points. Ultimately, the Rockets defeated the Grizzlies 120-118, securing their fourth consecutive victory. In the first quarter, the Grizzlies quickly found their rhythm, with Morant and Bane hitting consecutive three-pointers. The Rockets' offense was also solid, with Green continuously scoring to keep up with the score. Wells and Morant hit three-pointers to give the Grizzlies an 18-11 lead. Brooks hit a three-pointer to stop the bleeding, followed by Green's three-pointer, and Amen's alley-oop dunk, allowing the Rockets to overtake the score. However, in the last five minutes of the quarter, the Rockets' offense suddenly faltered, while the Grizzlies kept breaking through for points. Jackson hit a three-pointer, followed by Llarvia's three-pointer, resulting in a 12-2 run that gave the Grizzlies a 30-23 lead at the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter, Whitmore hit a three-pointer, and Pippen scored on a breakthrough, but the Grizzlies remained in control. Holiday hit a three-pointer, and the Rockets launched a counterattack. Whitmore hit another three-pointer and then followed it up with a one-handed dunk on a fast break, helping the Rockets fight back. Green remained hot, nailing an…

Today, the Rockets hosted the Grizzlies at home, with the Rockets starting lineup consisting of Dillon, Amen, Shen Jing, Jalen Green, and VanVleet; while the Grizzlies started with Wells, San Gou, Eddy, Bane, and Morant. In the first quarter, the Grizzlies hit two consecutive three-pointers, to which Amen responded with a corner three-pointer, followed by Jalen Green accelerating for a layup. San Gou and Morant combined for 4 points, and the Rockets also maintained a fast pace, with both teams exchanging leads in a back-and-forth scoring battle. Green scored another layup, prompting a Grizzlies timeout. Returning from the timeout, Morant scored 5 points to extend the lead, but Dillon's three-pointer stopped the bleeding, and the Rockets responded with a 10-0 run to take the lead. Shen Jing missed several shots, and the Grizzlies made two difficult baskets, while Green faced tight defense. After a 22-21 score, a timeout was called. Following the timeout, San Gou erupted again, and Green assisted Adams with a 2+1 play. The first quarter ended with the Grizzlies leading 30-23, a 7-point advantage. In the second quarter, during the rotation phase, after White Magic hit a three-pointer, the Grizzlies extended their lead to 9 points. Holiday responded with a three-pointer to stop the bleeding, and White Magic's steal and fastbreak basket narrowed the gap. The Grizzlies called a timeout. Returning from the timeout, the Grizzlies once again extended their lead into double digits. White Magic hit another three-pointer to stop the bleeding, adding a steal and fastbreak dunk. Jalen Green scored on a step-through move, prompting…

The Rockets are set to face the Grizzlies for the third time this season, with both teams well-acquainted with each other. The Rockets aim to challenge the Grizzlies again to solidify their position as second in the West, and they have both good and bad news. Firstly, Jalen Green has been improving steadily, with his offense becoming more reliable and showing signs of a core player. His shooting is becoming more consistent, and his three-point shooting is also improving. It was Jalen Green who helped the Rockets win against strong opponents, which is great news. The Rockets' patience with Jalen Green has paid off, and he has also shown good control over turnovers, although there is still room for improvement. Secondly, young player Sheppard has been performing well in the Development League, with highlights such as scoring 49 points and making 9 assists. Sheppard has shown his potential as a core player, capable of scoring and organizing the offense. His no-look passes are impressive, and his three-point shooting is stable, making him a formidable force in the Development League. It would be great to see him return to the Rockets' rotation soon. Lastly, there is an issue with Whitmore, who has little interaction with his teammates and does not celebrate victories with the team. This young man seems to be just as his college coach described him; the Rockets' investment in him has not paid off, and he is not worth developing. Whitmore may find it difficult to secure consistent playing time, and it would be better to give those…

On January 10th, Beijing time, the NBA regular season is in full swing. In this round of matches, the Timberwolves are in a strong momentum and have been singing all the way, while the Warriors have narrowly ended their losing streak. The Rockets firmly occupy the second place in the West, and the Suns rely on their strength to defeat the Hawks and closely chase the top ten rankings in the West. Next, let's take a look at the specific game summaries. Timberwolves-Magic The visiting Timberwolves started with a strong momentum, with Edwards and Randle taking turns to exert force, successfully occupying the advantage. Although the Magic, who played with a weakened lineup, fought hard and once approached the score, they ultimately failed to reverse the situation. As the game progressed, the Magic became more passive, completely falling into the opponent's rhythm, and could only helplessly watch the victory slip away. In the end, the Timberwolves easily defeated the Magic with a score of 104-89, winning three consecutive victories and rising to seventh in the West, just 0.5 games behind the top six. The team's chemistry is gradually improving, vowing to be the disruptor in the West. Warriors-Pistons After a brief adaptation period at the beginning of the game, the Warriors slowly found their rhythm. Although Curry had a poor shooting performance in this game, by the second quarter, Hield and the substitutes Walters and Santos rained down three-pointers, relying on this fierce offensive, they quickly widened the scoring gap. The Pistons fought hard to keep the game suspenseful, and…

Paul Banchero and Jalen Green have a good relationship, but unfortunately, he was unable to wear the Rockets jersey. After a long absence, Banchero did not show any signs of rustiness in his body. He made a comeback against the Bucks, scoring 34 points and hitting 5 three-pointers. In this game against the 76ers, he also scored 20 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, and provided 6 assists to lead the team to victory. The 22-year-old Banchero has now become an All-Star forward. This season, he averages 34 minutes per game, scoring 28.4 points, grabbing 8.4 rebounds, and providing 5.3 assists, with a shooting percentage of as high as 50.8% and a three-point percentage of 40.5%. ESPN believes that Banchero is already a star of the new generation in the league, and he will deliver impressive performances this year. The No. 1 pick in 2022 is indeed talented, and the No. 12 pick that year, Jalen Williams, is also making a push towards becoming an All-Star. This season, he averages 32 minutes per game, scoring 20.6 points, grabbing 5.7 rebounds, and providing 5.2 assists, with a shooting percentage of 47.7% and a three-point percentage of 34.2%. Retired Houston journalist Feigen feels regretful that Banchero and Williams were unable to join the Rockets. Feigen predicted back then that the Rockets would use the No. 3 pick to select Paul Banchero, the No. 17 pick to choose Jalen Williams, and the No. 26 pick to select Marjon Beauchamp. If the Rockets could have gotten Paul Banchero and Jalen Williams, they might have been able…

In a game held on January 6th, Beijing time, the Rockets defeated the Lakers at home with a score of 119-115, successfully resisting a 22-point comeback attempt by the Lakers and maintaining their second place ranking in the Western Conference. In this match, James scored 21 points, 13 rebounds, and 9 assists, while Davis scored 30 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 blocks. The Rockets once led by 22 points, but the Lakers fought back in the second half to narrow the gap, ultimately falling short. At a critical moment, the Lakers made repeated mistakes, while Jalen Green scored the highest for the Rockets with 33 points, and Amen Thompson returned from suspension to score 23 points and grab 16 rebounds, setting new highs in both points and rebounds. In the Lakers' game, Davis performed outstandingly, scoring 30 points and 13 rebounds, and also contributing 5 blocks. James scored 21 points and 13 rebounds, while also providing 9 assists. Reeves also had an excellent performance, scoring 21 points and dishing out 10 assists. Hachimura scored 13 points, Christie got 14 points and 6 rebounds, and Finney-Smith took 13 points, with 2 assists and 2 steals. In the game, Jalen Green performed brilliantly, scoring 33 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. Amen Thompson also shone, scoring 23 points and grabbing 16 rebounds. Shen Jing contributed 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists, while VanVleet scored 15 points. Dillon scored 5 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists, Whitmore got 8 points and 4 rebounds, and Adams had 8 points and 9 rebounds. The…

On January 12th, Beijing time, a total of four NBA games were played, with three involving Western Conference teams. The specific results are as follows: the Suns defeated the Jazz, the Grizzlies narrowly beat the Timberwolves, and the Trail Blazers suffered a heavy loss to the Heat. As a result, the wild Western Conference landscape has changed once again. The current situation can be summarized as follows: the Thunder remains stable, the Rockets have created an NBA miracle, the Lakers and Clippers have received big gifts, and the Suns are about to break into the top ten. Firstly, in terms of the top three in the West, the Thunder's position at the top is basically unshakable. They currently have a record of 31 wins and 6 losses, making them the only team in the West with a win rate exceeding both 70% and 80%. They also lead the Rockets by a significant margin of 6.0 games. With Holmgren's return, it will be even more impossible for the Thunder to be surpassed. The Rockets, with a record of 25 wins and 12 losses, rank second in the West and have already established a 1.0-game lead over the third-placed Grizzlies. The Rockets have undoubtedly created an NBA miracle, especially considering that they did not even make it to the play-in tournament last season. While catching up to the Thunder may not be realistic, being able to maintain their position as the second seed in the West is still a huge success. The Grizzlies managed a narrow 127-125 victory over the Timberwolves, with…

Empty Cut 26 Points! American Media Predicts Rockets' No. 9 Pick for Trey Johnson, Can He Be a Super Sixth Man?‌ Schroder averaged 18.4 points and 6.6 assists this season with the Nets, shooting 45.2% from the field and 38.7% from three-point range. After being traded, he averaged 9.9 points and 4.7 assists, shooting 33.1% from the field and 25% from three-point range. Data is one aspect, but whether or not you can adapt to a new system is another matter entirely. Cameron Johnson averaged 19.5 points and 4.3 rebounds this season, shooting 49.6% from the field and 43.6% from three-point range, and has missed four consecutive games. The Nets are discussing trades with other teams. It seems that the Rockets have little interest in Johnson, while the Kings and Pacers have already taken action. Cameron Johnson's best position is power forward. The Rockets have several players who can play power forward, including Xiao Smith, Amen, Ethan, Whitmore, Jeff Green, and Tate. Some Rockets fans are optimistic about Trey Johnson and hope that Stone can bring him back to Houston during this year's draft. Trey Johnson scored an empty 26 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block in his latest college game, shooting 11 of 17 from the field and 4 of 8 from three-point range, as his team, the University of Texas, narrowly lost by four points to their opponents. Recently, American media predicted that the Rockets would use the Suns' No. 9 pick to select Trey Johnson. Trey Johnson was born in 2006 in Dallas, Texas, not…