On January 21, 2025, Beijing time, the 11-win and 32-loss Pelicans faced the 10-win and 30-loss Jazz at home. The Pelicans were missing Zion, Ingram, Jones, and Missy, starting with Murray, McCollum, Murphy, Green, and Tais. On the Jazz side, Markkanen, Sexton, Collins, and Clarkson were absent, starting with Collier, George, Mihai, Kovi, and Kesler. In the first quarter, Kesler, Collier, and George scored 14-0, followed by a three-pointer from Murphy. Collier and George responded with threes, giving the Jazz a 20-3 lead. McCollum then started scoring continuously, but Collier, Phil, and Sensabo responded, extending the Jazz's lead to 19 points. Murphy dunked, and Youban responded with a 2+1, making the gap 20 points. Murphy made free throws, but Kovi and Youban responded, keeping the difference at 22 points. McCollum scored another four points, while Phil made free throws. At the end of the first quarter, the Jazz led 38-19. In the second quarter, Murray scored a layup, but Mihai and Youban responded strongly, increasing the lead to 25 points. Hawkins and Murray reduced the gap to 19 points, but Collier and Mihai scored again. Hawkins continued to score, reducing the gap to 18 points. Phil and Kesler extended the lead to 22 points, but Murray, Hawkins, and Murphy narrowed it back to 15 points. Sensabo, Kesler, and Collier scored consecutively, while Murphy, McCollum, and Murray tried to catch up, leaving the halftime score at 69-49 in favor of the Jazz. In the third quarter, George scored four points, giving the Jazz a 24-point lead. Tais, Murphy, and Murray scored…

The NBA season has been underway for some time now, with teams experiencing various trajectories. Some have started slow but have managed to find their footing and return to a competitive level. For instance, the Milwaukee Bucks had a rough start to the season, winning only two out of their first ten regular-season games and ranking last in the Eastern Conference at one point. However, the Bucks are a team with a strong foundation, bolstered by the powerful duo of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. They quickly adjusted their game and climbed back up to the top six in the East, maintaining their championship aspirations. Similarly, the Philadelphia 76ers have shown improvement recently, going 8-2 in their last ten games and breaking into the top 20 in the latest team power rankings. Early in the season, the 76ers struggled due to injuries and lineup adjustments, which kept them at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Now, with Joel Embiid's return and his reassertion of dominance in the paint, along with George's improving chemistry with the team, the 76ers' trio of Maxey, Embiid, and George is proving to be a formidable force. With less than half of the regular season completed, the 76ers have a chance to make a significant push and climb to the top of the Eastern Conference. However, not all teams have experienced such a turnaround. There are still five teams with a win rate below 30%, including the Charlotte Hornets, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz, and New Orleans Pelicans. Among these, the Pelicans have been particularly…