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Christmas War: The Celtics beat the Lakers, the Nuggets narrowly beat the Warriors Christmas is a traditional event in the NBA, and there are several exciting matchups every year, attracting the attention of countless fans. This year's Christmas game is no exception, with two key battles to keep an eye on: one is the old rivals in the East and West, the Lakers and Celtics, and the other is last year's Finals revenge matchup, where the Nuggets and Warriors face off.
Both games were full of passion and spark, so let's take a look back at their best moments. Lakers vs Celtics It's a classic matchup between two teams with the most championships, and it's also a battle of strength between two teams that have performed well this season.
The Celtics came to the Lakers' home court as the No. 1 in the East, and their core combination, Brown and Tatum, are both young and promising All-Stars, and their goal is to break the Lakers' undefeated home court. The Lakers, on the other hand, are the ninth-place team in the West, and their leaders, James and Davis, are both superstars in the league, and they are aiming to win this game and improve their confidence and rankings.
At the beginning of the game, the Celtics showed strong offensive power, Brown hit mid-range jumpers in a row, and Tatum was not to be outdone, breaking through to cause a foul and hit a free throw. The Greens went on a 12-0 run to force the Lakers to call a timeout.
After the timeout, the Lakers' offense still didn't improve, and their five-strong roster was inefficient and couldn't find a rhythm on both ends of the floor. The Celtics took turns to do so, with Holiday and Porzingis and Horford all contributing as they had a 17-point lead.
Fortunately, the Lakers have Davis, who keeps making kills on the inside, stabilizes the situation, and helps the Lakers narrow the point gap. At the end of the first quarter, the Lakers trailed by nine points, 23-32.
In the second quarter, the Lakers' bench lineup began to exert strength, Prince and James hit three-pointers one after another, and Russell also broke through to score, and they played a wave of 9-0 mini-climax, chasing the difference to one point. The Celtics' offense was at a low ebb, their outside was cold, and only Porzingis' three-pointer broke the scoring drought, but their lead was gone.
The Lakers took advantage of the situation, and Hachimura staged a series of amazing dunks that made the home fans boil. At halftime, the Celtics led by just one point at 58-57.
In the second half, the game between the two sides was more close, with both sides scoring higher, but the margin hovered in the single digits. The Celtics' Brown and Tatum continued to play well, not only hitting three-pointers from the outside, but also hitting strong dunks on the inside, showing a well-rounded offensive approach.
Not to be outdone, the Lakers' James and Davis continued to cause damage under the basket, as well as Reaves' chasing three-pointers to help the Lakers chase points. But the Lakers' defense was leaky, and they conceded 41 points in a single quarter, allowing the Celtics to reopen the gap.
At the end of the third quarter, the Lakers trailed by nine points, 90-99. In the final quarter, the Celtics didn't give the Lakers any chances, their defense was tighter, limiting the Lakers' scoring, and their offense was more fluid, with Horford's corner three-pointers and Brown's 2+1 bringing their lead to double digits again.
Although the Lakers replaced Davis, their counterattack was powerless, and as time passed, there was no suspense about the outcome of the outcome. In the end, the Celtics defeated the Lakers 117-105, breaking the Lakers' unbeaten home streak and also giving the Lakers a heavy blow.
Nuggets vs Warriors This is a revenge battle in the Finals, last year's Finals, the Nuggets defeated the Warriors with a total score of 4-2 to win their first championship. This year's Warriors are looking to prove their mettle, with Curry and Thompson at the core of the league's top shooters, and their goal is to win this game and give the Nuggets a knockdown.
The Nuggets, on the other hand, are the second-best team in the West, and their leaders, Jokic and Murray, are the league's best playmakers, and they are aiming to win this game and extend their winning streak. From the start of the game, both sides showed efficient offense, with the Nuggets' Jokic and Murray working together to play a number of exquisite combinations, while the Warriors' Curry and Thompson were not to be outdone, finding open spots on the outside and hitting three-pointers.
Both sides scored well, but the margin was always in the single digits. At the end of the first quarter, the Nuggets led by one point at 32-31.
In the second quarter, the bench lineups of both sides began to play, with the Nuggets' Barton and Green both contributing, while the Warriors' Wiggins stepped up, scoring inside and outside to help the Warriors overtake the score. The Nuggets relied on Jokic's consistent play, and he continued to make kills on the inside, as well as a few beautiful assists, allowing the Nuggets to maintain contact with the Warriors.
At halftime, the Nuggets trailed by one point at 60-61. In the second half, the game between the two sides was more intense, and both sides improved their scores, but the score difference was always evenly divided.
The Nuggets' Jokic and Murray continued to play well, not only creating damage on the inside, but also shooting three-pointers from the outside, showing a well-rounded offensive approach. The Warriors' Curry and Thompson didn't have a good hand, and they didn't shoot well from three-point range, but they still struggled to find opportunities, and there were a few good breakaways and passes.
But the surprise for the Warriors was Wiggins, who showed great positivity and efficiency in this game, scoring inside and outside, and a couple of beautiful defenses that put the Nuggets' offense in a difficult position. At the end of the third quarter, the Nuggets led by one point at 92-91.
In the final quarter, the game between the two sides became more intense, and both sides improved their scores, but the margin was always in the single digits. The Nuggets' Jokic and Murray continue to serve as the core of the Nuggets' offense, and they both have calm judgment and excellent execution in key moments, and they have worked together more tacitly, playing a number of wonderful offenses.
The Warriors' Curry and Thompson regained some touch in the final quarter, hitting frequent three-pointers from the outside to help the Warriors overtake the score. But the Warriors' defense went awry, and they couldn't effectively limit the Nuggets' interior line, giving Jokic and Murray more space and opportunities.
In the final moments, the Nuggets narrowly defeated the Warriors 120-114, extending their winning streak and also dealing a heavy blow to the Warriors. Both of these Christmas fights are full of suspense and excitement, giving us a glimpse of the charm and competition of the NBA.
We look forward to seeing how these teams will continue to surprise and surprise us in the coming seasons."
The Lakers chased Murray, and LaVine missed the Purple and Gold?
Lakers' potential target: Dejounte Murray's NBA trade market has always been full of uncertainties and dilemmas.
Every team is looking for players who can improve their game, while also considering factors such as contracts, chemistry, injuries, etc. In this context, the Lakers, as the defending champions, are no exception.
According to NBA Hall of Famer Shams, one potential target for the Lakers is Spurs guard Dejounte Murray. Murray is a young player with great potential this season, averaging 16.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.7 steals per game, and is one of the core of the Spurs.
He is also very strong defensively and can put a lot of pressure on opponents. If the Lakers can get Murray, they will undoubtedly strengthen their backcourt, and they can also share some offensive pressure on James and thick eyebrows.
The Lakers' conundrum: LaVine's contract and style of play However, it is not an easy task for the Lakers to get Murray. First, the Spurs have shown no desire to trade Murray, who they may see as a building block for the future rather than a bargaining chip for other players.
Second, the Lakers don't have a lot of trade chips, and they have already paid a lot of young players and draft picks last season in order to get a thick eyebrow. In order to trade Murray for a reasonable price, the Lakers may need to sacrifice some important rotation players such as Caruso, Horton-Tucker or Kuzma.
In addition to Murray, the Lakers have another rumored trade target, and that is Bulls guard Zach LaVine. LaVine is an excellent scorer, averaging a whopping 27.3 points per game this season, which ranks fourth in the league.
His shooting ability and athleticism are amazing and he can score from any position. If the Lakers can get LaVine, they will undoubtedly make their offensive firepower even more terrifying.
However, LaVine's contract and style of play also caused some problems for the Lakers. LaVine's contract expires in the summer of 2023, and he could ask for a max contract, which would be a big burden on the Lakers' salary space.
Moreover, LaVine's style of play is not very compatible with James's thick eyebrows, and he needs to master the ball in order to play to his strengths, which may affect the Lakers' offensive rhythm and team chemistry. According to NBC's Kurt Helin, sources say the Lakers are still the most frequently talked about team next to LaVine, but the deal is unlikely to happen.
Laven's dilemma: Mr. 215 million's embarrassmentFor Mr. 215 million, Laven's current situation is indeed very awkward. His performance with the Bulls was impeccable, but the team's record was not as good as it could be, and he didn't get enough attention and recognition.
He may be eager to go to a more competitive team and compete for a championship with better teammates, but his contract and market value also make it difficult for him to be traded. LaVine's contract expires in the summer of 2023, and he is likely to ask for a max contract, which will be a big test for many teams.
His ability deserves such a contract, but his leadership and defensive ability are questionable. Whether he will be able to lead a team to success, whether he will be able to adapt to a stronger system and higher demands is an open question.
LaVine's market value also makes him difficult to trade. If the Bulls want to trade LaVine, they will certainly ask for something valuable in return, such as young players, draft picks, or players with potential.
However, many teams may not be willing to pay that price for a player who is about to become a free agent. Moreover, LaVine's contract will also put pressure on the salary space of some teams, and they may need to give up some other plans to be able to accommodate LaVine.
Conclusion: The NBA trading market is always full of unknowns and expectations, every team is looking for opportunities to make themselves stronger, and every player is looking for an environment that can make them happier. Both the Lakers and LaVine are hot topics in the trade market, and what their future holds remains to be seen.
Perhaps, they will find the most suitable place for themselves, perhaps, they will continue to stay in the same place, perhaps, they will encounter some unexpected changes. In any case, we want to see their wonderful performances, and their happy smiles.
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