30th NBA Preview: Harden is only 4 assists away from surpassing the famous Beal's comeback to send the Hornets to 10 consecutive defeats?

On December 30, Beijing time, the NBA regular season will continue, and the league has scheduled 10 games. The Celtics are expected to beat the Raptors three times and consolidate their position as the league's No. 1 with five straight wins. Embiid continues to be sidelined, can the Rockets beat the 76ers? Nuggets and Thunder stage Western Conference summit matchup, who will win Jokic or Alexander? Beal is expected to return, will the Suns' Big Three give the Hornets 10 straight defeats? The Clippers face the Grizzlies, and Harden is only four assists away from surpassing Wilkens, who is ranked 16th.

8:00: Knicks vs. Magic

The Knicks are 17-13 and 7th in the East, and the Magic are 18-12 and 5th in the East. The Knicks lost to the Thunder 120-129 in their last game, Randle had 25 points and nine rebounds, Brunson had 24 points and seven assists, and Quickley had 22 points. The Magic lost to the 76ers 92-112 in their last game, with Wagner Jr. scoring 24 points, Suggs 20 and Banchero 19 points and nine rebounds. This will be the first meeting between the two sides this season. In terms of injuries, the Knicks' Mitchell Robinson and Simms are out. The Magic's Fultz and Ingles are sidelined, while Isaac and Gary Harris are doubtful.

8:00: Nets vs. Wizards

The Nets are 15-16 and 9th in the East, while the Wizards are 5-25 and on a three-game losing streak and are 14th in the East. The Nets lost to the Bucks 122-144 in the game, and Wilson came off the bench with 21 points and 10 rebounds. The Wizards lost 102-132 to the Raptors in their last game, with Poole and Kuzma scoring 14 points each. This will be the third meeting between the two sides this season, with the Nets beating the Wizards in the first two meetings. In terms of injuries, the Nets' Simmons and Lonnie Walker are absent, and Claxton and Finney-Smith are likely to play. The Wizards' Gallinari is doubtful.

8:30: Kings vs. Hawks

The Kings are 17-12 and 5th in the West, while the Hawks are 12-18 and are on a three-game losing streak and are 12th in the East. The Kings lost to the Trail Blazers 113-130 in their last game, Fox had 43 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists, and Sabonis had 34 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists. The Hawks lost to the Bulls 113-118 in their last game, with Trae Young scoring 21 points and 13 assists and Bogdan scoring 22. This will be the first meeting between the two sides this season. In terms of injuries, the Kings are fully healthy, and the Hawks' Hunter, Gayer, and Lundy are out.

8:30 a.m.: Raptors vs. Celtics

The Raptors are 12-18 and 11th in the East, while the Celtics are 24-6 and are on a four-game winning streak and are in first place in the East. The Raptors beat the Wizards 132-102 in their last game, Anunoby had 26 points and 6 rebounds, Siakam had 22 points, 6 rebounds and 11 assists, and Barnes had 20 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists. The Celtics beat the Pistons 128-122 in overtime in their last game, with Porzingis scoring 35 points and 8 rebounds, and Tatum having 31 points, 7 rebounds, 10 assists and 5 steals. This will be the third meeting between the two sides this season, with the Celtics beating the Raptors in the first two meetings. In terms of injuries, the Raptors' Koloko is out, and Temple is likely not to play. The Celtics' Jaylen Brown and Tatum are doubtful.

8:30 a.m.: Bucks vs. Cavaliers

The Bucks are 23-8 and are second in the East, while the Cavaliers are 18-13 and are sixth in the East. The Bucks beat the Nets 144-122 in the last game, with 32 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists, and Middleton 27 points and 10 assists. The Cavaliers beat the Mavericks 113-110 in their last game, Allen had 24 points, 23 rebounds and 6 assists, LeVert had 29 points and 7 assists, and Okoro had 22 points. This will be the first meeting between the two sides this season. In terms of injuries, the Bucks' Crowder is out, and Brother Alphabet is likely to play. The Cavaliers' Garland, Mobley and Jerome are sidelined, and Mitchell and Merrill are doubtful.

9点00分：76人vs火箭

The 76ers are 21-9 and third in the East, while the Rockets are 15-14 and ninth in the West. The 76ers beat the Magic 112-92 in their last game, with Embiid sidelined, Maxey had 23 points and six rebounds, and Melton and Harris each scored 22 points. The Rockets lost to the Suns 113-129 in their last game, with Shin Jing scoring 24 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals and Jalen Green scoring 23 points. This will be the first meeting between the two sides this season, and in terms of injuries, the 76ers' Embiid and Batum are sidelined. The Rockets' Dillon, Jabari Smith Jr., and Oladipo are out, and Eason is doubtful to play.

10:00: Thunder vs. Nuggets

The Thunder are 20-9 and ranked third in the West, while the Nuggets are 23-10 and are on a six-game winning streak and are in second place in the West. The Thunder won 129-120 over the Knicks in their last game, Alexander had 36 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks, Jalen Williams 36 points, and Holmgren 22 points, 5 rebounds and 4 blocks. The Nuggets beat the Grizzlies 142-105 in their last game, with Jokic finishing with 26 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists on 11-of-11 shooting, Murray having 23 points and 9 assists, and Watson having 20 points and 5 rebounds. This will be the third meeting between the two sides this season, with the Nuggets and Thunder winning one each. In terms of injuries, the Thunder's Jaylin Williams is doubtful. Nuggets' Aaron Gordon and Kankar are out.

10:00: Hornets vs. Suns

The Hornets are 7-22 and on a nine-game losing streak and are 13th in the East, while the Suns are 15-15 and 10th in the West. The Hornets lost to the Lakers 112-133 in their last game, and Bridges had 20 points, five rebounds and five assists. The Suns won 129-113 over the Rockets in their last game, with Durant having 27 points, 10 rebounds and 16 assists, Gordon having 27 points and Booker having 20 points and seven assists. This will be the first meeting between the two sides this season, and if Beal returns, the Suns' big three will be looking to challenge for their first win in the group, having lost both of their previous games. In terms of injuries, the Hornets' Hayward, three-ball, and Ntilikina are out, and Mark Williams is likely not to play. The Suns' Beal and Okogie are doubtful, and Damion Lee is out.

11:00: Spurs vs. Trail Blazers

The Spurs are 5-25 and 15th in the West, while the Trail Blazers are 8-22 and 14th in the West. The two sides met again back-to-back, with the Spurs beating the Trail Blazers 118-105 on Dec. 29. Wembanyama of the Spurs had 30 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 7 blocks. Grant of the Trail Blazers had 29 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, Brogdon had 29 points, six rebounds and six assists, and Henderson had 25 points. In terms of injuries, Spurs' Bacy and Graham are absent, and Wembanyama may be suspended. The Trail Blazers' Sharpe, Ayton, Anfernee Simmons, and Dupu Reese are doubtful, and Lowe is out.

11:30 a.m.: Grizzlies vs. Clippers

The Grizzlies are 10-20 and 13th in the West, while the Clippers are 18-12 and are fourth in the West. The Grizzlies lost 105-142 to the Nuggets in their last game, Morant was sidelined due to illness, and Bane scored 23 points. The Clippers beat the Hornets 113-104 in the last game, and Leonard continued to be sidelined, with Harden 29 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists, and George 25 points. This will be the second meeting between the two sides this season, with the Grizzlies beating the Clippers 105-101 in the last meeting. In terms of injuries, the Grizzlies' Adams, Clark, Kennard, and Rose are absent, and Morant is doubtful due to illness. The Clippers' Plumlee and Diabate are out, and Leonard is doubtful.

Harden's career assist tally reached 7,208, just four assists shy of surpassing Lennie Wilkens, who ranks 16th on the all-time assists list (7,211). So far this season, Harden has played in 25 games, 23 of which have provided at least four assists.