After the pre-game opening ceremony, the starting players of both teams took to the court one after another.

The Pelicans made adjustments to their starting lineup, with Anderson and Morrow returning to the starting five, along with Holiday, Tang Tian, and Davis.

The intention of this lineup was quite obvious: to stretch the floor and create isolation opportunities for Tang Tian.

Since the outcome didn't matter and they were playing on the road, Williams was a coach with real substance.

The Lakers, on the other hand, were going all out for the win, and D'Antoni fielded his regular lineup.

The backcourt consisted of Nash and Kobe, the forwards were Miles and Brandon Wright, and Howard was at center.

Davis outjumped Howard, giving the Pelicans the first possession.

Holiday dribbled the ball past half-court, and after everyone was in position, he passed the ball to Tang Tian.

The Lakers didn't double-team, and they didn't dare to.

The Pelicans' defense was a problem with this lineup, but their offensive threat was too great.

Morrow shot 45% from three-point range, Anderson 41%, and Holiday another 37%. If the Lakers doubled, they'd get shot to death.

Tang Tian went one-on-one against Miles.

A crossover followed by a pull-up jumper after shaking off his opponent.

"Clang!"

His first shot missed.

Howard secured the defensive rebound under the basket.

The Lakers went straight into transition, Nash made a long pass to Kobe, who squeezed past Holiday for a layup in the frontcourt.

"Clang!"

Also missed.

Davis came back to secure the defensive rebound.

The Pelicans countered, Tang Tian received the ball and mismatched against Nash, a complete escape followed by another pull-up jumper.

"Clang!"

Still no good!

His touch wasn't good to start the night.

The Lakers went into transition again, this time Kobe was already in position at the 45-degree angle in the frontcourt, catching Nash's long pass and shooting an open three-pointer.

"Clang!"

Also no good!

Davis turned around and grabbed another defensive rebound.

Both sides were bricking shots, and he was enjoying those rebounds.

The Pelicans advanced to the frontcourt, and the ball went back to Tang Tian.

This time Tang Tian chose to drive past Miles, a shot after contact.

The ball went into the basket, but after spinning around, it still rolled out!

Tang Tian missed his first three shots!

Kobe flew to grab the defensive rebound, turned around and went on a fast break, charging all the way to the frontcourt and shooting in the face of a double-team from Holiday and Morrow.

The basketball slid out of the rim!

Tang Tian started 0-for-3, and Kobe responded with an angry three misses!

The crowd on the sidelines was in an uproar.

Had they agreed to give the fans a symphony of bricks in this highly anticipated game tonight?

"Come on! Dude, you can't pay tribute to Kobe like this just because you're playing against him, right?"

O'Neal couldn't help but complain in the commentary booth.

Barkley and Smith were already laughing their heads off.

This Kobe hater!

The Pelicans attacked to the frontcourt, and the ball continued to go to Tang Tian.

Bricking shots?

So what!

As long as you have the energy tonight, just keep shooting!

The Pelicans weren't the Spurs. Earning a scoring title would be a glory in team history!

"Tang Tian, shoot!"

Zhang Weiping shouted anxiously from the commentary booth at this time.

Tang Tian chose to continue shooting.

Kobe said he'd rather go 0-for-30 than 0-for-9, that was a scorer's confidence.

As long as you shoot enough, your touch will always come back!

Tang Tian wasn't as extreme as Kobe, but he wouldn't stop shooting after missing his first three shots.

He knew his condition was fine, and since his teammates were helping him score tonight, he couldn't let them down!

Tang Tian pulled up for a jumper after a crossover.

This time Miles' defense was decent.

"Swish!"

But Tang Tian made the contested pull-up jumper!

Here it comes!

The Pelicans' bench erupted after Tang Tian's basket.

This two-pointer made them even happier than a game-winning shot!

The Lakers' set offense in the frontcourt, Kobe posted up Holiday, and a turnaround, his signature fadeaway jumper.

Holiday defended very well, providing ample interference.

"Clang!"

Kobe continued his 0-for-4 style, starting the game 0-for-4!

In Los Angeles, he was the King of Los Angeles.

Even if Tang Tian competed with him in bricklaying, he couldn't beat him.

Davis grabbed a rebound like crazy, turning around to grab his fourth rebound.

Holiday dribbled the ball to the frontcourt and continued to give the ball to Tang Tian.

Davis pinned Howard under the basket.

When he entered the NBA, he was a skinny stick, but he had been gaining weight and muscle ever since entering the league.

Especially this season, with the help of Procopio, he had improved his physicality a lot. Although he still couldn't beat Howard, he could hold him off for a moment.

After seeing this, Tang Tian crossed over and went straight to the basket, and after colliding with Miles, steadily sent the ball into the basket.

He wasn't competing with Kobe for the title of King of Bricks in Los Angeles. What he wanted was the scoring title!

The Lakers advanced to the frontcourt again, and Kobe didn't shoot after receiving the ball.

Although it was said that old habits die hard, he had changed a lot in the past two years because of his age and Vanessa's matter.

He turned and broke through, then passed the ball to Howard, who bumped Davis away and hit a bank shot.

The Lakers finally got on the scoreboard.

4 to 2.

In a symphony of bricks, the two teams played for three minutes and combined for 6 points.

This game was played in a refreshingly unconventional way.

However, the Pelicans were still resolutely implementing their pre-game tactical arrangements, and Holiday continued to give the ball to Tang Tian after crossing half-court.

As long as Tang Tian was on the court, as long as Tang Tian didn't say he couldn't play anymore, the ball was all yours!

Tang Tian continued to go at Miles.

Miles swallowed.

The whole world knew that Tang Tian wanted to score, and the whole world knew that the Pelicans were helping Tang Tian pad his stats. This made things difficult for him as a defender.

He didn't want to be a background board!

Miles defended tightly. Compared to Hardaway, his defensive experience was obviously richer.

However, Tang Tian squeezed past him with a crossover and acceleration, heading towards the basket.

Reaching the basket, he reached out and pulled Tang Tian down in advance, sending him to the free throw line.

Defense wasn't about a momentary effort. Tony Allen could defend both Kobe and Durant, not only because his defense was excellent every time, but more importantly because of a continuous process.

Constant physical confrontation and attrition, constant pressure on the ball, even off-ball pressure, full-court defense, and so on.

It was difficult to complete a shot in the NBA, let alone be entangled like this.

Tang Tian went to the free throw line and adjusted his breathing.

Although Miles' defensive ability wasn't as good as Tony Allen and Butler's, it was indeed much stronger than Hardaway's, and more importantly, his strategy was very correct.

If he didn't have the mask, his efficiency would definitely be very low if he was entangled by Miles like this.

Two free throws, both good.

Tang Tian increased his personal first-quarter score to 6 points.

Durant's career-high score was less than 50 points, so his goal tonight was at least 40 points.

Considering that he would be on the court a little later in the second and fourth quarters, getting thirteen or fourteen points in the first and third quarters would be about right.

Getting 6 points in these 5 minutes was already an over-completion of the target.

"Pa!"

Just as he was thinking, Holiday directly stole Howard's inbound pass from the backcourt and gave it back to him.

He charged to the basket with the ball, and Howard jumped up and fouled him on the arm while blocking.

He controlled his posture and threw the ball out.

"Beep!"

"Swish!"

The ball went in, and the referee's whistle sounded along with it.

An and-one!

It seemed that tonight, he wanted more than just 40 points!