"defense! defense!"

The three-pointer was a huge morale boost, and the home fans began to cheer for their team.

Amid the cheers, the Pelicans once again defended against the Lakers' attack, and Davis secured the defensive rebound.

The Pelicans advanced to the frontcourt and set up a positional attack, with Tang Tian holding the ball and breaking through.

The Lakers' defensive strategy was the same as before, expanding relatively far out.

Tang Tian also used the *chuanhua hudie bu* (threading butterfly steps) to get past Middleton, pulling up for a jump shot near the free-throw line.

This sequence was familiar; the Pelicans' first offensive play of the second half was executed in the same way.

"Swish!"

The difference was that this time, Tang Tian's shot didn't miss, the basketball sinking cleanly through the net.

Tang Tian had scored 2 consecutive shots, adding up to 7 consecutive points with the previous free throw!

Vogel rubbed his face hard at this point.

With the Pelicans' outside shooting finding its rhythm and Tang Tian regaining his touch, the Lakers were in real trouble now.

This situation was similar to their first encounter of the season; defense was definitely not an option, and they could only rely on the team's offense.

But in the next possession, the Lakers' frontcourt offense still failed to score!

The Pelicans, fueled by the cheers of their fans, gained momentum and displayed a super-level defensive performance.

And this time, Gasol secured the rebound.

Gasol showcased his ball-handling skills, launching a long pass directly to the frontcourt.

Tang Tian caught the ball and soared to the frontcourt, leaning on Simmons to take off and slam the ball heavily into the basket.

Simmons tried to block, but failed, and the referee called a foul!

It was a fast-break 2+1!

68 to 70!

The point difference was only 2 points.

Before Tang Tian could shoot the free throw, Vogel reached out and called a timeout.

The Pelicans had gained momentum during this stretch, and the key was that the Lakers had fallen into a scoring drought, so he had to make some adjustments.

When the timeout ended, the Lakers made a lineup adjustment, with Wade replacing Simmons.

Wade had missed the first game between the two teams due to injury, but in the second game, he contributed 13 points, helping the Lakers defeat the Pelicans in double overtime.

Although Wade was old, Vogel's decision to substitute him at a crucial moment showed that he had great faith in him.

This trust was also rewarded.

After the timeout, Tang Tian made the free throw.

He had personally scored 10 consecutive points, narrowing the point difference to 1 point.

But in the next possession, Wade received a pass from James on the outside and hit a three-pointer.

Three-pointers have never been Wade's forte; his career three-point shooting percentage is less than 30%.

For a superstar, this is a negligible skill.

However, since coming to the Lakers this season, his shooting percentage has reached a career-high of 33%, and he dares to shoot and can make shots at crucial moments.

This shot was crucial for the Lakers.

Although in the next possession, Tang Tian broke through the double team and passed to Davis, who steadily made a mid-range shot from the free-throw line.

But Durant immediately answered with a three-pointer after receiving a pass from Wade.

The Lakers' offense had regained its rhythm.

Tang Tian played positional offense in the frontcourt again, and the Lakers intentionally left Gasol open, resolutely double-teaming Tang Tian.

Vogel's adjustment was the best option.

But Gasol was very reliable, catching Tang Tian's pass and making another long two-pointer.

The two teams once again fell into a stalemate.

Around the 9-minute mark of the quarter, the main players on both sides were gradually substituted off for rest.

The intense confrontation had taken a toll on both sides' stamina, and both sides expanded their rotations to 10 players, each with a main player leading four substitutes.

It was during this time that the stalemate was broken again.

Wade and Simmons on the Lakers' side scored on consecutive breakthroughs, but Jeff Green on the Pelicans' side failed to capitalize on two consecutive open outside opportunities.

This is the main reason why he couldn't compete with Kuzma.

He is more versatile than Kuzma and can do everything, but nothing he does is particularly outstanding.

He can play well on weak teams or teams with no tactical system, but on a championship-contending team like the Pelicans with a mature tactical system, his role is not as important as Kuzma's.

The Lakers also took the opportunity to launch a counterattack.

They went on a 7-0 run in the last two minutes.

89 to 78, the Lakers entered the final quarter with an 11-point lead.

"Melo."

During the timeout between the third and fourth quarters, Stevens turned around and called Anthony, who was at the end of the bench, over.

Jeff Green's performance in the previous stretch was not good, and Stevens didn't want Danny Green to come on early, so he planned to let Anthony play for two minutes.

Anthony didn't expect to play tonight, and he stripped off his training suit as quickly as he would applaud.

He had been quite hungry after not playing for nearly a month.

When the fourth quarter returned, the Pelicans' rotation had undergone a major change.

Alexander, Tang Tian, Anthony, Siakam, Harrell.

Vogel noticed the Pelicans' substitutions, and although he had already decided on the lineup, he temporarily called Durant over again.

Wade, Pope, Stephenson, Durant, McGee.

The two sides were now locked in a battle of wills.

The Pelicans attacked first, Tang Tian broke through with the ball, and hit a fadeaway jump shot in the double team of Pope and Stephenson.

In the Lakers' offensive possession, Durant's drive to the basket was double-teamed, and Pope's three-pointer missed, with Harrell securing the defensive rebound.

Turning around, it was still Tang Tian, who made another fadeaway in the double team! And this time he drew a shooting foul on Stephenson!

After his stability improved, he really treated the double-team as an open look!

His free throw was steady, bringing his personal score to 49 points.

The Pelicans also narrowed the point difference to 6 points.

At a critical moment, Durant stepped up.

He ran an off-ball play, and made a contested mid-range jump shot after receiving a pass from Wade.

This shot was crucial, and the Lakers' bench erupted.

Tang Tian broke through with the ball again in the frontcourt, and the Lakers immediately went to a triple-team.

Tang Tian felt a hint of defensive pressure, and he didn't force a shot. He made a signature behind-the-back pass directly to Anthony, who was open.

Anthony caught the ball and pulled up for a jump shot.

A shot after a month.

"Swish!"

A direct hit!

Although he was no longer as good as he used to be, he was still confident in making this kind of open shot!

Durant's off-ball movement in the frontcourt was double-teamed.

Stevens' defense was very targeted.

Durant's final contested shot was disrupted.

The basketball slammed off the rim and went directly out of bounds.

He turned to ask the referee for a foul, but didn't get it, and could only shake his head helplessly.

The Pelicans attacked to the frontcourt, and Tang Tian still encountered a triple-team, so he passed to Anthony again.

This time Anthony had an open three-point opportunity.

"Swish!"

He seized the opportunity again!

He had scored 5 consecutive points after not playing for a month!

The Pelicans' ability to turn something rotten into something magical was too strong!

The cameraman mischievously gave a shot of James sitting on the sidelines.

He was biting his fingernails, and his expression was complicated.

Durant had proved himself with his actual actions; he was only trying to compete for the MVP at the All-Star game.

But Anthony had shown with his five consecutive points that he was now James's opponent!

The new love was fighting desperately, but the old love was stabbing him in the back, making for complicated feelings!