Chapter 3 Resuming the Game

The Lakers inbounded the ball in the frontcourt after the timeout.

The only way they could keep the game going was to hit a three-pointer and then immediately foul the Pelicans to send them to the free-throw line.

Simmons passed the ball from the sideline, and the Lakers ran a Starburst play. Middleton came out and faked a shot.

Durant, who came out using Lopez's screen, was the real point of attack.

Simmons' pass was on point, and Durant turned and shot directly after receiving the ball.

With so little time left, they had to cherish every second.

However, Gasol successfully predicted the play, and his blocked shot provided enough interference.

"Clang!"

Durant's three-pointer failed to hit.

Lopez successfully snatched the offensive rebound at this time. After getting the ball, he observed for a while and passed it to Durant, who had run back into position.

Durant took a second three-point shot.

"Swish!"

The basketball went in.

But the red light on the side also lit up.

Game over!

120 to 117!

The Pelicans ultimately defeated the Lakers by a 3-point advantage, changing the series score to 2 to 1!

The fans at the scene erupted into a frenzy.

Tang Tian's magical three-pointer in the last game, and Carter's divine intervention in this game, allowed the Pelicans to suppress James and Durant's Lakers despite Davis' absence!

The Pelicans' bench was also celebrating.

Especially Carter, who was hugged and cheered by his teammates.

If he hadn't made that last shot, Durant's three-pointer would have tied the game, and the two sides would have had to play overtime.

In the post-match press conference, Stevens attended with Tang Tian and Carter.

"I'd believe you if you told me Vince was 24 years old. I even expect him to show off a dunk in the game now."

Tang Tian didn't hold back his praise for Carter.

Carter's performance today really shocked him a bit. To be able to play in the NBA at 42 years old was already a miracle in itself, let alone play so well.

The last time he had this feeling was with Scola in the 2019 World Cup in history, who led Argentina into the World Cup final as the team's core at the age of 39.

But Carter was 3 years older than him.

"He was our best player tonight."

Stevens was even more exaggerated.

Carter glanced at Stevens in surprise after hearing this, then pointed at Tang Tian.

He was at most a surprise soldier. The foundation of the win was still Tang Tian, and Tang Tian passed the ball for that last shot as well.

"I won't say Tang, because less than 50 points is only an average performance for him."

However, Stevens' next words not only amused Carter, but also all the reporters in the audience.

Stevens was now even laying the groundwork when praising Tang Tian.

With a 2-1 series lead and the next game still at home, the situation was looking great for the Pelicans.

Two days later, the fourth game between the two teams continued at the New Orleans Arena.

Having learned from the previous game, Vogel clearly had defensive measures against Carter, but the Pelicans' other points still weren't open.

Although Tang Tian scored 50+ points, James and Durant's stable performance allowed the Lakers to have the last laugh.

The two combined for 80 points, putting on their best performance in the most crucial game.

This game's victory was also very important to them.

If they lost this game again, they would be 1-3 behind in the series, and every subsequent game would be a match point for the Pelicans, putting a lot of psychological pressure on them.

But after winning this game, they not only tied the series, but also regained home-court advantage.

They would be playing at home in the next Game 5, giving them a better chance of winning than the Pelicans.

The intense competition between the two teams also attracted unprecedented attention.

Each game was breaking viewership records.

And the upcoming Game 5, the game that would determine who got the match point, was the focus of everyone's attention.

The day before Game 5, the Pelicans team set off for Los Angeles again.

Compared to after the third game, the players' emotions had clearly declined.

Tang Tian was averaging nearly 50 points per game in the series, and Carter had also played a role as a surprise soldier.

Without Davis, and with the other players' outside shooting touch still not found, Game 5 would be very difficult for them.

Tang Tian noticed the players' emotions and chatted with Stevens alone after training.

"You want to do a new entrance ceremony?"

Stevens was full of surprise after listening to what Tang Tian said, especially the new method Tang Tian mentioned, which was too bizarre.

Tang Tian nodded very seriously.

"Okay, I'll go talk about it."

Stevens didn't say much after seeing that Tang Tian was serious.

Whatever Tang Tian said, was what it would be.

On the day of the game, the players arrived at the arena one after another.

Stevens also came to the locker room early to arrange the tactics for the evening.

After arranging everything, he didn't leave immediately, but announced something.

The team would have a unique entrance ceremony tonight.

The players' expressions were even more wonderful than Stevens' after hearing this, especially Parker, who had a look of being disturbed.

But the players eventually accepted it, after all, it was Stevens' request.

For them, there wasn't much loss.

On the contrary, Kuzma and Brogdon looked very excited after hearing it.

That night, Game 5 of the Pelicans and Lakers series was played at the Staples Center.

Half an hour before the start of the game, the players from both sides entered the arena one after another.

Not long after the warm-up, the opening ceremony began.

The Pelicans, as the visiting team, entered the arena first.

The lights at the scene didn't change. Under the bright light, the fans at the scene discovered that the Pelicans were doing a very special entrance ceremony.

The substitute players stood on both sides, and the starters entered one by one.

Gasol, Siakam, Brogdon, Carter.

None of this was strange. What was strange was that after they entered, they stood in two rows on the left and right very close to each other, and crossed their hands in front of their crotches with their heads lowered.

They looked like they were receiving some kind of baptism!

Then, in everyone's stunned eyes, Tang Tian finally stood up from the bench, and then stretched out his hands and touched from the front to the back of the line.

Two heads at a time, in the blink of an eye, he had touched all 12 players on the active list!

Mohican, short hair, curly hair, even bald heads.

The various feelings after touching were different.

Of course, in the end, Tang Tian touched himself and ended the opening ceremony.

The scene was already in an uproar.

This opening ceremony was really unprecedented!

They knew that Tang Tian had a habit of touching heads, but he used this habit in the opening ceremony.

Besides saying 666 to the Pelicans, they had no other reaction.

"Are they performing some kind of ritual?"

Even the TNT Big Three in the commentary booth were amused.

"They might need some kind of confidence."

Kenny Smith thought of the only possible explanation.

"Whatever that is, I believe it will work."

O'Neal's mindless praise made Barkley and Smith laugh even harder.

If such an entrance ceremony could really bring something to the Pelicans, it was believed that it would cause a wave of public opinion after the game.