Players came onto the court for their final warm-ups, and the starting lineups for both teams were displayed.

For France, it was Ntilikina and Fournier on the outside, Batum and Amath M'Baye on the front line, and Gobert at center.

China's lineup was the same as what Li Chunjiang had said during practice.

Tang Tian and Ding Yanyuhang on the outside, Abudurexiti and Zhai Xiaochuan on the front line, and Yi Jianlian at center.

Seeing China's lineup, France's head coach, Michel Gomez, looked surprised.

He didn't expect China to use Tang Tian at point guard.

He called Ntilikina over and instructed him for a long time.

Clearly, he was worried that his young player wouldn't be able to hold his own at the start.

The game was about to begin, and the starters from both teams took to the court one after another.

Tang Tian then habitually walked towards the scorer's table, only to find there was no magnesium powder.

Hey, the organizers didn't pay attention to the details.

He clapped his hands and walked onto the court.

Amid the fans' anticipation, Tang Tian ushered in his first appearance for the national team this year.

Gobert's arms were long enough to tip the ball from over Yi Jianlian's head back into their half, winning France the first chance to attack.

Ntilikina dribbled the ball to the front court, and when he realized he was matched up against Ding Yanyuhang, he relaxed a bit.

He was a substitute for the Knicks and rarely had a chance to face Tang Tian, and he was still nervous even on the international stage.

In contrast, Fournier seemed much more confident.

Seeing Tang Tian guarding him, he ran to the far end and directed his teammates to run a play.

Batum organized the offense, with Ntilikina and M'Baye interweaving back and forth.

France's tactical execution wasn't low.

Soon Ntilikina got an opportunity, receiving a pass from Batum and flying in for a layup.

But he didn't notice China's help defense rotation, and Yi Jianlian chased after him from behind, swatting at the ball directly.

"Bang!"

A huge block sent his shot flying out of bounds.

The crowd erupted in cheers as China started the game with an explosive play!

This was also the benefit of Yi Jianlian playing the five, his inside defense with Zhai Xiaochuan was slightly weaker, but he was better in moving speed.

Moreover, with Tang Tian's touch of the head buff, China's strength was also boosted, and Yi Jianlian's chase-down block was just normal play.

France inbounded the ball, and Ntilikina's pull-up jumper off a Gobert screen missed.

But Gobert grabbed the offensive rebound and scored directly with a putback.

After Yi Jianlian defended out, China couldn't protect the defensive rebound.

France scored first.

Fournier made a fist with his hand, a look of excitement in his eyes.

Just attack China's interior like this.

In a few possessions, China would have to shrink their defense and play zone, and then France's outside would have room to play.

Tang Tian dribbled the ball to the front court, and when China's other players reached the front court, they all moved to the baseline.

Only Tang Tian and Ntilikina were left at the arc.

Tang Tian directly faked a breakthrough to fool Ntilikina, and pulled up for a shot from beyond the three-point line.

The three-point line in international games was a meter closer than the NBA's, and to Tang Tian, a three-pointer from this spot was like his usual mid-range shot.

"Swish!"

The basketball went in cleanly.

Simple, and crisp.

Tang Tian immediately returned an answerball to France, and it was a three-pointer.

In France's offense, Batum drove to the basket, and his strong layup drew a defensive foul on Abudurexiti.

Abudurexiti's defense was indeed a bit lacking, Batum was still a veteran after all.

Batum made both free throws, and France took a 4-3 lead.

Although China's offense and defense at the start were both well-played, France's strength was indeed strong.

Back on China's side, the same formation, still Tang Tian and Ntilikina one-on-one.

Tang Tian made a move to break through, and Ntilikina directly lunged out.

Seeing this, Tang Tian accelerated past him, and stopped abruptly a step inside the three-point line, pulling up for a shot.

Ntilikina jumped up from behind to block, hitting Tang Tian's hand, but it was too late.

"Swish!"

"Beep!"

The ball went in, and the whistle blew.

And-one!

Tang Tian scored consecutive shots after the opening! And so easily!

The crowd erupted in cheers.

Since Yao Ming retired, the worst thing about the Chinese team was shooting, they couldn't even shoot free throws well.

China's offense either brute-forced its way to the basket, or forced drives to the basket, and they didn't have many options when their opponents shrunk the defense.

But since Tang Tian joined the national team, China's shooting improvement has been visible to the naked eye.

From the fast break in 2012, to the one star and four shooters in 2016, China's strength has improved step by step.

But those were too complicated compared to the scoring method in front of them.

China's offensive formation, Tang Tian's scoring method, really was just one word: simple and brutal.

Ntilikina reached out and covered his head, he realized that he couldn't keep up with Tang Tian's speed at all.

Tang Tian was a swingman, and he was a point guard.

Tang Tian made the free throw steadily.

6-4, China once again took the lead.

Tang Tian's consecutive scores greatly boosted China's morale, Batum's layup missed, and Yi Jianlian secured the defensive rebound.

China advanced to the front court, still the same formation.

Ntilikina, one-on-one against Tang Tian at the arc.

His expression was a bit bitter, and he turned his head to look at Gomez on the sideline.

Gomez didn't react.

The great citizens of France were mentally strong.

Those who said they couldn't do it after only two possessions weren't French.

Ntilikina couldn't express the pain in his heart, he was Belgian! He was naturalized to France!

But seeing that Gomez ignored him and didn't make any tactical changes, he could only grit his teeth and continue to defend.

Just before he turned his head back, Tang Tian didn't even make a move to break through, and threw it up a meter away from the three-point line.

Was he treating him like air!

He lunged forward, but it was too late.

Tang Tian's three-point shot was very fast.

He turned his head in the air.

"Swish!"

The basketball passed straight through the net in front of his eyes.

Fxck!

When did three-pointers become so easy to shoot!

The Wuhan Sports Center had been completely ignited, and more than thirteen thousand spectators had collectively reached a climax.

Just shoot you, shoot you in different ways!

9-4!

Tang Tian scored 9 points in just two minutes!

Simple, brutal, and savage!

The expression on Tang Tian's face didn't change much.

The lowest level of treatment he enjoyed in the NBA was double-teaming, or single coverage by players like George.

Ntilikina was too young.

"Defense! Defense!"

China's morale rose, and the Wuhan fans at the scene also started to exert their strength, the shouts of defense were deafening.

Amid the fans' cheers, China played high-quality defense, and the ball ended up in Fournier's hands.

Fournier forced a contested shot over Tang Tian's defense at the buzzer.

"Bang!"

Tang Tian predicted correctly, took off in advance, and directly blocked Fournier's shot!

Before anyone else could react, Tang Tian turned around after landing, shook off Fournier, and sprinted straight to the front court.

The other French players didn't have time to chase after him at all.

Tang Tian slowed down at the free throw line, and after catching the ball, he took off and did a 360° turn directly.

"Boom!"

The moment the ball was smashed into the basket, the fans at the scene convulsed with excitement.

This was too, too strong!