After returning from the timeout, although Zhao Chen scored, the overall situation was suppressed by the Thunder.
Scott continued to rotate the inside, but did not prevent the inside from being blown away.
The Thunder's inside line is actually not strong, but the Lakers' inside line feels that it is not in good condition and is not confident enough.
After the first quarter, the score was 35-28.
The Lakers are 7 points behind at home!
When everyone thought the Lakers would counterattack in the second quarter, the Lakers fell into a vicious circle.
Thunder is blossoming both inside and outside.
I don’t remember how many times this was, but the game once again turned into a one-on-one match between Zhao Chen and the entire Thunder team.
Zhao Chen's touch was average and he failed to complete the challenge.
The first half ended quickly, with the score fixed at 70-50.
The Lakers trailed by as many as 20 points.
No one could have imagined that the Lakers, who were favored by everyone at home, would be suppressed to this point.
Except for Zhao Chen, no one else on the Lakers seems to know how to play.
Zhao Chen scored 33 points at halftime, but he failed to prevent the Lakers from falling behind.
Except for Zhao Chen, everyone else scored only 17 points, just over half of Zhao Chen's.
Zhao Chen did not criticize his teammates harshly. He could feel that his teammates were very tired.
The Lakers have been straining their nerves for the entire season to reach the goal of 75 wins.
Now they are just like the Warriors with 73 wins, and many people are tired of the game.
Not only the physical reserves are depleted by the long season, but also the mental fatigue.
The further we go in the playoffs, the more overdraft each player becomes.
In the locker room.
Scott said nothing.
Zhao Chen walked over and found Scott: "Coach, we can try more rotations. We have enough substitutes, so we don't need to be limited to 8-man rotations."
Scott said: "What do you mean?"
Zhao Chen said: "In the third quarter, I asked Derek, Devin, Joe, and Montreal to partner with me."
Zhao Chen decided to try the combination of himself and all substitutes.
Scott nodded: "Well, do what you want to do."
Scott did not reject Zhao Chen's suggestion because he knew that he could only rely on Zhao Chen.
The Lakers' starting players took many shots, but they were not efficient enough, which affected Zhao Chen's performance to a certain extent.
Zhao Chen said firmly: "Believe us, we will definitely reverse the game."
The overall atmosphere in the Lakers' locker room was a bit dull after arranging tactics.
After Zhao Chen also finished his encouragement, he walked out first.
In fact, too much language does not have much effect. It is more of a kind of psychological comfort.
Just walked out of the locker room.
Zhao Chen cheered from the crowd
"Brother Chen, come on, come on, I will always support you." A young man with dark circles shouted.
"Brother Chen, 20 points is nothing. You can definitely reverse the situation and kill them. My coach said so!" shouted an upright boy who looked stunned.
On the right side of the player's tunnel, after Zhao Chen heard the Chinese shouting, he looked over and saw two familiar figures.
Seeing these two guys, Zhao Chen identified them carefully and recognized them.
Two future national players, Hu Mingxuan and Zhao Rui of the South China Tigers youth team, who are still just energetic young men.
Zhao Chen was also a little surprised to see the two of them here.
Are these two guys still my fans?
Zhao Chen in this life did not have much interaction with them. Zhao Chen said to them in Chinese: "Yes, we will reverse it."
"Zhao Rui, did you hear that Brother Chen got back to me?" Hu Mingxuan shook Zhao Rui and said.
"That was my reply. It was my loud voice that called him over." Zhao Rui said excitedly.
"Tickets are so expensive. All my salary in the past few months has been lost here."
"It's worth talking to Brother Chen."
"Yes, Brother Chen is so kind."
....
....
Returning to the court, Zhao Chen became extremely calm.
The overall atmosphere at Staples Center was not good because they were so far behind.
Zhao Chen doesn't think being behind by 20 points is nothing. As Zhao Rui said, as long as the rhythm is up, 20 points is nothing.
Zhao Chen has experienced many similar backward situations, but those games did not defeat him.
"Dang, the host activates the "Fiery Feel (Advanced)" independently!"
After hearing the system prompts, Zhao Chen smiled.
Zhao Chen rarely activates such a fiery touch on his own, but when he activated it today, Zhao Chen felt that Thunder deserved its misfortune.
A Zhao Chen in average condition may not be able to lead the team to reverse so many points, but a Zhao Chen with good touch can definitely do it.
This is Zhao Chen's confidence.
After the intermission.
Westbrook and Durant also came out.
The two of them saw Zhao Chen, who had been sitting on the bench early to enjoy the cheerleading dance.
Durant couldn't get used to Zhao Chen being so calm. He said to Westbrook: "Russell, they are 20 points behind, and now he still has the leisure to come see the girl."
Westbrook said: "KD, focus on doing our job well, no matter what he does, he is in good condition. We have to be careful in the second half and not be reversed."
Westbrook's heart was not relaxed. On the contrary, he was vigilant.
After being warned by Westbrook, Durant still didn't take it seriously.
It's 20 points ahead. The Thunder haven't had such a good fight in a long time!
After winning tonight's game, Durant decided to post on his trumpet to ridicule Zhao Chen's ability to lead the team.
soon.
The third quarter begins.
Zhao Chen led a group of substitutes, while the Thunder used a cautious starting lineup.
The Thunder kicked off first.
Westbrook caught the ball and rushed across half court.
The Lakers' lineup is a bit short, with Zhao Chen being the tallest.
On the defensive end, Zhao Chen took up the center position and partnered with Harrell in the paint.
Westbrook gives the ball to Durant on the right.
Seeing Zhao Chen go inside to defend, Durant felt relieved.
Durant made a sharp change in front of him and passed Booker who was following him. He rushed between the free throw line and the three-point line and stopped mid-range.
Booker worked very hard on defense, but he failed to put too much defensive pressure on Durant.
"frame!"
"Uh-huh!"
The basketball hit the rim and fell in.
72 to 50.
A 22-point lead.
The momentum that the fans at Staples Center had finally built up cooled down.
Everyone looked at Zhao Chen.
Lakers fans' hopes are all on Zhao Chen.
The difference between the Lakers and other teams is that they only need Zhao Chen to get out of shape, and they can reverse all games!
Zhao Chen was not discouraged, but encouraged his teammates, and then took Harrell's serve and advanced quickly.
The Thunder's defensive strategy tonight is not much different from before. Robertson's main defensive position is.
Supplemented by harassment from Durant and Westbrook.
Harris was very smart. He set up a screen for Zhao Chen in the forward position, allowing Zhao Chen to get rid of Robertson and pass the half smoothly.
After Zhao Chen passed half the game, his speed slowed down slightly.
Robertson comes around again.
After Zhao Chen observed the Thunder's position, he adjusted his rhythm with a back dribble and passed Robertson on the right side.
Rapid impact!
One step before the three-pointer, Zhao Chen made a jump shot against Westbrook who was assisting in defense.
Westbrook defends well, but he's too short.
Zhao Chen relied on his good touch and just made a strong shot.
As soon as Zhao Chen made his move, he knew he had it because his touch was so soft.
The basketball draws a wonderful arc!
"Uh-huh!"
72 to 53.
Zhao Chen used an unreasonable three-pointer to score the Lakers' first score of the second half!
