By the end of the first half, the score between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Portland Trail Blazers was 51-41.
After playing one quarter with the bench, the Trail Blazers were forced to open up a double-digit point difference.
Regarding this situation, the Timberwolves players were not worried at all during the halftime break.
From the team's head coach Norman Thomas to the team leader Zhao Feiyang to the team's substitute members, no one was worried about losing the game.
After all, compared with the Houston Rockets, which they had fought fiercely with before, the Portland Trail Blazers were not as strong as they expected.
Lillard and McCollum are indeed very good, but they are only two people.
What's more, McCollum didn't perform well in the first quarter. He was closely defended by Zhao Feiyang, which can be said to be very frustrating.
call out.
The second half soon arrived.
The main players of both sides appeared again.
This time the Trail Blazers made adjustments. McCollum was replaced by other players, leaving only Damian Lillard as the super core on the court.
It was the Trail Blazers' turn to attack.
After getting the ball, Lillard held the ball across half court. After reaching the half court, he met Zach LaVine who came up to mark him.
In previous contests, LaVine's defense failed to restrict Lillard much. However, this does not mean that his defense is poor, but that Lillard is in good condition and it is indeed difficult to limit him with ordinary defensive performance.
In response to this situation, the Timberwolves adopted a double-teaming approach.
As soon as Lillard dribbled the ball at the top of the arc and broke through to the left to get into the basket, Zhao Feiyang next to LaVine suddenly double-teamed him.
The double-teaming between the two was so sudden that Lillard almost had the basketball taken away from his hand.
At the critical moment, Lillard did not force himself and chose to transfer the ball away.
Snapped.
The basketball was given to Harkless on the wing. Harkless received the basketball and made a feint, avoiding the interference of Andrew Wiggins and then reached the basket.
The moment he raised the basketball and shot, it was Dwight Howard who stepped up to defend him in time.
For most defenders, Howard, who is strong, powerful and has excellent bounce, is undoubtedly like a thick high wall. Not only is his line of sight completely blocked, but the ball he throws is also easily blocked.
The same was true in the eyes of Harkless. He threw the ball with a high throw. Although it avoided Howard's hand, it failed to hit the basket.
boom.
The basketball bounced off the backboard.
The person who got the rebound was Adrian.
Adrian took advantage of the situation and made a long pass, intending to throw the ball into Zhao Feiyang's hands, and Zhao Feiyang would dribble the ball for a fast break.
Unexpectedly, the moment he threw it out, Lillard suddenly burst out of the way. He seemed to have expected it and directly intercepted Adrian's pass.
Snapped.
After stealing the ball, Lillard came to the corner, raised the basketball and threw a three-pointer without anyone guarding him.
Uh-huh.
A three-pointer fell firmly into the basket.
Lillard's style of play surprised the Timberwolves.
This kind of "lone hero" performance based solely on personal ability is really admirable, but it also makes people sympathetic. After all, a team that relies too much on one star to compete for victory will definitely have side effects.
The game goes on.
What the Timberwolves didn't expect was that in the next few minutes, Lillard scored one after another.
He has a good touch on three-pointers. He made 2 of 3 shots from the top of the arc. He even threw one ball in through LaVine's hand.
This style of play with its own violent attributes also allowed the Trail Blazers to tie the score under unexpected circumstances.
When the two sides entered the end of the third quarter, the Timberwolves' lead was once again wiped out, and they were on the same starting line as the Trail Blazers.
call out.
At the end of the third quarter, both sides returned to the team bench to rest.
Up to this point, the Timberwolves still did not take their opponents seriously, especially when they saw that the opponent had to be led by a superstar to recover the game. The Timberwolves did not think that such an opponent posed too many threats.
Zhao Feiyang did not perform too amazingly during this period.
Firstly, it saves one's own physical energy; secondly, others perform well and he can help his teammates create opportunities; thirdly, after McCollum was replaced, the Trail Blazers replaced him with a player who was specifically responsible for marking. Zhao Feiyang was constantly restricted in various ways, making Zhao Feiyang feel extremely uncomfortable with every move he made, and his condition was indeed affected.
call out.
The final quarter begins.
In the first few minutes, the Trail Blazers did not play Lillard. Lillard, who had played for too long, was put on the bench to rest, and it was McCollum who took over the team in his place.
After coming on the field, the Trail Blazers attacked and substitute defender Allen Crabbe took the ball across half court.
McCollum went up to ask for the ball. After he got the ball, he stood at the top of the arc and observed. Just when Zhao Feiyang stepped forward to press on the defense, McCollum suddenly pulled away, followed by his teammate Mason Pula. Mli suddenly mentioned a high pick-and-roll, and McCollum took advantage of the situation and dribbled the ball to the basket.
McCollum did not rush to break through to the basket, but chose to take a shot at the free throw line.
Howard, who was about to defend, missed.
Uh-huh.
A two-point shot landed firmly in the basket.
It was the Timberwolves' turn to serve.
LaVine held the ball across half court. When he reached the half court, he signaled that he was playing singles. Zhao Feiyang communicated with him and then went up to help him pick and roll.
LaVine took advantage of the situation and broke into the two zones from the left. When the Trail Blazers saw him breaking through, they immediately shrank their inside defense to block LaVine's attack.
Seeing that LaVine failed to break through, he distributed the ball to the wing. Andrew Wiggins on the wing received the ball and planned to shoot.
Unfortunately, this time Wiggins was a step too late, and his shot was blocked by the opponent's striker Harkless.
The basketball falls out.
Harkless saved the ball with a quick slap and the basketball was given to Lillard. Lillard chose to dribble the ball straight into the half court and run away.
Zhao Feiyang and LaVine ran over to cover the defense at the same time. They were about to catch up with Lillard. Unexpectedly, Lillard did not intend to shoot at the basket, but chose to shoot directly from the three-point line at the top of the arc.
Uh-huh.
A crisp three-pointer fell firmly into the basket.
Lillard threw the basketball from his most familiar position, catching Zhao Feiyang and LaVine off guard.
After the goal was scored, the score between the two sides was 77-75.
The Trail Blazers finally overtook the Timberwolves.
Seeing that Lillard's condition remained stable and the Trail Blazers' score exceeded theirs, Zhao Feiyang and his teammates gradually became anxious.
"Guys, we have to work harder... Damien played better than we thought today..."
"With less than five minutes left, we must quickly widen the point difference and not give them any chance to win..."
