At the end of the first half, the score difference between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Cleveland Cavaliers was not big. After the halftime break, the second half came and the two teams were fighting together again.
However, what is surprising is that in the third quarter, the Cavaliers' talented head coach Tyronn Lue made a bold decision. He replaced Kyrie Irving to rest and let Matthew De Lavidova came on as a substitute and played the No. 1 position.
Without Irving, LeBron James is undoubtedly the only core of the Cavaliers on the court.
The subsequent games were just like the Cavaliers' arrangements, with the team's tactical offense all built around LeBron.
1 minute and 30 seconds into the third quarter, the Cavaliers advanced.
Dellavedova dribbled the ball to the half court. His playing style was completely different from that of Irving. As soon as the half was passed, he took the initiative to dribble the ball to find LeBron's position.
LeBron quickly came up from the wing, ran to Dellavedova and took the basketball.
After getting the ball, Kevin Love inside suddenly appeared on the wing. LeBron took advantage of the opportunity to break through to the basket. Love's move to mention the high post also affected the judgment of the Timberwolves players. Soon, LeBron used this Opportunity to break into the penalty area.
Dwight Howard rushed to block the shot, but LeBron rushed forward without giving in.
The two faced each other, and as soon as Howard's hand touched LeBron, LeBron took the lead and threw the ball toward the basket.
call out.
The referee whistle sounded.
The basketball also fell into the basket smoothly.
LeBron made it two plus one.
Howard, who was fouled, shook his head helplessly, while LeBron calmly stood at the free throw line and took a free throw.
Uh-huh.
The ball went in.
The Timberwolves fought back.
After Zach LaVine held the ball, Dellavedova pounced on him and kept reaching out to interfere.
Unlike Irving, Dellavedova, as the team's substitute, finally got such an opportunity to play. Naturally, he tried his best on the court and did not dare to relax at all.
His defense did have a certain effect. LaVine was afraid of losing the ball and did not force a breakthrough. Instead, he gave the ball to Zhao Feiyang.
Zhao Feiyang held the ball in singles. Facing J.R. Smith's marking, Zhao Feiyang pulled away and made a crisp three-pointer.
boom.
This time the basketball hit the backboard and bounced out of the basket.
After two consecutive quarters with a strong touch, Zhao Feiyang's outside shooting percentage finally showed a downward trend in this quarter.
Fortunately, there was Adrian inside. He leaped high and picked off the rebound. After being blocked by Tristan Thompson, he decisively threw the ball to the other side of the backboard.
Howard had noticed his move a long time ago. When the basketball bounced back, Howard jumped high and grabbed a tip-in in front of Love and smashed the ball into the basket.
boom.
The ball went in.
The Cavaliers struck again.
This time their choice is still LeBron.
Before halftime, Dellavedova gave the ball to LeBron. LeBron, who was advancing with the ball, was not very fast at first, but when he came near the three-point line, he suddenly accelerated towards the basket.
Andrew Wiggins, who was marking him, reacted a step too slowly and could only watch as LeBron pulled away and rushed to the basket.
He entered the penalty area with ease as if he was in no-man's territory. He passed three players before the Timberwolves players could react. Then he raised his hand high in the penalty area and smashed the ball in with a two-handed dunk.
boom.
The ball went in again.
Relying on LeBron's trump card, the Cavaliers were once again tied with a score that was originally stretched. In the second half of the third quarter, the Timberwolves were finally surpassed by the Cavaliers again due to their average overall performance.
The high and low positions of both sides changed again, and the Timberwolves' offense also struggled.
call out.
At the end of the third quarter, the score between the two sides was 79-85.
The Cleveland Cavaliers lead the Minnesota Timberwolves by six points.
The last section.
After the fierce battle in the first three quarters, both sides had exhausted their physical strength. Whether it is the Big Three of the Cavaliers or the main lineup of the Timberwolves led by Zhao Feiyang, everyone's condition is no longer as stable as before.
Before the game started, Timberwolves head coach Norman Thomas made a decision. He temporarily put Zhao Feiyang off the court to take some time to rest, and let Martin and LaVine take charge of the offense on the court.
For the Cavaliers, LeBron, who is the team's strongest core, also took a rest. Irving, who didn't play much in the third quarter, became the core of the Cavaliers' tactics and began to dominate the Cavaliers' offense.
The two sides continued to fight.
Irving, who still has plenty of physical strength, started singles mode without LeBron, constantly looking for opportunities to challenge LaVine at the top of the key.
LaVine's defense is not unserious, but facing Irving's superb ball control and singles ability, LaVine still failed to defend the opponent well.
Fortunately, LaVine is not a reckless man. With his superb physical fitness, he chooses to constantly consume Irving and increase the difficulty of Irving's breakthrough every time he defends. This makes even if Irving can score, he has to expend more physical energy than before. .
In addition to increasing intensity on defense, LaVine also concentrated more ball rights in Martin's hands on the offensive end.
Although Martin's physical strength is not as good as before, he has rich experience as a substitute, and is especially good at using various techniques such as drawing fouls, so that some defensive players do not dare to get too close to him to defend.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Martin decisively shot a three-pointer.
His three-pointer has also become a key factor for the Timberwolves to maintain the score without Zhao Feiyang.
Beep.
The Cavaliers called the next long timeout, and players from both sides went off the court to rest.
At this time, the game finally came to the final moment, with only 1 minute and 09 seconds left before the end of the game. Zhao Feiyang had already appeared on the court, and LeBron also walked onto the court after Zhao Feiyang came on to continue to control the offense.
The score was 100-100, and the two teams finally tied after a fierce collision.
There is not much time left. No matter who can score one more goal, the probability of winning the game will be one point higher than before.
Beep.
The break ended and both sides took the stage again.
The Timberwolves have the offensive ball.
The lineup on the field was restored again. This time, Zhao Feiyang personally took the first position and advanced with the ball.
Snapped.
As soon as his teammates passed the ball to his hands, Zhao Feiyang was surrounded by JR Smith who rushed forward. JR focused on his dribbling. As long as Zhao Feiyang made the slightest move, JR would react immediately.
Under such marking, Zhao Feiyang passed halftime smoothly.
After seeing that no one else on the field was in a better position, Zhao Feiyang decided to play singles by himself. One second, he was exchanging gestures with his teammates to indicate their movement. The next second, he suddenly raised the basketball and took a step-back three-pointer.
JR. Smith rushed over in panic, but unfortunately, all that was waiting for him was Zhao Feiyang's ruthless attack.
Uh-huh.
A crisp three-pointer was scored steadily.
103 to 100.
