For the rest of the second quarter, the New York Knicks bench kept the Minnesota Timberwolves in a near-defeat. In particular, the Knicks' powerful inside line caused many problems for the Timberwolves' offense and made them passive for a long time.
Beep.
The on-site timer sounded and the first half ended for both sides.
The score was 69-54, with the Knicks leading the Timberwolves by 15 points.
Half time.
Seeing the game play out like this, many Timberwolves fans who watched the online broadcast were also extremely disappointed.
"Stupid Locke! Look what he did to the team?"
"If you can't keep Zach, then trade Adrian! Even Dwight can't be kept... Last season we were able to play a series with the Warriors, but now with the Knicks The teams are so different..."
"The Knicks are very strong! But they just created a new team not long ago... I can't imagine what it will be like when they get into the playoffs..."
"It looks like we are much weaker than last year..."
At the same time, in the Timberwolves' locker room, team owner Locke also made a rare visit. In the past, no matter how the team played, he would never show up. After all, he didn't have that much love for basketball. As a businessman, he could only occasionally take his partners to watch games together and show off that he owned an NBA team.
This is the first time I have entered the locker room in the middle of a game like this.
"Oh! Bad game! Let me see what went wrong?"
Locke started shouting as soon as he entered the door. He ignored the head coach Eric who was having a meeting with the team and went straight to the middle of the locker room.
In the surprised and confused eyes of the players, Locke stood there and glanced at everyone, "Tell me! What's your problem? Aren't my rewards enough to boost your morale?"
"The Knicks don't look that strong! But your performance is terrible, which not only makes me dissatisfied, but also makes the fans outside dislike it... This is what I spent hundreds of millions of dollars to build. The true value of the team?”
Locke's series of questions stunned the players.
Head coach Eric looked a little displeased, but the other party was the team owner, so he couldn't say anything in this situation. When Locke finally finished speaking, Coach Eric went over to persuade him, "Boss, I know you really want the team to win... In fact, we are doing this..."
"It's okay to be behind by more than ten points in the first half. We have every chance to come back in the second half... It's not that we can't beat them, it's just the first time the two sides have met, and we're not familiar with the changes in the Knicks... ....”
When Coach Eric said this, Locke finally calmed down.
"All right!"
"Eric, I will continue to leave the locker room to you! I hope you won't let me down!"
After speaking, he looked at the players and said, "I hope you won't disappoint me either... If we lose the game in the end, then I think I should do something next season..."
Locke finally left.
The Timberwolves players in the locker room also looked at each other.
As the team's elders, Derrick Rose and Serge Ibaka couldn't help but shake their heads.
The two of them have experienced team management changes, so they know better what the previous team management was like. Maybe not too good, but at least the former boss Mr. Taylor would not interfere in the team's affairs like this.
An owner who likes basketball may not necessarily make the team better, but at least he will respect the various operations and rules of the team from the perspective of a bystander.
Bosses who don't like basketball are completely different.
Once an outsider who doesn't love this sport decides to point fingers, there is a high probability that a lot of stupid things will happen as a result.
However, although the appearance of boss Locke made most players feel uncomfortable, it also successfully aroused their inner desire for victory.
Beep.
The second half arrived for both sides.
After experiencing the episode, the morale of the Timberwolves not only did not fall into a slump, but instead cheered up. Soon the two sides started fighting again.
In the third quarter, the Knicks chose to use a mixed lineup of main players and substitutes.
The core of controlling the ball on the court became Zach LaVine, while Zhao Feiyang rested off the court.
For the Timberwolves, Derrick Rose, Ibaka and others continue to play.
Coach Eric chose to concentrate the ball in Rose's hands.
Timberwolves serve.
Rose advanced with the ball, and after halftime he looked for opportunities at the top of the arc.
His teammates came up to help him cover, and Rose took advantage of the opportunity to dribble the ball into the two zones. Seeing him throw away the defensive player and enter the basket, Howard, who was closest to him, rushed forward to cover the defense.
The two faced each other, and Rose made a difficult lever action in mid-air, avoiding Howard's interference and then threw the ball steadily.
Snapped.
The basketball board falls into the basket.
There was applause from the sidelines.
Before the fans could react, the Knicks had already made a move. Howard stood under the basket and served quickly, throwing a long pass to Jeremy Lin.
Jeremy Lin could have passed the ball to LaVine, but when he saw LaVine being interfered with by the opponent, Jeremy Lin decided to dribble the ball by himself.
After rushing to the three-point line at half court, Jeremy Lin gritted his teeth and shot from the top of the arc.
"You must come in!"
Jeremy Lin prayed in his heart when he threw the basketball.
Although he now comes to the Knicks and becomes a part of the main lineup, he knows that the strength he has shown is not enough. It is true that he can help the team organize the offense, but this is not enough to ensure that he can survive in the NBA.
Therefore, Jeremy Lin hopes that his personal data can make breakthroughs. In this way, if he completes one season with the Knicks, he may be able to get a big contract with better benefits next season.
boom.
The basketball bounced out of the basket.
"well!"
Jeremy Lin shook his head helplessly.
Before he could go up to grab the rebound, Rose from the Timberwolves had already rushed to the basket.
After picking up the basketball, he took a decisive shot and threw a long pass to the other side of the court. The person who caught the ball was Ibaka. He was not far from the Knicks basket. After receiving the ball, he rushed into the basket and passed the ball decisively. Dunk in.
The difference between the two sides is narrowing.
Time passed by minute by minute.
Rose's performance on the court is getting better and better. Not only is he effective in breakthroughs, but his three-point shooting touch is also gradually getting hotter.
At 9 minutes and 34 seconds of the third quarter, the difference between the two sides narrowed to 9 points. The Timberwolves served. Rose held the ball through half court and hit a three-pointer in the face of Jeremy Lin's interference.
Uh-huh.
The basketball fell steadily into the basket.
Timberwolves fans on the sidelines cheered.
In these few minutes, the applause they gave Rose was countless. Rose also successfully used his personal performance to help the team narrow the point difference to 6 points.
Time passed by minute by minute, and the third quarter of both sides was almost over.
On the last offense, LaVine took the ball and rushed into the basket from the left. Facing the opponent's interference, he pulled the ball to the other side of the basket. Unfortunately, the basketball hit the basket and failed to score.
The rebound was picked off by Ibaka.
With only 3.7 seconds left in the third quarter, he made a decisive shot from a long distance and threw the ball to the half court with a powerful output.
boom.
The basketball bounced off the backboard and fell into the basket.
The whole audience exclaimed.
Even Ibaka himself didn't expect to be able to throw such a long buzzer-beating three-pointer.
call out.
90 to 93.
The Timberwolves are still three points behind the Knicks.
After two quarters of silence, the Timberwolves finally showed the momentum they had last season that could overwhelm the Warriors.
