NBA: Rising Superstar!

After the team's offense opened up, everyone was more active on defense.

Everyone was fulfilling their responsibilities, confronting the opponents.

The Clippers' offensive rhythm was gradually being figured out, and the effect of the lineup change was diminishing.

With 16 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

The Clippers controlled the ball for the last attack.

Crawford was dribbling at the top of the arc, with Zeng Xingyang defending.

Crawford slightly controlled the time, initiating the offense with 8 seconds left.

Crawford tried to break through Zeng Xingyang on the left side, but just as he started his attack.

Harris came in for the double team.

Zeng Xingyang and Harris double-teamed Crawford effectively.

Crawford couldn't proceed with his dribble, getting trapped by the two of them.

Crawford tried to pass the ball, but Harris knocked it away.

Harris grabbed the ball and quickly sprinted forward.

Zeng Xingyang quickly ran to the left side.

After Harris reached the frontcourt, he threw the ball to Zeng Xingyang.

There were only 3 seconds left.

But after Zeng Xingyang received the ball, he calmly made a fake move.

Completely shaking off the pursuing Bamot.

Subsequent three-point jump shot released.

Buzz!!

The basketball drew a beautiful arc.

"Swish!"

A perfect shot through the heart!!

29 to 36.

The Nuggets led by 7 points to end the first quarter.

The Clippers were somewhat stunned by Zeng Xingyang's buzzer beater.

The Clippers' bench.

"We played well in the first half, executing our pre-game plans, but in the latter half, we played terribly."

"In the next game, we still need to maintain the rhythm we started with."

"Only then will we have a chance to win."

"On defense, double-team Zeng and let others finish us off. If others kill us with their shooting, I'll accept it."

Rivers shouted angrily, his expression very upset because he hadn't expected the team to be trailing by 7 points after a perfect start.

All the Clippers players were panting heavily, nodding in agreement.

After a short break.

The second quarter resumed.

Both sides were using their second lineup, but each team intentionally increased the playing time of their starters.

The Nuggets had Nelson, Zeng Xingyang, Pope, Grant, and Nurkic.

The Clippers had Paul, Crawford, Bamot, Griffin, and Cole Aldrich.

As the playoffs reached a fever pitch, most teams opted for an 8-man rotation.

After all, the strength of many bench players sometimes can't keep up with the intensity, and excessive rotations can weaken a team.

The first possession of the second quarter.

Nelson dribbled to the frontcourt.

Zeng Xingyang positioned on the right side.

Zeng Xingyang was very fast, continuously weaving with Bamot.

Bamot wasn't bad on defense, staying close to Zeng Xingyang.

Nelson barely passed the ball to Zeng Xingyang, who faked without finding space.

Forcing a breakthrough on the right.

Zeng Xingyang confronted Bamot, drawing Griffin to double-team.

At that moment, Grant cut down the middle, and Zeng Xingyang tossed the ball toward the middle while moving at high speed.

Grant stepped up, grabbed the basketball with both hands, and then slammed hard.

"Bang!"

The basketball was forcefully dunked into the hoop.

29 to 38.

Zeng Xingyang showed his passing ability.

His passing wasn't top-notch, but not too bad either.

The main aspects of passing are awareness and technique, both of which Zeng Xingyang possessed.

Additionally, his ability to draw defenders opened up a lot of space for teammates.

After Grant landed, he waved to Zeng Xingyang in acknowledgment.

The fans responded with cheers and screams.

The Clippers' offense.

Paul dribbled to the frontcourt.

Paul passed the ball to Griffin inside.

Griffin posted up against Grant, starting to back him down.

Drawing the double team.

Griffin passed the ball out to Paul.

Paul attracted more defense before passing to Redick on the other side.

Bamot found a small gap at the top of the key as the Nuggets' defense had rotational errors while double-teaming Griffin.

Bamot made a three-point jump shot from the top of the arc.

32 to 38.

"Speed up the defense."

"Don't give their shooters any space."

Mike Malone clapped and shouted continuously.

This game wasn't going to be easy to win.

The Nuggets' offense.

Nelson dribbled to the front court, passing to Zeng Xingyang.

Zeng Xingyang called for Nurkic's screen.

Nurkic came up, Zeng Xingyang dribbled laterally, Cole Aldrich and Bamot double-teamed Zeng Xingyang.

Zeng Xingyang pounded the ball down to the rolling Nurkic.

If Jokic had received such a pass, he would have taken the ball directly and tossed it in.

But Nurkic chose to pound the ball, wanting to go deeper inside, but Paul didn't give him that chance.

In the instant Nurkic pounded the ball, Paul reached in and stripped it.

"Snap!"

Paul knocked the ball loose.

Ball lost.

Paul passed quickly to the fast-breaking Crawford.

Crawford showcased high-quality one-on-one skills, dribbling at high speed, circling the ball around his waist, slipping past Pope.

Then he soared for a layup, landing it smoothly.

34 to 38.

The Clippers' successive offense paid off, narrowing the gap between the two teams.

Zeng Xingyang didn't blame Nurkic for anything, his ability is what it is, the earlier pass indeed shouldn't have gone to him.

The Nuggets' offense resumes.

Nelson dribbled into the front court.

Zeng Xingyang proactively moved over to receive Nelson's hand-off pass.

Nelson, very smart, passed the ball and then screened.

Paul switched to defending Zeng Xingyang.

After receiving the ball, Zeng Xingyang quickly spaced out the Nuggets.

Facing Paul's defense, Zeng Xingyang began to back him down.

"Thud!"

"Thud!"

After continuous impacts, Zeng Xingyang bumped into Paul and got in.

Crawford came rushing from the right side to double-team Zeng Xingyang.

But Zeng Xingyang cleverly spun to the left.

Zeng Xingyang didn't pause for a moment, combining the ball as he spun.

Pushing off, jumping, reaching the peak, releasing the ball.

Paul, defending, rushed over to contest.

But it wasn't much of a disturbance.

The basketball arced beautifully through the air.

"Swish!"

34 to 40.

Seeing Zeng Xingyang's smooth offense, the fans quickly erupted in cheers.

The Clippers' offense came next, Crawford used a pick to drive in.

After attracting defense, he passed to Griffin.

Griffin powered up with the ball, causing Grant to foul at the same time he scored.

It was a three-point play.

Griffin now understands, Grant's body is still too slight for him.

Confrontation!

Still needs confrontation for him to have a clear advantage.

Griffin stood at the free-throw line, made the bonus free throw securely.

37 to 40.

The Nuggets' offense.

Nelson dribbled into the front court, still aiming to exploit Zeng Xingyang's mismatch.

But this time the play failed, Paul and Bamot double-teamed Zeng Xingyang more aggressively, leaving no opportunity for his shooting.

Zeng Xingyang returned the ball to Pope at the top of the arc, then moved out, pretending to approach for another hand-off pass, but actually cut inside.

Zeng Xingyang's cut timing was excellent, and Pope quickly passed the ball to him.

Receiving the ball, Zeng Xingyang took stride, launched in the air, Griffin strived to soar for a block.

But Griffin's arms were too short, he couldn't block Zeng Xingyang's shot.

Zeng Xingyang stepped up, extended his body, single-handedly cradling the basketball, soared for a finger roll, landed it smoothly.

37 to 42.

The Clippers' offense resumed.

Paul dribbled to the front court, passed to Crawford.

Crawford continued to forcefully drive against Zeng Xingyang.

But Zeng Xingyang didn't lose position, continuously countering Crawford's drive.

Crawford tried to quickly pass to Bamot, but Pope read the play.

Pope darted out.

"Snap!"

Pope intercepted the ball.

Zeng Xingyang quickly followed up to draw the defense, Pope chose to finish it himself!!

37 to 44.

The Nuggets regained control of the situation.

The rest of the game held no major surprises.

Especially after Jokic returned, they maintained a stable rhythm.

The Clippers couldn't replicate the dazzling offense from the start.

Zeng Xingyang and Jokic's pick-and-roll became the Nuggets' fundamental tactic.

Beep beep!!

The final score of the game was 98 to 108.

The gap wasn't as large as the previous game, but the result was the same.

The series score was rewritten to 2-0, the Nuggets secured their two home games!