The opening rounds became a microcosm of the two teams' first half.

After the double-teaming proved ineffective, the Knicks' one-on-one defense also couldn't contain Tang Tian.

Iman Shumpert was the Knicks' best defender, and if he couldn't stop him, no one else could.

The Pelicans were similar. Although Anthony Davis had outstanding physical gifts, he lacked experience and seemed somewhat immature against an offensive kaleidoscope like Carmelo Anthony.

After Williams, they tried using Aminu and Jason Smith to defend, but the results weren't good.

The Pelicans finished the first quarter with a 28-22 lead over the Knicks, up by 6 points.

Tang Tian had 12 points and 4 assists in the first quarter, going head-to-head with Anthony's 15 points and 3 rebounds.

Their performance excited the fans in attendance.

That's just how Knicks fans were; they cared more about whether the game was exciting than whether the team was winning or losing.

During the second quarter's substitution period, the Pelicans' bench lineup was clearly stronger, but the Knicks' Tim Hardaway Jr. played bravely.

He scored 7 points and 2 assists on his own, helping the Knicks tie the score.

When the starters returned, Tang Tian and Anthony started another scoring battle, and the two teams' scores alternated upwards.

The two teams tied at 55 at the end of the first half.

Tang Tian had 23 points and 5 assists in the first half, and Anthony also had 24 points and 5 rebounds.

With 22 points in the half, although Smith said that Tang Tian couldn't score high in Madison, it seemed that the game wasn't about trash-talking ability.

How to limit Tang Tian and Anthony became the focus of both coaches' halftime research.

The Knicks made lineup adjustments when they came back in the second half, with Amar'e Stoudemire replacing the out-of-form JR Smith in the starting lineup.

Anthony moved to the small forward position.

The Knicks attacked first in the second half, with Anthony receiving the ball in the low post.

Davis was still guarding him.

But Tang Tian ignored Bargnani on the free throw line and went straight to double-team Anthony.

This was the Pelicans' adjustment for the second half.

Although Anthony's assist numbers this season set a career high, his passing awareness was still a bit lacking.

When he was in hot form, double-teaming was the wisest choice.

Anthony passed the ball to Bargnani, who took a three-pointer at the arc.

"Clang!"

Still no good.

Ever since suffering an ankle injury in Toronto, his form had plummeted after returning, and his original 40% three-point shooting percentage had dropped by 10 percentage points, and this season it was less than 30%.

He failed to seize these two consecutive three-point opportunities.

Davis turned around and grabbed the defensive rebound again.

Tang Tian received the ball in the frontcourt, and Anthony was now guarding him instead of Shumpert.

No coach, no matter how stupid, would use the team's core player in hot form in the first half to defend the opponent's core player.

The only possibility was that Anthony had volunteered.

Anthony patted his butt and lowered his center of gravity, and you could see from his murderous eyes that he had主动 (zhudong) requested to defend Tang Tian.

Anthony hadn't suffered any injuries at this time, and his defensive ability was still above the league average, and he had more momentum than Shumpert.

This kind of momentum is also important in basketball games, just like ordinary players facing Jordan, they may not be able to perform their technical moves smoothly.

But this obviously didn't work on Tang Tian.

Against Shumpert, because he didn't have much advantage in speed and confrontation, he needed Davis to pick and roll more.

But Anthony had gained a lot of weight this season, and his speed was a disadvantage compared to Tang Tian.

Anthony also knew this, so he didn't dare to get too close to avoid being passed in one step.

This was exactly what Tang Tian wanted.

Tang Tian put on a triple threat posture, then dribbled to the left to create distance from Anthony, and shot directly.

Anthony pounced, but his speed was obviously not fast enough.

"Swish!"

Tang Tian's pull-up went straight through the net.

A burst of cheers actually rang out in the arena.

Anthony looked a little annoyed.

When he got to the frontcourt, he shouted at Tang Tian before receiving the ball: "Come defend me!"

He was playing small forward now, and theoretically Tang Tian should be guarding him, but the Pelicans had been using Davis all along.

Tang Tian ignored him.

Anthony's attempt to provoke him didn't succeed. He dropped to the high post, pressed Davis behind him with his arm, and continued to reach out for the ball.

Felton passed the ball in.

Anthony had only just received the ball when Morrow moved in.

Williams was using Woodson's trick to deal with Tang Tian in the first half, using it on Anthony in exactly the same way.

Anthony chose to pass the ball after seeing this.

But just as he passed the ball.

"Pa!"

Tang Tian directly let go of Bargnani and came over to steal the ball!

Knowing that Bargnani couldn't make three-pointers and still liked to stand on the three-point line, Tang Tian could help defend without restraint.

The Pelicans' fast break, Tang Tian's catch-and-shoot three-pointer went in!

60 to 55!

Anthony didn't have a chance to shoot because he was double-teamed, but Tang Tian's touch was still incredibly hot!

Woodson gestured to the players on the court at this time, signaling that they should start double-teaming Tang Tian again.

Anthony continued to ask for the ball in the frontcourt, but the difference was that he didn't give the Pelicans a chance to double-team him after receiving the ball. He turned around and leaned back for a shot.

This kind of fast offense greatly affected his shooting rhythm, and Anthony was also forced into a desperate situation.

Davis' long arm interfered.

"Swish!"

But Anthony still made the shot!

He was also in very hot form tonight.

The Pelicans attacked to the frontcourt again, and Tang Tian was double-teamed by Felton as soon as he held the ball.

Tang Tian didn't have as many offensive moves as Anthony. He chose to pass the ball, and his first-time pass to Holiday was very timely.

However, Holiday's breakthrough layup failed to score.

After the Knicks put Stoudemire back on, their interior defense was much better than before.

Felton dribbled the ball to the frontcourt, and Anthony took a cold three-pointer directly outside the three-point line, but it was slightly off.

The Pelicans attacked to the frontcourt, Tang Tian passed to Davis after being double-teamed, and Davis' shot was also blocked by Stoudemire.

The two teams failed to score on several consecutive possessions.

During the stalemate, it was still Anthony who caught the ball, faked out Davis with a pull-up jumper, drove to the basket, and scored the ball after a physical contest with Smith.

59 to 60, the Knicks narrowed the score to only 1 point.

Anthony pounded his chest and roared after scoring, then turned around and shouted at Tang Tian again as he walked back: "Come defend me!"

The Pelicans' frontcourt offense, Tang Tian passed the ball to Morrow, but Morrow's three-point opportunity also failed to hit.

The same opportunity, but he just couldn't make it.

Compared to the first half, the Pelicans' form in the second half was obviously not very good.

But this was also a common problem for young teams. A whole game lasts 48 minutes, and there will always be ups and downs.

Back on the defensive end, Anthony received the ball again, and he realized at this time that his defender had become Tang Tian.

"I'm here."

Tang Tian said to Anthony calmly.

His tone was very calm.

He wasn't being reckless and provoked by Anthony, but now that the team wasn't doing well on offense and defense, he had to step up.

ps: Thanks to Huiyao for the generous reward!!