"You guys don't think we're going to lose, do you? Don't! We've got Tang!"

After Bojan was traded, Carter naturally became the locker room leader.

Seeing the dejected looks on his teammates' faces, he immediately stepped up to encourage them.

Carter had been in the NBA for so many years and was so famous, his words carried a lot of weight, and he hit the nail on the head.

With Tang Tian, they had the capital to compete with any team.

"If we're not in good shape, we'll work hard to adjust. If our touch is off, we'll defend with all our might!"

Carter's next words reignited the team's fighting spirit.

Especially Alexander, who looked like he was ready to grab a gun and duel someone.

The Pelicans signed two veterans this season, Parker and Carter.

Parker was relatively introverted as a veteran, but Carter had a strong presence, and the momentum was completely different.

Tang Tian smiled with relief when he saw this.

Carter was the last to join the team, and it seemed like it was well worth it.

Looking at Alexander again, this kind of spirit was also very much needed by young players.

Back in the second half, the Rockets made a lineup adjustment, with Gordon replacing Ennis in the starting lineup.

The Pelicans still maintained their lineup from the first half.

Stevens believed that Brogdon and the others could find their touch in the second half.

But touch is sometimes really mysterious. Green and Brogdon took two shots at the start of the second half, the angle and force were very good, but the ball just didn't go in.

The Pelicans were in high spirits, but their own basket was really covered tonight.

The Rockets seized the opportunity to overtake the score again. The two sides were really going up and down tonight, and they would have to fight until dawn.

With everyone else still out of form, Stevens could only send Crowder and Jeff Green back on the court, and try their best to create one-on-one opportunities for Tang Tian, just like in the first half.

Tang Tian didn't let him down, scoring another 21 points in this quarter alone, and by the end of the third quarter, his personal score had soared to 58 points.

The Pelicans also regained the advantage, ending the third quarter with an 81-76 lead.

At the start of the fourth quarter, Stevens made another adjustment to the lineup: Alexander, Carter, Jeff Green, Siakam, Harrell.

This was a sure sign that the others weren't in form, and all the players deep on the bench were sent up.

But this adjustment still didn't work. Apart from Carter, who was still sharp and made two three-pointers, the others still had a poor touch.

If there really was a God, God didn't want the Pelicans to win tonight's game.

After four minutes of this quarter, the Rockets once again tied the score at 90.

Stevens substituted the main players, including Tang Tian, and the two sides entered the final battle ahead of time.

Harden and Paul remained in good shape, and the Pelicans continued to focus on Tang Tian.

The scores of the two teams rose alternately, and when there were only 2 minutes left in the game, the score on the court was 105-105, and the outcome was still undecided.

Tang Tian's layup caused Capela to foul, and he stepped onto the free throw line.

The crowd chanted MVP.

The others on the Pelicans team performed poorly tonight, but the main reason they could still stalemate with the Rockets was Tang Tian.

While the fans were chanting MVP, the big screen also showed Tang Tian's stats tonight.

24 of 40 shots made, 6 of 11 three-pointers made, 10 of 11 free throws made, 64 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, and 2 turnovers.

This was already a god-level stat line.

Just like O'Neal said in the commentary box during the halftime break, the departure of Walker and Butler allowed them to see Tang Tian score like crazy again.

With even two minutes left in the game, Tang Tian still had a chance to break 70 points.

Since the season he first arrived at the Pelicans and scored 70+, Tang Tian had never touched that number again.

On the one hand, he didn't deliberately try to score.

On the other hand, after the Pelicans became stronger, he was in good shape and scored high in many games, but the game would be decided in the third quarter, and he wouldn't play in the fourth quarter.

But tonight, the entire Pelicans team was sluggish, and the Rockets were in good shape, which allowed the fans to see Tang Tian score high again.

Adjusting his breathing, Tang Tian steadily made two free throws amidst the cheers of MVP, scoring his 66th point and helping the Pelicans to overtake the score again.

"Defense! Defense!"

The last two minutes, the two minutes that would determine the outcome.

Harden dribbled the ball slowly outside the three-point line. He was killing time and also recovering his stamina.

When the time entered 10 seconds, he called Capela to pick-and-roll, and then made a sudden stop for a three-pointer.

But unfortunately, this move had been used too many times. Dedmon lunged forward to interfere, and Harden's shot hit the front of the rim.

Siakam turned around and secured the defensive rebound.

This round was crucial.

The Pelicans' fast break didn't work, so they switched to positional warfare, with Tang Tian holding the ball.

The entire Rockets team was staring at him.

Tang Tian used a butterfly step to get past Gordon, but the other four Rockets players immediately pounced on him.

They were determined not to give him a chance to shoot.

He passed the ball behind his back to Brogdon, and turned to prepare to run back to his position.

Brogdon had a tacit understanding with him after two years, and he didn't shoot after receiving the ball, waiting a moment before passing the ball back.

Tang Tian received the ball as soon as he broke out of the encirclement, and he took the opportunity to turn around and layup, finishing the shot under Capela's interference.

"Pa!"

Capela's block hit his hand.

The baseline referee blew his whistle.

The ball brushed the backboard and fell into the net.

2+1!

The cheers at the scene had exploded, this goal was worth a fortune!

Siakam and the others also rushed to Tang Tian and shouted, this goal basically killed the game!

Tang Tian adjusted his breathing at the free throw line, and steadily hit the extra point.

Tang Tian's personal score soared to 69 points.

110 to 105, the Pelicans took a 5-point lead.

With more than 1 minute left in the game, this point difference greatly increased their chances of winning.

Harden held the ball in the frontcourt, and the shouts of defense at the scene were deafening.

He had to score now, and preferably a three-pointer.

The Rockets had played against the Pelicans so many times before, but none had been as close to victory as tonight.

He had to perform to prove himself!

The Rockets had been getting weaker and weaker in recent years, but he had been performing better and better.

Defeating the Pelicans would be his breakthrough night.

He once again called Capela for a pick-and-roll, and then a sudden stop for a three-point fake shot. Seeing Dedmon lunge forward, he waited for a moment, and then leaned in to shoot.

"Doo!"

The referee blew his whistle, giving Dedmon a three-point foul.

This foul was extremely professional.

The audience booed.

Dedmon spread his hands helplessly after landing, but he couldn't change the ruling.

Moreover, this was his 6th personal foul of the game, and he was ejected.

This was a foul that was enough to affect the course of the game.

Stevens also shook his head helplessly, and could only substitute Harrell.

Harden adjusted his breathing and steadily made all three free throws amidst the boos.

108 to 110, with 40 seconds left in the game, the Rockets still had a chance.

The Pelicans' last offensive opportunity.

The ball was given to Tang Tian, Tang Tian held the ball to kill the time. When there were 20 seconds left in the game, he shook off Gordon and directly made a three-pointer from outside the line!