Fazekas and Yuta Watanabe became the focal points of Japan's offense when Rui Hachimura couldn't score. Watanabe broke through after a pick-and-roll with Fazekas.

Lin Yi interfered with Watanabe's layup by holding his hands high under the basket. Watanabe failed to score.

Although not known for his defense, Lin Yi knew how to use his advantages.

Japan fell into a scoring drought.

And they couldn't defend either.

Again, it was Lin Yi who single-handedly took on Fazekas in the paint, drawing a shooting foul.

In terms of agility, Lin Yi completely outplayed the Japanese team's white player.

Lin Yi made one of two free throws, and the score on the court became 38 to 25, with the point difference unknowingly reaching 13 points.

Watanabe broke through and passed the ball to Fazekas, who made a layup and drew a defensive foul on Lin Yi.

However, when he went to the free-throw line, the audience was filled with interference.

The worst host was confirmed!

Amidst the interference, Fazekas missed both free throws!

Japan still couldn't score!

Japan's coach Lamas rubbed his forehead, already a little desperate.

The situation was still very good in the first quarter, but no one expected that after Li Chunjiang put out a strange formation, the situation would take a sharp turn for the worse.

It could only be said that Tang Tian was too abnormal. He had previously played from the point guard to the small forward, and now he could even play power forward!

But Lamas had seen too little. Tang Tian played power forward for UConn in the NCAA!

Tang Tian still didn't attack on the offensive end, and Ding Yanyuhang forced his way past Yuta Baba and scored.

The point difference had widened to 15 points!

Lamas called a timeout.

If they continued to play at this pace, Japan would lose more than 20 points in this quarter.

"I should have listened to you earlier."

When the Chinese team came off the court, Li Chunjiang said to Tang Tian with a smile.

He was straightforward and said whatever he thought.

"It's not too late now."

Tang Tian didn't care, anyway, they would win no matter how they played against Japan.

"It's just that it might be more difficult later."

But when he looked at the technical table, the next sentence made Li Chunjiang look puzzled.

When Li Chunjiang followed Tang Tian's gaze and saw the Japanese team leader protesting to the technical table, he had a premonition.

Although there were many Chinese fans sitting now, this was, after all, the home court of the Japanese team.

When the timeout returned, Japan changed its tactics. Hachimura went from having the ball to playing off-ball, and he came out to receive the ball and shoot with Fazekas's pick-and-roll.

"Swish!"

The basketball was sent into the basket, and Japan finally broke the scoring drought.

Back on the offensive end, Ding Yanyuhang broke through Yuta Baba, collided with him, and made the shot.

The baseline referee blew his whistle.

Ding Yanyuhang punched the air excitedly.

The whistle meant it was a 2+1.

But he jumped up in the next second.

Because the baseline referee called an offensive foul.

Li Chunjiang also excitedly rushed to the technical table, showering the referee with verbal abuse.

But the referee remained unmoved, signaled Li Chunjiang to back off, and then let Japan inbound the ball from the backcourt.

In Japan's frontcourt, Tang Tian began to stick close to Hachimura, not giving him a chance even without the ball. Yuki Togashi's three-pointer from the outside missed, and Tang Tian grabbed the rebound.

China launched a fast break, and Tang Tian made a long pass from the backcourt to Ding Yanyuhang, who was running fast.

Ding Yanyuhang took a deep breath and rushed to the frontcourt with a two-handed dunk.

After the dunk, he swung around the rim before landing, and then roared at the sidelines.

This dunk completely vented the frustration of the previous call.

The Chinese team's bench also shouted excitedly.

Back on the defensive end, Abudushalamu was called for a pushing foul when he went through the screen, and then Ding Yanyuhang was also called for an off-ball foul.

Two fouls were called in one possession, and the Chinese team's fouls in a single quarter reached four.

Li Chunjiang laughed on the bench.

Although he had been mentally prepared when watching the video, the calls were almost catching up with the NBA during the Xiao Hua era.

When the number of fouls reached the limit, the Chinese team's defensive intensity naturally weakened, and Watanabe seized the opportunity to score two points, helping Japan continue to score.

This was the trick of the penalty, not every ball had to be called a free throw, but it could make you wary.

Abudushalamu made a layup after a backdoor cut, and Watanabe's three-pointer went wide.

But in the next possession, Lin Yi was immediately called for a moving screen.

The last few minutes of this quarter became a complete performance time for the referee.

At the end of the half, Japan trailed China 39 to 50.

The 11-point difference was not too much, and with the advantage of the home court, they managed to hold China to a stalemate in the first half.

Hachimura scored 20 points in the half, performing well, and Watanabe also had 8 points.

Ding Yanyuhang scored the most points for the Chinese team, with 14 points, Lin Yi had 12 points and 6 rebounds, and Tang Tian had 10 points.

After the first half, Japanese social media was filled with cheers and encouragement.

"We played an excellent first half, and I even think that if we continue to perform like this, we have a chance to make history again!"

"Hachimura's performance is too good, he is definitely a world-class star, I believe he will have a chance to surpass Tang in the future!"

"Tang also played in the London Olympics after his freshman year, and his performance was much worse than Hachimura's. Comparing their rookie seasons, this is not impossible!"

"Tang is indeed tired. Not playing professionally for a year, his physical fitness is the biggest problem. He played so hard in the group stage, and now he can't do it anymore!"

"Yes, his main energy in the first half was on defending Hachimura. Coach Lamas's strategy was very successful, and we have a good chance!"

…

Back from the halftime break, the Japanese fans at the scene were in high spirits.

Modern information is quite developed, everyone has a mobile phone and the information is instant.

Many of the comments on social media were posted by them.

They were now full of expectations for the Japanese men's basketball team's performance in the second half.

It was also at this time that they noticed that there was an adjustment to the Chinese team's starting lineup in the second half. Yi Jianlian was not in the starting lineup!

Guo Ailun, Ding Yanyuhang, Abudushalamu, Tang Tian, Lin Yi!

This was the lineup used in the second half of the second quarter!

When they saw this lineup, the excitement on their faces became even stronger.

Because this lineup was the lineup that the Japanese team had the advantage with in the second half!

And they also guessed a piece of information, Yi Jianlian might be injured!

Yi Jianlian had been injured before, and he played a lot of time in the group stage. Now, not only did he not play in the second half of the second quarter, but he didn't even start in the second half.

Yes, he must be injured!

Convinced of this, the excitement on their faces could no longer be concealed.

"Go! Japan!"

Returning for the second half, the Japanese team attacked first. Without the DJ leading, they were already cheering for the Japanese team in unison.

They were now really convinced that the Japanese team would continue to create a new Olympic history at home!