At six in the evening, the Denver Pepsi Center, which can accommodate more than 20,000 fans, was bustling. Nuggets fans in white jerseys filled the arena.
The performances of Zeng Xingyang in the first two games of the new season had rekindled the expectations of Nuggets fans.
This rookie had shown talents and abilities worth cultivating.
Tonight’s opponent, the Thunder, was a strong team, especially with both Westbrook and Durant on the court; their offensive power was formidable.
In the past two seasons, the Thunder’s record was poor due to injuries to Durant and Westbrook, making them eager to prove themselves.
Since the new season began, the Thunder had defeated the Spurs and the Magic, achieving a two-game winning streak.
With both Durant and Westbrook healthy, this team was a championship contender.
After the warm-up, in the locker room.
After Mike Malone briefly explained the team strategy, he clapped his hands and finally shouted, "The Thunder is a resilient team, but this is our home opener. The fans of this city are watching us; let’s take this opponent down for them!!"
"Let’s show them some intensity, let them know we’re not to be messed with.
Mike Malone was good at firing up the players, and the Nugget players were inspired, cheering loudly.
Zeng Xingyang clapped his hands hard, his emotions suddenly soaring; this was the home opener!.
Zeng Xingyang followed his teammates stepping forward, walking out of the locker room and towards the player tunnel.
The fans’ cheering kept pouring into his ears.
It got brighter and brighter, finally stepping out of the player tunnel.
The previous two away games were filled with boos, but now, the place was filled with cheers.
The arena was almost a white ocean within visible range, and they were chanting with imposing momentum.
Many fans had painted their faces in Nuggets colors, and those wearing Zeng Xingyang’s number 8 jersey were the most numerous.
Even though he was a rookie, Zeng Xingyang had become the most popular Nuggets player among the fans.
Scoring 26 points in the first game and 30 in the second, whether in offense or defense, Zeng Xingyang exuded a superstar aura.
Playing at home felt truly great.
During the lineup introduction, Zeng Xingyang experienced the spectacle of tens of thousands chanting his name.
Seeing this scene, Zeng Xingyang felt his pores open and heavily high-fived Jokic beside him.
After the lineup introduction, Zeng Xingyang jumped once to stretch his body as much as possible.
Mike Malone came over to remind Zeng Xingyang: "Zeng, I will have you play in the first quarter, be ready anytime. Your job tonight is the same as before, score, and then defend against your matchup!"
While speaking, Mike Malone also looked towards the Thunder’s direction.
Zeng Xingyang followed the gaze and saw Thunder’s number 35 warming up on the court.
Tonight, he would directly go head-to-head with Durant, making Zeng Xingyang’s blood boil.
"No problem!" Zeng Xingyang nodded firmly.
Mike Malone highly valued Zeng Xingyang, having him guard the team’s offensive arrows in every game.
First it was Harden, then Wiggins, and tonight it was Durant.
Defending Durant would be a huge challenge, but Zeng Xingyang was never afraid; he just wanted to stop the opponent and help the team win.
Mike Malone was willing to give Zeng Xingyang more opportunities, giving him a chance to become the new core of the team.
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He had to conquer his teammates on the court with offense and defense!
Otherwise, what’s the difference between boasting about being the team core and boasting like a Gote?
Soon, the game officially started on the court.
The Thunder started with: Westbrook, Roberson, Durant, Ibaka, Adams.
The Nuggets started with: Randy Foye, Harris, Galinarli, Faried, Lavine.
Zeng Xingyang, along with Jokic, cheered on their teammates from the bench.
After the game started, the advantage was with the Thunder.
Westbrook and Durant went all out in one-on-one plays, constantly tearing apart the Nuggets’ defense from different angles.
Westbrook was at his physical peak, with an all-around playing style.
He could quickly convert defense into offense, using his speed and explosiveness to leave opponents behind in fast breaks, and he could execute quick stops, turns, and shifts at high speeds, making him almost unstoppable during drive-ins. Even the exaggerated concern for his shooting wasn’t too bad now, as his zombie jumper had some reliability.
He hit two mid-range jumpers from the free-throw line at the start, forcing Randy Foye to step up and guard him, only to be left behind with a step and attack the basket.
Durant was the same; many critics mocked Durant’s various questionable behaviors but never his skill.
Now, Durant was also at the peak of his career; his height and wingspan were like a center’s, but his dribbling and driving were like a guard’s, and his shooting was like a shooter’s. When all these characteristics were combined in him, he became a super slayer.
Neither Galinarli nor Faried and Harris could handle Durant’s varied attacks.
Durant would use all his advantages to crush opponents.
Against shorter ones, he would turn around in the low post.
Against taller ones, he would execute a quick direction change to drive past for a layup or stop-and-pop.
Durant’s most terrifying trait was his ability to launch a series of explosive moves, leaving defenders shouting in admiration...
The Nuggets’ offense was still very fragmented, with only scattered points here and there.
The Thunder’s defense wasn’t lacking either, with Roberson and Durant on the wing, and Westbrook playing with aggression in the backcourt, with Ibaka able to leap and Adams able to block out....
The Nuggets’ offense struggled.
Neither Randy Foye nor Harris could serve as a competent offensive initiator, let alone Faried and Lavine inside.
Four minutes into the game, after Barton came in for the Nuggets, their offense improved slightly. Still, it wasn’t enough to stop the Thunder’s onslaught.
Barton’s offense was decent, but defensively, he was a liability, being taken advantage of in turns by Westbrook and Durant.
Nuggets fans went from cheering loudly to being utterly silent.
Nuggets fans felt helpless.
The two superstars on the other side were in their prime, while their lineup didn’t have stars of such caliber to compete with them.
Barkley couldn’t hold back his comments on the Nuggets’ situation, his mouth wide open, saying, "At this point, they might as well try putting Zeng on the court; he could increase the Nuggets’ wing defense strength."
As if hearing Barkley’s suggestion, with 4 minutes and 23 seconds left in the first quarter, Mike Malone called Zeng Xingyang and Jokic to the sideline.
The score was 23 to 11 at that moment, with the Nuggets trailing by 12 points.
With his left hand on Zeng Xingyang’s shoulder and his right hand pointing at Durant, Mike Malone said, "Zeng, get up there and stop him from scoring so easily."
This scene felt like the Nine-Headed Insect ordering Benbo’erba to eliminate Tang Monk and his disciples.
Counting on a rookie to take down one of the league’s top superstars!