Nelson passes the ball to Zeng Xingyang.
Jokic comes out to set a screen, Roberson is blocked.
Zeng Xingyang steps to the side and takes a three-point shot.
The shot was a bit rushed and missed.
But the offensive rebound is grabbed by Jokic.
Jokic passes the ball to the corner to Galinari.
Galinari almost thought his teammates had forgotten about him; he hadn’t received the ball in a while.
After getting the ball, he’s calm and deceptive, fakes out Ibaka, and breaks along the baseline.
At this moment, Jokic comes out to set another screen for Zeng Xingyang.
Roberson’s chase defense crashes solidly into Jokic’s block.
Zeng Xingyang finds an opening on the left side of the free throw line.
Galinari passes the ball.
Zeng Xingyang catches the ball in stride and takes a three-point shot.
This time, the rhythm and form are perfect.
Andre Roberson is very frustrated; he’s confident he can limit Zeng Xingyang one-on-one.
But he’s constantly blocked by screens, with no solution.
Zeng Xingyang clearly knows Roberson’s defense is formidable, so he doesn’t think about challenging him alone, just cooperates with Jokic to play.
It must be said, Jokic’s screens are really solid, often creating openings.
With another inside player, Zeng Xingyang wouldn’t be so comfortable.
The Thunder’s offense.
Westbrook uses Ibaka’s screen to break in, then quickly passes back to Ibaka.
Ibaka takes the ball, jumps high, and delivers a dunk over Jokic.
Jokic doesn’t mind getting dunked on, as it’s inevitable for a big man.
Soon, the Nuggets’ offense puts the Thunder in a difficult situation.
Faried passes the ball to Jokic, Jokic runs at full speed.
Zeng Xingyang and Harris accelerate on the sides for a fast break.
The Thunder’s defense hasn’t settled, Jokic notices Zeng Xingyang’s opportunity from mid-court.
He sends a powerful two-handed bounce pass to Zeng Xingyang!
The ball threads through the crowd, perfectly bouncing into Zeng Xingyang’s hands in stride.
Roberson is just slightly out of position, unable to defend.
Zeng Xingyang takes a step and elevates, raising the ball high, then slams it down hard.
The 220+ wingspan advantage is unmistakable!
Zeng Xingyang turns and roars at Roberson.
Westbrook rushes back and slams the ball hard near the baseline, venting his frustration.
Just when the team scores, they immediately let one slip on defense.
Only 5 seconds had passed!
The opponent’s playstyle is perplexing.
Donovan sees the situation turning unfavorable and calls Durant to the sideline, signaling him to get in.
Durant’s entrance continues to change the game dynamics.
The Thunder regain some of their advantage.
The first half ends quickly with a score of 58 to 51.
Mike Malone is generally satisfied with the game’s score.
The biggest problem for the Nuggets currently is the issue of depth.
The starters are weak, while the bench is strong.
There’s even a significant gap between them.
To mitigate this gap, Mike Malone has Jokic and Zeng Xingyang playing for over 7 minutes in the third quarter.
However, Jokic and Zeng Xingyang on the court seem a bit isolated.
No matter how much Zeng Xingyang calls for screens and picks, the defenders in front of him are Durant, Roberson, Ibaka, and occasionally, he faces double teams. These players have excellent defensive talent, slightly lowering his offensive efficiency.
Donovan has clearly deciphered the Nuggets’ offensive strategy; as long as they suppress Zeng Xingyang and Jokic, the team seems not very threatening.
The Thunder’s offense is like a tide, and the Nuggets can’t cope.
Ultimately, the game’s score settles at 120 to 113.
The Nuggets lose another game.
Zeng Xingyang finishes the game with 21 out of 12 shooting, 6 out of 12 from three, 2 for 2 on free throws, totaling 32 points, along with 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, and 3 turnovers.
As a rookie, scoring 30+ points in two consecutive games astonishes the league.