Brooks was given time to plan, and the Thunder Team’s defensive adjustments were also spot-on. The Lakers faced more restrictions in their offense than in Game 2, unable to casually rack up over 30 points in a quarter as they had done in that game.
However, that defensive strategy had a very short-term effectiveness, something Zhang Yang had anticipated, and the coaching staff had as well.
There was no possibility of further defensive adjustments from them. Zhang Yang felt despair over the Lakers’ defensive lineup configuration. Gasol was 33 years old, unable to defend the basket by himself, needing support from the frontline, but the best frontline defenders were Metta World Peace and Jordan Hill, facing Durant and Ibaka...
The guards were even worse off. At the point guard position, there was Duhon, who could defend but whose offense had deteriorated to basically just spot-up shooting. The offensively strong Nash and Blake were excruciating to watch on defense.
Limited Durant so he could not erupt like in Game 1 was already the limit of what they could achieve.
Fortunately, based on Eddie Jordan’s Triangle Offense, Bickerstaff had redefined the roles of the team’s three superstars, and all three of them accepted and quickly adapted to their new roles. Their team offense was revitalized, and even though the Thunder Team made targeted defensive adjustments, they only managed to impose some limitations on them.
They continued with the same starters tonight, just chancing their luck; what if the opponent didn’t adapt? But since the opponent had adjusted, then go on the offensive!
Gasol facilitated the offense, and with Zhang Yang consuming less in his offense, he could play more time on the court. Nash went to the second unit, where not only did he play more efficiently, Jamison was also reinvigorated...
The score at the end of the first quarter was 28 to 26, with the Lakers narrowly leading the Thunder Team by two points. In the second quarter, the Thunder Team narrowly outscored the Lakers 29 to 26, and by halftime, the Thunder Team had taken the lead by one point, 55 to 54.
In the third quarter, Zhang Yang and Nash duelled Durant and Harden one-on-one, and couldn’t outdo them! Durant, who had played leisurely in the first half, launched a ferocious attack in the third quarter, delivering a formidable performance!
In the latter half of the third quarter, Durant "swish, swish," sank two outrageously illogical three-pointers. Even though Earl Clark was right in his face, Durant still made the shots. These two three-pointers extended the Thunder Team’s original 3-point lead to 9 points!
Despite Zhang Yang leading an end run of 9 to 5 in the last couple of minutes, the Lakers still finished the third quarter trailing the Thunder Team by 5 points, 80 to 85.
The Thunder Team scored 30 to 26 in the third quarter!
In the final quarter, Zhang Yang and Gasol led a counterattack, while Harden and Durant firmly held on. Both teams scored 27 points in the final quarter, and the Thunder Team maintained their 5-point lead until the end!
At 11:20 PM, the final whistle blew.
Zhang Yang scored 31 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, and assisted 4 times; Gasol recorded 15 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists; Nash had 14 points and 5 assists; Jamison scored 12 points; Jordan Hill 11 points; Metta World Peace 10 points... Six Lakers scored in double figures, but they ultimately lost to the Thunder Team 107 to 112, losing their home-court advantage.
Harden went 10 for 23, including making 1 of 6 three-pointers, adding 6 made free throws to score 27 points, grab 4 rebounds, and dish out 8 assists. Durant shot 12 for 19, including 4 made three-pointers out of 6, adding 6 made free throws, to score a game-high 34 points. Along with 14 points each from Ibaka and Sefolosha... Four players scored in double figures as the Thunder Team narrowly defeated the Lakers!
On the 28th, both teams will once again dispute at the Staples Center.
After Game 3, neither team could make more overall changes to their style of play.
Bickerstaff felt bitter inside. In the 1980s and 1990s, when he led upsets, his team was full of vigorous, talented young players who could adapt to any change. Now, with the Lakers, where players over 33 years old make up the majority of the main lineup, and only Zhang Yang among the younger ones, along with Earl Clark and Jordan Hill, being able to play tit for tat against the Thunder Team was already the utmost limit.
Brooks truly had no more tricks left for defending against the opponent’s Triangle Offense; he couldn’t think of better countermeasures, and in terms of offense... Harden commanding his teammates to adapt was far stronger than his own adjustments.
Tonight both teams continued to clash head-on, fiercely contending with each other. The critical time of the game occurred in the latter half of the second quarter when the Thunder Team’s wing shooters consecutively failed!
Fisher, Sefolosha, Lamb, Kevin Martin, and even Ibaka, the mid- and long-range shooters, all suddenly hit a cold spell.
Seizing the opportunity, Bickerstaff substituted Nash and Jordan Hill in to enhance rebounding and fast-break capabilities. The Lakers scored 22 to 9 in the latter half of the second quarter, pulling a 1-point lead into a 14-point lead.
During the first quarter, the Lakers trailed the Thunder Team by 1 point, 28 to 29. In the first half of the second quarter, they narrowly outscored the Thunder Team 16 to 14, then pulled ahead with a 22 to 9 run, leading by halftime with 66 to 52!
In the second half, the Thunder Team continuously chased the score, playing fiercely with the initiative, but a 14-point difference was still significant, especially since the Lakers were also playing desperately. Bickerstaff had not even considered any conservative playing styles initially; every roster and tactical adjustment was made with a priority on offense.
The Thunder Team narrowly outscored the Lakers 30 to 26 in the third quarter and 31 to 27 in the final quarter. They had cut the halftime deficit by 8 points, but the deficit from the first half was too much.
Ultimately, the Lakers, led by Zhang Yang’s 29 points, Nash’s 16 points and 10 assists, and Gasol’s 17 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks, along with 16 points from Earl Clark and 14 points from Jordan Hill, triumphed over the Thunder Team 119 to 113 at home, evening the series once again!