When the series reached this stage, both sides had very limited adjustments they could make, relying more on on-the-spot performance.
Cleveland fans quickly received both good and bad news after the opening.
The good news was that Irving was in great form today, scoring consecutively under Wade’s defense.
The bad news was that the Heat Team adopted a more aggressive defensive style against Hansen, fouling him harshly every time he tried to shoot.
Riley clearly wasn’t betting on Hansen missing his free throws; he was using this method to disrupt Hansen’s shooting rhythm.
The result was, he was half-successful.
Hansen’s mid-range shots were as stable as his free throws, but his three-point shooting touch was indeed disrupted.
As Hansen mentioned earlier, three-pointers are a weapon heavily reliant on shooting touch.
This is also why teams facing the Warriors would exhaust Curry on offense and then foul him aggressively on defense.
Wade’s shooting touch was also mediocre tonight, forcing him to drive to the basket more, but every time he faced Hansen, it reminded people that Flash seemed to have aged.
Wade still averaged around 19 points per game this regular season, but it was clear that his ability had declined to that of an ordinary All-Star player.
However, God is fair, and Durant’s shooting was on fire tonight. In the game where the Heat needed him most, he continued to wield the Reaper’s scythe relentlessly.
Or to be more precise, Durant has been performing exceptionally well throughout this series and even in the playoffs this year.
Undoubtedly, this was the best Durant Hansen had seen.
Of course, it was also a luckier Durant.
In "history," Durant played for the Thunders for nine years, achieving one final runner-up. In the last year, which was this season, they led the 73-win Warriors 3-1, only to be reversed to 3-4, eventually becoming known as "Traitor Durant."
Now, Durant spent five years with the Thunders, four years with the Heat, winning two final runners-up. Even if he joins the Warriors this summer since they didn’t make the finals last year, it won’t be considered betrayal, at most like James being "Teaming Durant."
Facing such a Durant, Hansen resolutely switched to guard him.
Just like in Game 4, he handed over more of the offense to the more in-form Irving and focused on defending Durant.
This time, however, his defense did not work.
Durant’s shooting touch was scorching hot, and more importantly, after being locked down by Hansen before, he also sought ways to counteract it.
He played more "simple game" or handoffs with Big Gasol, or took direct shots after pick and rolls.
When he focused solely on catching and shooting, he was the best shooter in the League.
At halftime, the Heat Team led the Cavaliers by 12 points with a score of 58 to 46.
Durant scored 28 points in the first half.
During halftime, Durant accepted an interview with an ESPN reporter before heading back to the locker room.
When asked about his first-half performance, Durant’s words were moving:
"I don’t want my Heat career to end tonight, I did everything I could."
Durant and James are like two extremes; James is always doing the opposite of what he says, while Durant says what he does.
Before the second half began, Riley, who returned to the court from the locker room, also accepted a sideline interview. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡·𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖·𝔫𝔢𝔱
At this moment, his posture was straight, his angular face more like the Godfather than Al Pacino.
Perhaps to make up for his loss of composure in the previous game’s post-match, he smiled at the reporter and said: "We’ll finish this once we return to Miami."
At this time, both teams’ players were gradually returning to the court, and right behind Riley who didn’t notice, Hansen happened to pass by.
The Cavaliers initiated the offense first when the second half resumed.
Hansen, in an off-ball screen with Jokic, feigned a cut inside, then suddenly cut back out.
This move was beautiful, but perhaps because Hansen’s outside shooting touch wasn’t good tonight, Irving didn’t pass the ball over immediately.
When Hansen extended his hand for the ball and Irving finally passed it over, Hansen was already double-teamed.
However, Hansen didn’t pass the ball this time; instead, he made a big crossover, leaping past Wade and quickly heading towards the basket.
Deng had already collapsed into the paint trying to stop him, but Hansen attacked more decisively than he expected.
He wrapped Hansen up, but Hansen still managed to take the shot.
The ball bounced twice on the rim before rolling out.
The crowd let out a regretful sound.
Deng also breathed a sigh of relief.
Hansen walked to the free-throw line, but as he did, he turned to the approaching Irving and spoke:
"When I’m open, pass that damn ball."
Irving patted his chest, indicating it was his fault.
He didn’t know the reason for Hansen’s emotional change, but he could sense that provoking Hansen right now wouldn’t end well.
Hansen made both free throws, reducing the Cavaliers’ deficit to 10 points.
Moreover, after returning to the defensive end, Hansen continued to closely follow Durant.
Now, he seemed to have returned to that Game 7 battle five years ago.
However, Durant was in excellent form throughout the night, still managing to get a shot off despite Hansen’s defense.
Then, Hansen fouled him fiercely to prevent the attempt.
The method Riley used was nothing new.
Hansen originally intended to exchange a few words with Durant to provoke him, but unexpectedly, after being fouled, Durant remained silent, walking straight to the free-throw line.