Chapter 434: Chapter 346: The Clippers’ Explosion!
Highlights from the first quarter are playing on various video platforms.
Under Zeng Xingyang’s leadership, the Nuggets’ offense was smooth and pleasing to the eye.
In contrast, Paul on the other side had only managed to score 6 points with 2 assists, failing to connect the team.
Facing Zeng Xingyang directly reduced his impact.
The Nuggets players were very relaxed on the sidelines; the Clippers are just so-so!
Under Zeng Xingyang’s leadership, the overall strength of the team significantly increased.
Zeng Xingyang was playing so smoothly that everyone felt G2 seemed to be leaning favorably towards the Nuggets again.
But the playoffs are far from that simple.
After the Clippers brought in Crawford leading the second lineup, the whole team exploded.
Crawford and Pierce took the lead in offense for the team.
Especially veteran Pierce who seemed to have found a second spring, continuously teaching the Nuggets’ rookies in the low post.
Even the commentators were exclaiming in excitement.
The Nuggets’ defense against Pierce was already quite tight.
They successively sent Siakam and Pope to guard Pierce.
It seemed like Pierce held no advantage.
But this guy was smart, using his body and sense of rhythm to play, frequently drawing fouls or scoring with his low post skills.
This made the Nuggets’ defense very passive.
Meanwhile, the Nuggets’ outside shooting dropped a bit, the rookies made some basic errors under such high pressure, allowing the Clippers to keep catching up on the score.
Halfway through the second quarter, the Clippers closed the gap to 42-44.
The Nuggets’ lead shrank to just 2 points in the blink of an eye.
Zeng Xingyang had already played for 2 minutes, but he missed twice.
During this time, the Clippers’ defense became more intense, putting significant pressure on the Nuggets.
Seeing this, Zeng Xingyang signaled Jokic.
The two initiated a pick-and-roll again.
Zeng Xingyang used the pick to drive inside.
The Clippers’ defense at the basket was very tight, also making it difficult for Zeng Xingyang to keep driving in.
However, Zeng Xingyang slowed the dribbling and drew the interior players out.
Griffin and Little Jordan both moved forward.
Gordon made an inner cut from the other side, and Griffin quickly returned to guard Gordon, preventing Zeng Xingyang’s alley-oop pass.
Almost simultaneously, Paul and Little Jordan ahead sandwiched Zeng Xingyang from front and back.
Zeng Xingyang made a behind-the-back pass to the completely open Jokic at the top of the arc.
Jokic appeared at a large opening at the top of the arc and decisively shot a three-pointer.
Though Jokic is a big guy, his touch is extremely soft.
The basketball drew a beautiful arc.
"Swish!"
A perfect shot!
42-47.
Zeng Xingyang and Jokic stepped up to solve the problem.
The crowd roared with cheers again as the Clippers’ earlier suppression tested them enough.
Clippers’ offense.
Paul dribbled to the front court and passed the ball to Crawford on the right side.
Facing Butler, Crawford started a series of crossovers combined with behind-the-back dribbles.
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
Butler’s defense was very strong, swinging along with Crawford’s rhythm constantly.
But Crawford’s offense was audacious; when he got heated, he could make any shot.
Tonight, he was heated. After several fakes, Crawford moved to the right and quickly set up for a three-pointer.
This shot was quite unreasonable; Butler didn’t lose his position at all.
But unfortunately.
"Swish!"
It just went in.
45-47.
Crawford quickly responded to Jokic’s three-pointer, slightly suppressing the clamor in the venue.
"Dominant!"
"Go Clippers, defeat the Nuggets soon."
"Awesome, nothing to say."
"I love seeing these response shots."
Lots of fans who disliked the Nuggets were cheering for the Clippers online.
The Nuggets were almost becoming the enemies of the league, seemingly everyone wanted them to lose.
Nuggets’ offense.
Zeng Xingyang dribbled to the front court, observing from the left side.
Currently, the Clippers’ defense focused mostly on Zeng Xingyang and Jokic.
Zeng Xingyang faced Bamot as his defender, making a gesture for Jokic to come over and screen.
Zeng Xingyang dribbled horizontally to face Little Jordan.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Butler had Paul pegged behind him, raising his hand, hoping for a pass from Zeng Xingyang.
Zeng Xingyang sensed the intention.
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
After two consecutive behind-the-back dribbles, Zeng Xingyang drove left past him.
Little Jordan couldn’t stop Zeng Xingyang’s drive.
Griffin provided help defense; Butler spun, shaking off Paul, and Zeng Xingyang made an alley-oop.
Butler tapped the ball with both hands steadily.
"Swish!"
Sank it firmly.
45-49.
Clippers’ offense.
Paul pushed forward with the dribble, handing the ball to Crawford again this time.
Crawford faced off against Butler after a series of hesitations, driving to the left.
Butler spun and chased back as Crawford stopped for a jump shot.
Butler worked hard to contest the shot.
"Swish!"
A bullseye!!
47-49.
Crawford responded again.
Barkley said, "This is the kind of playoffs we want to see; Jamal Crawford continuously putting pressure on the Nuggets."
Smith said, "Haha, let’s see how the Nuggets respond."
"Stop his shooting, don’t let him shoot so easily," Jokic shouted to Butler.
"I know," Butler replied vexedly.
Being scored on by Crawford twice in a row like this irritated Butler a lot.
Nuggets’ offense.
Zeng Xingyang dribbled to the front, as Butler pinned Redick behind him, asking for the ball from Zeng Xingyang.
Zeng Xingyang lobbed the ball high to him.
Butler caught it, knocked into Redick, then spun for a jump shot.
Butler held a significant advantage over small guards.
However, he put a bit too much force into the shot.
"Clank!"
A highly likely shot missed.
With Jokic alone blocking Little Jordan and Griffin, keeping them at bay.
The rebound was tipped out by Gordon.
Zeng Xingyang grabbed it.
Zeng Xingyang quickly took a blasting step past Paul in front of him.
The defense from Griffin and Little Jordan came again.
Jokic set another screen for Butler, who cut inside.
Zeng Xingyang fed the ball low to Butler, who saw a dunk opportunity, opting to slam the ball fiercely with one hand over Griffin.
Griffin just shifted his feet over from defending Zeng Xingyang.
Too late.
"Boom!"
47-51
Next possession.
Clippers’ offense.
After bringing the ball to the frontcourt, Crawford directly faced Butler and made another pull-up three-pointer.
This shot was extremely forceful and unreasonable; Butler’s defense was stronger this time.
"Clank!"
But this time it missed.
However, returning the favor.
Zeng Xingyang and Jokic ran the pick-and-roll again.
Following the pick-and-roll, Zeng Xingyang passed the ball to the corner to Pope.
Pope adjusted and took a three-pointer, which also missed.
"Clank!"
The basketball bounced heavily off the rim.
The teams’ offenses slightly eased up.
....
The second quarter quickly ended with the score at 60-62, Nuggets leading by 2 points as they headed into the locker room.