After Wang Yi joined the Raptors this season, many people said he was just a fledgling under Wang Yi's wing, huddling beneath it for warmth.
Compared to Juan, he was nowhere close.
So Pang Bo had come into this game determined to prove himself.
And he had done a very good job. In his matchups against Juan, he used his size to muscle Juan aside several times and score at the rim.
On one play, he gave Juan a shoulder fake, followed it with a spin move and an up-and-under, and sent Juan flying right out of bounds.
By halftime, he had racked up 17 points and 9 rebounds.
Wang Yi knew Pang Bo was eager to prove himself, especially against Juan, so he kept feeding him the ball.
And it wasn't just after pick-and-rolls between the two of them. Wang Yi repeatedly let Pang Bo go one-on-one against Juan.
When you're facing off against another star, beating him one-on-one is the most convincing way to prove yourself.
In their one-on-one battles, Pang Bo showed his strength on both ends of the court.
Especially near the end of the second quarter, when he swatted away a dunk Juan was sure to make.
Pang Bo roared at the sky, as if venting all the frustration he had built up from being criticized.
People had expected their showdown to continue into the fourth quarter, but something unexpected happened in the third.
As Pang Bo went up for a rebound, he landed on a Timberwolves player's foot and crumpled to the floor in pain.
The team doctor examined him and found no bone damage. He had only sprained his ankle.
Wang Yi and the others all breathed a sigh of relief.
But Pang Bo couldn't return to the game. Two security guards helped